Formed in Japan and known for their masterful fusion of Progressive Rock, Jazz Fusion, and Classical music, ptf have carved out a distinctive sonic identity driven by violin-led instrumentals and complex arrangements. With their latest album “Ambiguous Fragile Sign, “the band deepens their exploration of intricate soundscapes, delivering a compelling and refined listening experience. Following our review of the album, we had the pleasure of catching up with ptf to discuss the creative process behind the record, their artistic evolution, and their perspective on the Progressive scene in Japan.
Your latest album, “Ambiguous Fragile Sign,” showcases a rich blend of Progressive Rock, Jazz Fusion, and Classical elements. How did you approach the composition process to achieve such a cohesive integration of these genres?
Keisuke:
“When I’m in the studio, cooking up tracks for an album like “Ambiguous Fragile Sign,” the main thing I’m always aiming for is to make sure the melody just flows beautifully. Since the violin’s our lead instrument, I always start by laying down a killer, beautiful melody. That’s the axis everything else revolves around.
Beyond that, I get pretty obsessive about the rhythm. It’s not just about what notes are played, but how they’re played and how they groove together. It’s all about seamlessly blending those strong melodies with intricate rhythms to create that cohesive sound you hear.“
The violin plays a central role throughout the album, offering both melodic leads and intricate textures. How do you balance the violin’s prominence with the other instruments to maintain harmony within your compositions?
Keisuke:
“Alright, this is a killer question!
For me, when I’m writing, I actually think of the violin as covering both vocal and guitar duties. So, yeah, it handles the main melodies, but it’s also ripping out riffs in unison, or sometimes it’ll lay back and just provide the backing while the keys take the lead. It’s all about juggling those different roles to keep everything locked in and balanced. I think that’s what really sets our stuff apart from other bands where the violin might just be stuck playing the melody.“
Tracks like “In the Abyss” and “Sorrow 43/Bliss 47” exhibit strong Jazz influences, reminiscent of the Canterbury Scene. Were there specific artists or movements that inspired these particular pieces?
Keisuke:
“That’s a sharp observation. While I do dig the Canterbury Scene, I actually wasn’t directly influenced by any specific artists for “In the Abyss” or “Sorrow 43/Bliss 47.” But since you brought it up, let me tell you a bit about “Sorrow 43/Bliss 47.” I wrote that track in 2021, and the whole idea for it sparked when I realized that 2021 could be factored into 43 and 47. So, the song is constructed entirely from multiple riffs, each in 43/4 time, and repeated a total of 47 times. Essentially, the whole composition clocks in at 2021 beats. Pretty Canterbury-esque, right?“
“Thesis,” the 25-minute suite concluding the album, traverses various moods and styles. Can you walk us through the conceptual and musical journey of this track?
Keisuke:
“‘Thesis,’ the epic 25-minute suite that wraps up the album, really ties into the overall concept of the record: exploring the fragility and precariousness of human values. That’s the core idea driving it. Fun fact: all the section titles in this piece end with “-sis,” which is why we sometimes refer to it as the “-sis suite.”
Musically, the first thing to grab you in this track is that opening theme melody. It’s the central nervous system of “Thesis.” You’ll hear it popping up everywhere – shifting tempos, changing keys, transforming its rhythm. Beyond that main theme, you’ll also notice other key phrases, like the chorus melody and various unison lines, reappearing in different forms throughout the suite. We’ve woven these elements through every section, from the quietest moments to the most explosive crescendos. We truly hope listeners will dive in multiple times and really appreciate the craft and evolution of its unfolding.“
Compared to your previous works, how does “Ambiguous Fragile Sign” represent your evolution as a band? Were there new techniques or approaches you explored during its creation?
Keisuke:
“‘Ambiguous Fragile Sign’ definitely marks a significant evolution for us. While the violin is still my primary instrument, I actually took on a lot more keyboard and bass synth duties on this album.
In previous albums, we certainly leaned heavily on analog synths like the Mellotron. But for this album, I actively incorporated a wider range of digital sounds in addition to the analog ones. By bringing in these new textures and essentially creating a sound where it feels like we have two keyboardists in the band, I believe we’ve dramatically expanded the musical breadth and possibilities of our compositions.“
The album’s title suggests themes of uncertainty and delicacy. What message or emotion were you aiming to convey with this title, and how does it reflect the music within?
Keisuke:
“The album title, ‘Ambiguous Fragile Sign,’ really aims to express the frailty and precariousness of human values. Values are what society leans on, right? But in reality, they’re often multi-faceted and ambiguous. What you believe to be justice can instantly be branded as evil through the filter of a different set of values. We wanted to explore questions like, “What are values?” and “What is justice?”
Beyond that, “Ambiguous” also suggests double meanings, and every track on this album actually features two melodies. Listening with that in mind might just add another layer of intrigue to the music.
Given the instrumental nature of your music, how do you ensure that each track tells a story or evokes specific emotions without the use of lyrics?
Keisuke:
“Honestly, I don’t see it as much of a problem at all to tell a story or evoke specific emotions without lyrics. Think about it: a huge amount of classical music and jazz is instrumental, right? But listeners still grasp the musical narrative and feel those emotions. I believe our music operates on the same wavelength. If I had to pinpoint something specific, especially when we’re writing those longer, epic pieces, I really focus on how the main themes repeat and evolve, and how we structure the entire track to have a clear beginning, development, and conclusion. That’s how we guide the listener through the journey without needing any words.“
The production quality of the album is notably refined. Did you face any particular challenges during the recording or mixing processes, especially in capturing the nuances of each instrument?
Keisuke:
“That’s good to hear you noticed the refined production! Honestly, we didn’t face any particularly difficult challenges during the recording or mixing process. Our main focus was on on balancing the beautiful, clear resonance of the violin with a heavy, powerful sound full of impact. We put considerable effort into striking that precise balance, and I think it really paid off.
And speaking of that, I have to give a huge shout-out to our engineer, Hiro (Studio Prisoner: https://studioprisoner.jp/), who did some truly amazing work. This was our first time collaborating with him, and I can confidently say we couldn’t have achieved this sound without him. We’re truly grateful for everything Hiro brought to the table.“
How do you perceive the current landscape of Progressive and Jazz Rock in Japan? Do you find that audiences are receptive to your fusion of styles?
“That’s a relevant question. I definitely think there’s a strong, dedicated fanbase for Progressive Rock here in Japan. And from what we’ve seen, our audience has really embraced our sound – they’re truly fantastic! That said, my main concern is the aging demographic of the audience. I really hope that Progressive Rock and Jazz Rock can reach and resonate with younger generations here in Japan. That’s crucial for the scene to keep evolving.“
Looking ahead, are there any new directions or collaborations you’re considering for future projects?
“We’re always aiming to push the boundaries and create new sounds. First up, you can expect our next album to drop in 2027, so definitely look out for that! Beyond that, since we’ve never performed overseas, we’d be thrilled to get invited to play at a festival or through a coordinator somewhere abroad.“
We thank ptf for taking the time to share their insights with us. “Ambiguous Fragile Sign” is a testament to their musicianship and artistic vision, offering a rich and emotive journey for listeners who appreciate complex, instrumental Progressive music. We look forward to following their next steps and seeing how their unique voice continues to evolve within the global Progressive scene.
Purchase the album here: https://diskunion.net/jp/ct/detail/1008932079
Read our review of the album here: [Review] ptf – Ambiguous Fragile Sign
[…] – Exclusive Interview — Read the full articleA stellar Jazz-Prog band from Japan, ptf deliver complexity with grace. Their refined interplay of […]