Hello, as turkey seems to get sucked into middle eastern mess with two suicide bombers and thusfar 95 dead-mainly peace loving kurds, so who's behind this ? Erdogan ? en route to become dictator or the IS who is known to hate Kurds, latter seems obvious, but thusfar they haven't claimed this successful terrorist attack. It would be very bad for Europe if the Turks would start fleeing too.
Today more music from the rising sun. When asked about his music, he said, "I never had education in music, I just learned to trust my ears and my feelings." He credits ‘powers beyond himself’ for his music, saying, "This music is not from my mind. It is from heaven, going through my body and out my fingers through composing. Sometimes I wonder. I never practice. I don't read or write music, but my fingers move. I wonder, 'Whose song is this?' I write my songs, but they are not my songs."...... N'joy
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Kitaro (real name, Masanori Takahashi) was born in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan, and is a graduate of Sahid University. After graduating, Kitaro moved to Tokyo to experience and become a part of the music scene, and it was there that he discovered the synthesizer. His first synthesizer was analog, and he recalls having “just loved the analog sound that it made compared to today's digital sound”.
His parents were first opposed to the idea of their son having a musical career. In an effort to maneuver him towards their vision, they made arrangements for him to take a job at a local company. In return, he left home without telling them. He supported himself by taking on several part-time jobs such as cooking and civil service work, while composing songs at night. In the early 1970s, he changed completely to keyboards. He joined the Japanese music group Far East Family Band which was formed in 1965, and toured with them around the world. While in Europe, he met the German electronica and former Tangerine Dream member Klaus Schulze. Schulze produced two albums for the band and gave Kitaro some tips for controlling synthesizers. In 1976, Kitaro left Far East Family Band and traveled through Asia (China, Laos, Thailand, India)
Back in Japan, Kitaro started his solo career in 1977. The first two albums Ten Kai and Full Moon Story became cult favorites of fans of the nascent new-age movement. He performed his first symphonic concert at the 'Small Hall' of the Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The Silk Road: The Rise And Fall Of Civilizations is an NHK Tokushu documentary series that first aired on 7 April 1980, with sequels being broadcast over a 10-year period. It took a total of 17 years from conception to complete what many consider a landmark in Japan's broadcasting television history. The intention of the program was to reveal how ancient Japan was influenced by the Silk Road trade route. The documentary was narrated by Ishizaka Koji with music composed by Kitaro, who insisted that the show be broadcast in stereo.
The music was composed mainly using a Minimoog, Minikorg 700 and Maxikorg DV800. The series of soundtracks sold millions and the success created from the program brought Kitaro international attention.
In 1984, Kitaro embarked on a "Live in Asia" tour. Notably, he was forced to cancel a leg in Singapore because he had long hair and at that time the country had a policy banning it. He entered into a worldwide distribution arrangement with Geffen Records in 1986. This included a re-releasing of six prior albums titled Astral Voyage, Full Moon Story, Millennia, India, Silver Cloud and Asia (each packaged with Japanesque obi strips) as well as a new album, aptly titled Towards the West. In 1987, he collaborated with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead for the album The Light of the Spirit and in 1992 with Jon Anderson (Yes) for the album Dream. In 1988, his record sales soared to 10 million worldwide following a successful US tour. He was nominated three times for Grammy Award during his tenure at Geffen Records. His soundtrack for the movie Heaven & Earth won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. In 1989, he wrote the Japanese theme for the film Return from the River Kwai.
Since his 1994 debut for Domo Records, the Grammy-nominated Mandala, Kitaro has released 24 studio albums. Among them, the live An Enchanted Evening (1995), Gaia-Onbashira (1998), and Ancient (2001) were all Grammy nominated. In 1999, Thinking of You won the Grammy for Best New Age Album. In total, Kitaro's albums with Domo Records have received 15 Grammy Award nominations.
Kitaro’s music has long been recognized for its messages of peace and spirituality. In the wake of 9/11, the artist began recording Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, a series of peace-themed albums inspired by the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage, the travel of Kūkai more than 1100 years ago. The four volumes in the album series were released in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2011, respectively. The event of September 11 occurred while he was en route from Japan to Los Angeles. Kitaro's flight was diverted to Honolulu for five days, during which time the conceptual endeavor, which he envisioned as an artistic means to help unify people globally, first took shape. Every track on the 4 volumes of Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai contains samples from ancient Japanese temple bells (Peace Bells) from 88 sacred temples on the island of Shikoku, Japan.
