Ausia
I like a great deal these few Japanese chamber Folk releases I have (,like Cinnorama, Zypressen -still looking for the second album-, Lacymosa, and a bit different Trembling Strain). When I heard of the existence of this release I immediately went for it, and don't regret it one second ! This is not just classical inspired music. It has the smoothness of jazz, the sweetness and some melodious qualities of folk, with beautiful acoustic guitar, flute virtuosity, and cello-like violin. Many of the violin/guitar foundations with the various flutes on top (recorder, shinobue, dengakubue) reminded me of the best of Kwartet Jorgi (from Poland). The music could easily be liked by RIO lovers too, although this leans much more to art/chamber folk than any other group. All tracks are melodically very varied instrumental tracks, except "When I was a little tiny boy", which is a kind of folkrock song with a text by W. Shakespeare, and "Mother Goose" (Jethro Tull), in a very good art chamber version. "Short summer in Valhalla" is played with banjo instead of guitar, with duel-like melodical improvisation against the violin, with the flute at first as the accompanying instrument. On "Lost on the way home" it's more the acoustic guitar which is leading. At the last track, "Kasa Kasa", every member displays virtuosity, with improvisations and rhythms like we can notice sometimes in classical Indian music (where even the flute seems to be as rhythmically evolving as a tabla). Fantastic stuff ! Highly recommended !
Extra info : Akihisa Tsuboy on violin plays also with the Japanese progfusion ? groups KBB, String Arguments while K. Adachi on guitar, mandolin and vocal has also its group Adachi Kyodai.
