released 2002

MONK'S INTRODUCTION
HAJIMARI
SOZO
CARAVANSARY
SILK ROAD
MAGMA
MERCURY
WATER OF MYSTERY
ESTRELLA
KOI
WA
FREE FLIGHT
HEAVEN AND EARTH (*)

all songs written and arranged by KITARO

additional musicians:
Keiko Takahashi: keyboards
Shinji Ebihara: keyboards
Yayoi Sakiyama: violin
Tomoko Nomura: percussion
Yakushiji Monks: chanting
Shan Xiang Tu: chinese pipa on (*)

2 disc set live album recorded live at the Yakushiji Temple, Nara, Japan, during the period between the end of August and the beginning of September 2001. This album contains the songs which KITARO-san performed live often in that period, but..... you must remember that what you are going to hear on this album is obviously UNUSUAL (or "typical") live version by KITARO-san. (But no need to worry like "Does KITARO-san recently perform live like this??". It is better to think like "This is an exception".)

The most different point from KITARO-san's unual live is the number of musicians. Smaller than usual. As a result, this album's thickness of sound, variations, musical expression, colourfulness of instrumentation, are cheaper than usual. Particularly the absence of drummer and guitarist makes the performance too different from usual. Even if you have never attended KITARO-san's live show, by listening to KITARO-san's other live album (except IN PERSON), anyone can easily know that both drums and guitar are featured so much and they are important part of KITARO-san's live show.

Without drummer, this album lacks wide range of dynamism and rock feeling than usual. There is no heavily distorted electric guitar sound which is roaring in KITARO-san's usual live show. (For example, so sorry for "KOI" sounds so poor without drummer and guitarist on this album). Another aspect which makes this album sounds UNUSUAL is the lack of delicateness of sounds. When performing KITARO Music, delicateness must be the most important. But comparing to KITARO-san's usual live performance and other live albums, performance on this album is obviously much LESS delicate. One of the reason might be percussionist's lacking of expression. But bigger reason seems the process of mixing while making this live album. For example, anyone who experienced "FREE FLIGHT" in KITARO-san's live show can notice that "FREE FLIGHT" on this album lacks wide range of dynamism obviously. Usual live version of this song sounds like... begins so quietly, and becomes louder little by little as getting closer to the end little by little, and finally the loudest ensemble like the wall of sound. But the version on this album NEVER sounds like that. But according to the arrangement, I believe that KITARO-san performed usual dynamic "FREE FLIGHT" at Yakushiji Temple. If so, wide range of dynamism was removed while mixing to make live album. Mixing process might makes the lack of wide range of dynamism on this album. Still wondering why this kind of album which captures UNUSUAL live performance was released. The reason MIGHT related to the project called "Silk Road Project" which was behind this album.

This album is NOT the very first KITARO album for those who is new to KITARO Music, and NOT the album for those who attended and liked KITARO-san's live show. (If you attended and liked KITARO-san's live show, and want to listen to live album, you must have BUDOKAN, ASIA, LIVE IN AMERICA, AN ENCHANTED EVENING. But for those who loved only "new KITARO music" albums, i.e. THINKING OF YOU, ANCIENT, AN ANCIENT JOURNEY, then this might be a good live album.

"MONK'S INTRODUCTION" and "WA" are previously unreleased song ("MAGMA" appeared for the first time on album, but previously appeared on live video TAMAYURA in 2000). But "MONK'S INTRODUCTION" is performed by Yakushiji Monks, not by KITARO-san. "WA" is an improvisation mainly featured KITARO-san on some ethnic percussions (including Japanese Taiko drums) joined by Yakushiji Monks' chanting.

There is DVD video version of this live album. Track list is the same, but the last track "HEAVEN AND EARTH" is a bonus track and it has no performance scene (only sound).

If you think the title is wrong, go to KITARO Music english title "same song" list

any questions? click here.

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