In 2007, Kitaro composed the music for Impression West Lake, a large-scale opera, directed by the renowned Chinese film director Zhang Yimou. The opera reflects Hangzhou city’s history and culture through music and dance. Using modern technology, the stage is 75 centimeters below the lake’s surface during the day so as not to affect the landscape and boating activities. In the evening, the stage is a few centimeters below the lake’s surface so actors can walk and perform freely over a surprising water mirror that compose with the lights and colors. The one-hour event had its opening night in March 2007. In 2009, Domo Records released the original soundtrack album Impressions of the West Lake which was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Awards.
Kitaro's latest studio album is Final Call, which is a homage to Kitaro's lifetime reverence for Nature and was released in September 2013. A year later, in September 2014, his latest live album Symphony Live In Istanbul was released. It was recorded live at the Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey during Kitaro's Symphonic World Tour, balancing the artists trademark signature sound and expanding it to new heights with the addition of a 38-piece chamber symphony orchestra. Both Final Call and Symphony Live In Istanbul were nominated for Best New Age Album; Final Call for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards and Symphony Live In Istanbul for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, becoming Kitaro’s 15th and 16th career Grammy Award nominations.
In 2010, Kitaro performed in Singapore in March, in Mexico for the Zacatecas Cultural Festival in April,[12] in Xi'an, China for the opening event of Daming Palace National Heritage Park in September, in Aichi, Japan for the Thousand Drums Event at COP10 for the Convention on Biological Diversity in October. From March to April, 2011, Kitaro toured Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. He donated part of the CD sales and concert profits to Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami Relief.
While Kitaro has been touring, Domo Records released Kitaro's compilation Album, soundtracks to Toyo's Camera and 442 - Live With Honor, Die With Dignity, as well as the Grammy nominated Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 4. In February 2014, Kitaro launched the Symphonic World Tour and has so far performed in Warsaw, Moscow, Bucharest, Istanbul, Singapore, Nagoya, Omachi and Tehran among other historic locations. Early 2015 he released the soundtrack to 442 Extreme Patriots Of WW II - Live With Honor, Die With Dignity.
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Astral Voyage was first released in Japan in 1978 under the title Ten Kai (the original LP also gave the English title of Astral Trip).
This 1978 release by Kitaro is very relaxing, yet has a bit of an edge to it that I normally associate with 1970s electronica and perhaps some progressive music too.
This is perhaps one of his less New Age-y, more experimental albums. He really created some really nice and interesting Moog sounds, plus he tended to use a lot of Solina string synths here. There's also use of acoustic guitar and sitar, and he does tend to explore some World music here, when he does, it (unsurprisingly) has a strong Asian feel. One cut has Koto, with an obviously Japanese feel (meaning Kitaro was exploring his Japanese roots there, no surprise), to another more Chinese-influenced number. But throughout all that, the synthesizers are quite present and the album is quite electronic.
Kitaro - Ten Kai (Astral Voyage) (flac 229mb)
01 By The Sea Side 6:06
02 Soul Of The Sea 2:34
03 Micro Cosmos 5:15
04 Beat 4:37
05 Fire 7:20
06 Mu 2:43
07 Dawn Of The Astral 5:17
08 Endless Dreamy World 3:14
09 Kaiso 4:34
10 Astral Trip 7:37
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Sensitively woven, tranquil textures of sound wash through the mind of the listener on this album from sound master Kitaro. He is one of the leading sound designers in the new age community. He is also one of the leading composers and performers. Oasis is one of his older albums (originally released on Pony Canyon Records in 1979), and it is a gem. This is truly a rest stop in the middle of a storm. The atmospheres are light, airy, and lyrical without vocals. The sound design incorporates symphonic synths and gentle melodies. The soundscapes are dynamic and bold.
