SILK ROAD
BELL TOWER
HEAVENLY FATHER
THE GREAT RIVER
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
FLYING CELESTIAL NYMPHS
SILK ROAD FANTASY
SHIMMERING LIGHT
WESTBOUND
TIME
BODHISATTVA
EVERLASTING ROAD

all songs written and arranged by KITARO

Original soundtrack for Japan's NHK TV program "Silk Road". Musically the same direction as last album OASIS, so the arrangement of each song is simple. But the richness of musical expression is obviously poorer than OASIS. Musical freedom, which seems like "I do everything what I want to do!!", is decreasing on this album. Did the theme (or concept) of silk road limit KITARO-san's imagination which seems to be unlimited on his first two albums TEN KAI" ASTRAL TRIP and FROM THE FULL MOON STORY??

Actually the number of impressive good melodies are few, and impressive phrases end so soon (without unfolding) and don't have enough power to invite listeners to the trance feeling. As a result, the number of impressive songs are few. "KITARO-san's typical flow represented through an album" is really weak. This is a weaker album in KITARO-san's whole discography. So for those who is new to KITARO Music, this is not good album to listen first. (In case you want to listen to the music of the TV program "Silk Road", instead of KITARO Music, this is what you want, of course.)

It can be said that the pop feeling of the song "SILK ROAD" is very special, almost an exception in KITARO-san's repertoire in this era. So POP!! Without doubt, this song is one of the most important repertoire of KITARO-san, and he performs this so often in his live show (but usual live version is much closer to "SILVER MOON" on SILK ROAD VOLUME 2 album or to "THEME FROM SILK ROAD" on TEN YEARS album, than this original version). Probably also the popularity of TV program "Silk Road" makes this song more well-known. But those who is new to KITARO Music should remember that the song "SILK ROAD" never tells all about KITARO Music!! Actually since this song, simple and beautiful melody became one of KITARO-san's trademark, and "SILK ROAD" is obviously one of the best loved among that kind of songs. But in fact, with this song, you can enjoy only less than 15 percent of KITARO Music's charm point...or magic. (Go to the pagesof other albums, if you want to know what kind of charm points or magics KITARO Music has.)

When this album was released, KITARO-san became "the man of that times" assisted by the success of the TV program, and it is said that this album was sold over one million copies. But that was old story, more than 20 years ago. Never forget that, after this era, KITARO-san released dozens of better and reputable albums which shook the world!!

"WESTBOUND" on this album is a different song from the same title song on the album IN PERSON.

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

any questions? click here.

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