Sakura Aural bliss is a compilation of tracks which are by Japanese artists.Their doesnt appear to be any traditional japanese instruments on the album and i thought before i bought it that maybe there would be...
I knew some of the artists when i picked up the cd and read the back sleeve and that was probably the main factor for buying the compilation in the first place.i really like picture of the cover which is a photograph of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island.
The album starts off with an ambient track called 'Amniotic'from Electric Sheep.Electric Sheep have the keyboard player Hajime Yoshizawa and Shuya Okino (kyoto jazz massive)in the line up.This track isnt typical of the music they produce (i checked some other stuff they've done)but its really lovely all the same.
Next track up is Grooveman spot (he makes jazzy hip hop instrumentals)and its a simple but nice chunky rhodes led groove.There's electronic tracks from Speedometer and Takayuki Shiraishi before a nice latin track from well established Japanese producer United Future Organisation which was on their last album 'v'.
I love the Calm artist called Calm...he makes lovely music under that name and also Organ Language...lush jazzy atmospherics intertwined with nice beats.He supplies the track 'dubbing for the nature *waltz for the virgin forest' which is really long title but a lovely track all the same.There's a jerky and querky electronic track called 'Summerjam'which at first i hated but now is one of my favourites on the album next to the electric sheep track.The track battles one track and then seems to be infiltrated by another track until the two are fused to make one track...bit strange to describe but very rewarding after you get overthe initial shock!
Tatsuya Sunaga normally records jazz tracks but the next track is a remix by Mark de Clive lowe.I have the vocal version on a 12'' of this track and the instrumental remix by mark de clive lowe is better than that by far.Mark delivers a slo mo hip hop kinda jazzy groove.
A broken beat track by calm follows.....then a gorgeous mid tempo jazzy house groove by Chari Chari follows(years ago he used to record for pussyfoot)....
Yukihiro Fukutomi gets remixed by english producer Raw Deal and then a latin influenced track from Shiba ending on another latin track from Watusi who i know as the Tokyo producer Coldfeet.
It's a great album which I have recommended to several friends.It's mixed and blended to perfection and although it doesnt conjour up images of japan with the music it does paint a picture of whats happening musically with japanese producers which isnt that far away from what is conming out of europe.For that...it is to be applauded.
File next to jazzanova.recommended release!