Kitaro - Oasis (flac 275mb)
01 Rising Sun 6:31
02 Moro-Rism 2:42
03 New Wave 2:51
04 Cosmic Energy 8:09
05 Aqua 5:00
06 Moonlight 3:46
07 Shimmering Horizon 2:55
08 Fragrance Of Nature 6:48
09 Innocent People 3:48
10 Oasis 6:30
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Kitaro's early work (his first 5 albums or so) has a weird 70's/80's prog rock/space vibe to it that is absolutely enchanting. It’s just as mind-bending as anything else. He eases you into the world he creates with the sound of flowing water, dripping synths, and a hooting owl, a moment which recalls Can’s “Sing Swan Song,” which ironically was also made by a Japanese man only six years prior to the recording of Full Moon Story, the difference being, of course, that “Damo Suzuki ain’t got nothin’ on Kitaro.” Like Astral Voyage, after we are abruptly cast into Kitaro’s strange world, we are given no exit from it, though there is one exception here. Kitaro makes but one mistake, which is the inclusion of a strange a-capella group chant halfway through side one. It rudely jettisons the listener from what he has created and nearly sours the rest of the experience, as it fills so out of place amongst the other tracks that blend together so smoothly. The interweaving synth melodies are as captivating as ever, if not more so, and the production is better this time around so the details don’t get lost in a sea of distortion as often as they did on Astral Voyage.
Kitaro - Full Moon Story (flac 259mb)
01 Krpa 5:07
02 Aurora 3:40
03 Hikari No Mai 5:47
04 Fuji 3:47
05 Full Moon 4:46
06 Resurrection 4:52
07 From Astral 3:48
08 Heavenly Illusion 6:18
09 New Lights 8:21
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Sensitively woven, tranquil textures of sound wash through the mind of the listener on this album from sound master Kitaro. The instrumentation includes synthesizers, slide guitar, mellotron, percussion, tabla and Irish harp. This early album is a rare, exceptional gem in the wistful Kitaro repertoire - all gentle-flowing and melodious throughout without anything heavy, edgy, or disquieting, musically speaking. In fact, a few songs are quite sweet and mellow, with only a touch of blue, especially the ending air ' Cloud in the Sky ' - wonderfully sweet-flowing and mellow-floating - lovely and enjoyable. On the other hand, it was also meant for more sober, reflective meditation, as the songs and titles ' Revelation ', ' Stream of Being ', ' Oasis ', ' Endless Water ', ' Sun ', and ' Tree ' especially impress the listeners.
Kitaro - Ki (flac 254mb)
01 Descension 2:05
02 Tenkujin 5:10
03 Timeless Phase 4:43
04 Sakebi 2:10
05 Nagare 7:36
06 From Far East 8:42
07 Ascension 4:13
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Today more music from the rising sun. When asked about his music, he said, "I never had education in music, I just learned to trust my ears and my feelings." He credits ‘powers beyond himself’ for his music, saying, "This music is not from my mind. It is from heaven, going through my body and out my fingers through composing. Sometimes I wonder. I never practice. I don't read or write music, but my fingers move. I wonder, 'Whose song is this?' I write my songs, but they are not my songs."...... N'joy
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Kitaro (real name, Masanori Takahashi) was born in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan, and is a graduate of Sahid University. After graduating, Kitaro moved to Tokyo to experience and become a part of the music scene, and it was there that he discovered the synthesizer. His first synthesizer was analog, and he recalls having “just loved the analog sound that it made compared to today's digital sound”.
His parents were first opposed to the idea of their son having a musical career. In an effort to maneuver him towards their vision, they made arrangements for him to take a job at a local company. In return, he left home without telling them. He supported himself by taking on several part-time jobs such as cooking and civil service work, while composing songs at night. In the early 1970s, he changed completely to keyboards. He joined the Japanese music group Far East Family Band which was formed in 1965, and toured with them around the world. While in Europe, he met the German electronica and former Tangerine Dream member Klaus Schulze. Schulze produced two albums for the band and gave Kitaro some tips for controlling synthesizers. In 1976, Kitaro left Far East Family Band and traveled through Asia (China, Laos, Thailand, India)
Back in Japan, Kitaro started his solo career in 1977. The first two albums Ten Kai and Full Moon Story became cult favorites of fans of the nascent new-age movement. He performed his first symphonic concert at the 'Small Hall' of the Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The Silk Road: The Rise And Fall Of Civilizations is an NHK Tokushu documentary series that first aired on 7 April 1980, with sequels being broadcast over a 10-year period. It took a total of 17 years from conception to complete what many consider a landmark in Japan's broadcasting television history. The intention of the program was to reveal how ancient Japan was influenced by the Silk Road trade route. The documentary was narrated by Ishizaka Koji with music composed by Kitaro, who insisted that the show be broadcast in stereo.
