Top tracks — play these first
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New History Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its dynamic interplay between instruments, showcasing the band's technical prowess and musical cohesiveness.
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Eccentric Games — With its playful rhythms and intricate arrangements, this track exemplifies Casiopea's ability to blend complexity with accessibility, making it a standout on the album.
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Point X — Point X features an engaging melody coupled with sophisticated harmonies, highlighting the band's mastery of crafting memorable themes within a jazz framework.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Active showcases complex arrangements and strong melodic interplay, characteristic of jazz fusion, but lacks a cohesive flow.
What we noticed
- Melodic lines are often exchanged between guitar and keyboards, creating a conversational dynamic throughout the record.
- Several tracks incorporate extended instrumental sections that showcase improvisation, allowing musicians to explore themes rather than strictly adhere to song structures.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo listening experience
- intricate melodies for detail-oriented
- engaging rhythms for active focus
- dynamic energy for social settings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek minimalist soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Solid entry in their catalog, notable but not a primary focus for new listeners.
- Themes
- Japanese jazz fusion· dynamic rhythms· new wave experimentation
- Career context
- When Casiopea released Active in 1992, they were already established as a prominent band in the jazz fusion scene, following their 1990 album, Overture. This release marked a period of artistic exploration for the group, as they began to incorporate more eclectic influences while maintaining their signature sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Chick Corea· Weather Report· Pat Metheny Group
Tracklist
- 1 New History Start here 4:35
- 2 Messengers 3:16
- 3 Camel Road 3:39
- 4 Eccentric Games 4:52
- 5 Time Stream 3:57
- 6 Momento Memorial 3:33
- 7 Tomoshibi 3:54
- 8 Point X 4:10
- 9 Door of Truth 5:19
- 10 Through the Highway 3:44
- 11 Back to the Nature 4:13
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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