MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTER
SUNDANCE
THE FIELD
THE LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT
IN THE BEGINNING
MOONDANCE
HOWLING THUNDER
JOURNEY TO A FANTASY

all songs written and arranged by KITARO

additional musicians:
David Grisman: mandolin
John Meyer: flute
Lynn Ray: vocal
Jeannie Tracy: vocal
David Jenkins: electric guitar
Bobby Vega: electric bass
Zakir Hussain: percussion
Jose Lorenzo: percussion
Bobby Black: pedal steel guitar
Tomoyuki Hayashi: keyboards
Norihiro Tsuru: violin
Hiroshi Araki: guitar
Mickey Hart: percussion, spatial effects

This album has much thrilling tensions which makes the listeners feel unbelievable because last albums TENKU is so gentle and pastoral album!! In KITARO-san's case, there are many cases that the very first seconds of the album reflects the feeling of entire album, and both THE LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT and TENKU are obviously on this case. Thrilling tensions are all around the album, while many songs have the shape of pop music which make these songs remains in listeners' mind easily, and at the same time there are many strong and impressive melodies and phrases. Arrangement of many songs has wide range of dynamism, and also is dramatic, and KITARO-san's rock spirit explodes... Yes!! It can be said that this album captures the type of performance which KITARO-san performs usually in his live show!! "KITARO-san's typical flow represented through an album" has dynamic ups and downs, and is beautiful and dramatic. There are few moments of gentle and pastoral feeling. But because of having the dramatic arrangement, these moments matches so well in the atmosphere of the album. Rather these moments bring good contrast.

Without doubt, this is one of KITARO-san's masterpiece albums. This album also has some new musical elements (for example, the female vocal scat on the title song "THE LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT" which sings the main melody) which appeared for the first time in KITARO-san's whole discography. These elements bring fresh air, and listeners can feel and enjoy the evolution of KITARO Music.

KITARO-san co-produced this album with Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead. No surprise. Because KITARO-san is originally a rock musician, and KITARO-san likes the type of rock music like Grateful Dead or King Crimson, and KITARO Music has obvious rock feeling. But with this credit, anyone can see KITARO-san's rock spirit more easily!! Even though it is said that most of all addditional musicians were recommended and brought by Mickey Hart, but comparing to the music on the albums after the next album KOJIKI which were produced without Mickey Hart, this album does not leave the impression that it was Mickey Hart who made this album so good. But considering the change of atmosphere from last album, Mickey Hart may be the one who brought this change.

any questions? click here.

back to ALBUM INDEX