In 1984, Kitaro embarked on a "Live in Asia" tour. Notably, he was forced to cancel a leg in Singapore because he had long hair and at that time the country had a policy banning it. He entered into a worldwide distribution arrangement with Geffen Records in 1986. This included a re-releasing of six prior albums titled Astral Voyage, Full Moon Story, Millennia, India, Silver Cloud and Asia (each packaged with Japanesque obi strips) as well as a new album, aptly titled Towards the West. In 1987, he collaborated with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead for the album The Light of the Spirit and in 1992 with Jon Anderson (Yes) for the album Dream. In 1988, his record sales soared to 10 million worldwide following a successful US tour. He was nominated three times for Grammy Award during his tenure at Geffen Records. His soundtrack for the movie Heaven & Earth won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. In 1989, he wrote the Japanese theme for the film Return from the River Kwai.
Since his 1994 debut for Domo Records, the Grammy-nominated Mandala, Kitaro has released 24 studio albums. Among them, the live An Enchanted Evening (1995), Gaia-Onbashira (1998), and Ancient (2001) were all Grammy nominated. In 1999, Thinking of You won the Grammy for Best New Age Album. In total, Kitaro's albums with Domo Records have received 15 Grammy Award nominations.
Kitaro’s music has long been recognized for its messages of peace and spirituality. In the wake of 9/11, the artist began recording Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, a series of peace-themed albums inspired by the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage, the travel of Kūkai more than 1100 years ago. The four volumes in the album series were released in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2011, respectively. The event of September 11 occurred while he was en route from Japan to Los Angeles. Kitaro's flight was diverted to Honolulu for five days, during which time the conceptual endeavor, which he envisioned as an artistic means to help unify people globally, first took shape. Every track on the 4 volumes of Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai contains samples from ancient Japanese temple bells (Peace Bells) from 88 sacred temples on the island of Shikoku, Japan.
In 2007, Kitaro composed the music for Impression West Lake, a large-scale opera, directed by the renowned Chinese film director Zhang Yimou. The opera reflects Hangzhou city’s history and culture through music and dance. Using modern technology, the stage is 75 centimeters below the lake’s surface during the day so as not to affect the landscape and boating activities. In the evening, the stage is a few centimeters below the lake’s surface so actors can walk and perform freely over a surprising water mirror that compose with the lights and colors. The one-hour event had its opening night in March 2007. In 2009, Domo Records released the original soundtrack album Impressions of the West Lake which was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Awards.
In 2010, Kitaro performed in Singapore in March, in Mexico for the Zacatecas Cultural Festival in April,[12] in Xi'an, China for the opening event of Daming Palace National Heritage Park in September, in Aichi, Japan for the Thousand Drums Event at COP10 for the Convention on Biological Diversity in October. From March to April, 2011, Kitaro toured Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. He donated part of the CD sales and concert profits to Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami Relief.
While Kitaro has been touring, Domo Records released Kitaro's compilation Album, soundtracks to Toyo's Camera and 442 - Live With Honor, Die With Dignity, as well as the Grammy nominated Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 4. In February 2014, Kitaro launched the Symphonic World Tour and has so far performed in Warsaw, Moscow, Bucharest, Istanbul, Singapore, Nagoya, Omachi and Tehran among other historic locations. Early 2015 he released the soundtrack to 442 Extreme Patriots Of WW II - Live With Honor, Die With Dignity.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Astral Voyage was first released in Japan in 1978 under the title Ten Kai (the original LP also gave the English title of Astral Trip).
This 1978 release by Kitaro is very relaxing, yet has a bit of an edge to it that I normally associate with 1970s electronica and perhaps some progressive music too.
This is perhaps one of his less New Age-y, more experimental albums. He really created some really nice and interesting Moog sounds, plus he tended to use a lot of Solina string synths here. There's also use of acoustic guitar and sitar, and he does tend to explore some World music here, when he does, it (unsurprisingly) has a strong Asian feel. One cut has Koto, with an obviously Japanese feel (meaning Kitaro was exploring his Japanese roots there, no surprise), to another more Chinese-influenced number. But throughout all that, the synthesizers are quite present and the album is quite electronic.
