MICHI
KAGEROH
SHIZUKU
FLOW
NEN
THE WIND
GI
EVENING SUN
SILENCE
EARTH IN BLOOM
KUU
COCORO

all songs written and arranged by KITARO

additional musicians:
Jonathan Goldman: chanting voice
Paul Pesco: electric guitar, slide guitar
monks: chanting
Franci Miho Shimomaebara: vocals
Nawang Khechog: tibetan flute, chanting voice
Kristin Stordahl Kanda: flute
Keiko Takahashi: keyboards
Tu Shang Xian: chinese pipa

Strong psychedelic album with full of thrilling tensions. This album has obvious different direction from last three studio-recording albums THINKING OF YOU, ANCIENT, AN ANCIENT JOURNEY. Actually this album is the first album of KITARO-san's new series in which KITARO-san combines the bell sound of 88 temples of Henro Pilgrimage in Shikoku Island (Japan) into his music (each song has one particular temple bell sound).

This album is good for the very first KITARO album for those who is new to KITARO Music, and is one of KITARO-san's most strong albums (no questions). But if you expect KITARO-san's pop-type of tune, like "MATSURI", "KOI", "THE LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT", "ESTRELLA", "THINKING OF YOU", "DANCE OF SARASVATI" etc. etc., this album is NOT what you should pick up first. Because, in fact, mostly all the songs are far far away from pop feeling.

Most part of this album is improvisations which is performed around psychedelically repeating phrases. The number of pop melodies are quite few. Simply to say, what is MOST important on this album is its atmosphere and feeling, instead of melody. Only one exception is "THE WIND" which is a pop-type of tune having approachable good melody. So this song is obviously OUTSIDE of this album's thrilling feeling, and sounds like opera's "intermezzo" which is performed between the acts. Some songs has psychedelic rock groove, but not using typical rock rhythm instruments (like drum kit, etc.). Album opener "MICHI" has obvious Pink Floyd taste. But what makes this song so strong is the co-existence of some impressive elements which include KITARO-san's typical musical elements, i.e. Native American flute solo and the spiritually powerful Japanese Taiko drums. The most psychedelic tune in this album is probably "NEN". This song is the chaos of monk's chant, sound effect, synthesiser, temple bell sound, and many others. It is so spiritual that, without doubt, this song brings the strong effect and atmosphere to this album. "COCORO" is the dramatic tune which KITARO-san sometimes create, but its finale is not typical ending of KITARO-san's album. This ending sounds like saying "to be continued" to the next album, the second one of the new series.

Guest musicians' performance obviously makes this album more colourful. This is something which cannot be heard in last three studio-recording albums. "KITARO-san's typical flow represented through an album" is flowing in good shape in thrilling atmosphere.

This album must be welcomed by those who like KITARO-san's psychedelic taste albums (like "TEN KAI" ASTRAL TRIP, FROM THE FULL MOON STORY, OASIS, BUDOKAN, MANDALA, GAIA - ONBASHIRA etc. etc.). KITARO-san's another album which has the closest feeling to this album is "TEN KAI" ASTRAL TRIP, his very first album.

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