Kitaro - Ten Kai (Astral Voyage) (flac 229mb)
01 By The Sea Side 6:06
02 Soul Of The Sea 2:34
03 Micro Cosmos 5:15
04 Beat 4:37
05 Fire 7:20
06 Mu 2:43
07 Dawn Of The Astral 5:17
08 Endless Dreamy World 3:14
09 Kaiso 4:34
10 Astral Trip 7:37
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Sensitively woven, tranquil textures of sound wash through the mind of the listener on this album from sound master Kitaro. He is one of the leading sound designers in the new age community. He is also one of the leading composers and performers. Oasis is one of his older albums (originally released on Pony Canyon Records in 1979), and it is a gem. This is truly a rest stop in the middle of a storm. The atmospheres are light, airy, and lyrical without vocals. The sound design incorporates symphonic synths and gentle melodies. The soundscapes are dynamic and bold.
Kitaro - Oasis (flac 275mb)
01 Rising Sun 6:31
02 Moro-Rism 2:42
03 New Wave 2:51
04 Cosmic Energy 8:09
05 Aqua 5:00
06 Moonlight 3:46
07 Shimmering Horizon 2:55
08 Fragrance Of Nature 6:48
09 Innocent People 3:48
10 Oasis 6:30
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Kitaro's early work (his first 5 albums or so) has a weird 70's/80's prog rock/space vibe to it that is absolutely enchanting. It’s just as mind-bending as anything else. He eases you into the world he creates with the sound of flowing water, dripping synths, and a hooting owl, a moment which recalls Can’s “Sing Swan Song,” which ironically was also made by a Japanese man only six years prior to the recording of Full Moon Story, the difference being, of course, that “Damo Suzuki ain’t got nothin’ on Kitaro.” Like Astral Voyage, after we are abruptly cast into Kitaro’s strange world, we are given no exit from it, though there is one exception here. Kitaro makes but one mistake, which is the inclusion of a strange a-capella group chant halfway through side one. It rudely jettisons the listener from what he has created and nearly sours the rest of the experience, as it fills so out of place amongst the other tracks that blend together so smoothly. The interweaving synth melodies are as captivating as ever, if not more so, and the production is better this time around so the details don’t get lost in a sea of distortion as often as they did on Astral Voyage.
Kitaro - Full Moon Story (flac 259mb)
01 Krpa 5:07
02 Aurora 3:40
03 Hikari No Mai 5:47
04 Fuji 3:47
05 Full Moon 4:46
06 Resurrection 4:52
07 From Astral 3:48
08 Heavenly Illusion 6:18
09 New Lights 8:21
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Sensitively woven, tranquil textures of sound wash through the mind of the listener on this album from sound master Kitaro. The instrumentation includes synthesizers, slide guitar, mellotron, percussion, tabla and Irish harp. This early album is a rare, exceptional gem in the wistful Kitaro repertoire - all gentle-flowing and melodious throughout without anything heavy, edgy, or disquieting, musically speaking. In fact, a few songs are quite sweet and mellow, with only a touch of blue, especially the ending air ' Cloud in the Sky ' - wonderfully sweet-flowing and mellow-floating - lovely and enjoyable. On the other hand, it was also meant for more sober, reflective meditation, as the songs and titles ' Revelation ', ' Stream of Being ', ' Oasis ', ' Endless Water ', ' Sun ', and ' Tree ' especially impress the listeners.
Kitaro - Ki (flac 254mb)
01 Descension 2:05
02 Tenkujin 5:10
03 Timeless Phase 4:43
04 Sakebi 2:10
05 Nagare 7:36
06 From Far East 8:42
07 Ascension 4:13
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
3 comments:
Already a fan! Thanks for Oasis & Ten Kai.
Another very talented artist who learnt how to compose music all by himself. Where do they get their inspiration?
I would enjoy a reup for supreme relaxation! Thanks for the great music.
Thanks Rho for the reups. I have requested some more Kitaro for next week if possible. This will be the last request I make of him albums. His music is soo good...
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