For over a quarter century, Japan's Kitaro has been an internationally recognized icon and globally acclaimed composer and musician. Influenced early on by American rock and R&B, Kitaro began experimenting with synthesizers and a rainbow of unconventional sounds in the mid-'70s. His pioneering fusion of electronic artistry, traditional Japanese forms, and pop-inflected Western idioms created a lush, harmonic, and poetic sound that won the now legendary artist a huge international following. 1980's Volume 1 in the revered Silk Road series is considered an all-time masterpiece, with subsequent volumes only adding to it's luster. '87's GRAMMY-nominated The Light Of The Spirit, a collaboration with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, exceeded sales of two million in the U.S. alone, elevating Kitaro's presence Stateside to an unprecedented degree. 1992's transcendent Dream, made with Yes' Jon Anderson, was also a smash, and other highlights are too numerous to single out. 2000's Thinking Of You, which online music bible allmusic.com called 'one of the most beautiful CDs of all time,' won a GRAMMY for Best New Age Album, and Kitaro is universally acknowledged as a founding architect of the genre. That being said, Kitaro's atmospheric, powerfully emotive, and multi-textured music truly defies the constraints of any genre, epitomizing what Domo Records founder Eiichi Naito identifies as the label's guiding principle-'To provide a home for both the creators and aficionados of quality music beyond the borders of categorization.' Most fundamentally, at it's heart, Kitaro's music is always about sending a profound message of peace and spiritual development, both personally and globally. With Sacred Journey Of Ku-kai Volume 2, the artist's lifelong vision coalesces into an elegant and wondrously integrated master work. The first in an important series, it offers a beautifully expressed and richly resonant experience through which to contemplate our changing world.
P**.
Predates
This CD predates 'Ancient Journey' And I found this to be a little better than the Part 2, but not as groundbreaking as Kitaro's general compositions. As stated, I find Kitaro's music in a class by itself, he is an icon.
A**R
If you liked Kojiki...
...then you'll probably like this album. I agree with the previous reviewer, this is closer to Kitaro's 80's albums. I'm glad of it since his 80's period is my personal favorite.The first track reminds me of the dramatic and then elegant opening of Kojiki. Kitaro's main talent lies in making dramatic music that is not over the top and romantic music the is not syrupy. Some of the faster tracks reminded me of the Light of the Spirit.I have been listening to this album quite a lot since I bought it.(To the uninitiated Kitaro listeners: Kitaro is intrumental new age. He takes his influences from many countries but you can always feel the delicate Japanese sound of his music. His music ranges from soft, dainty songs, to dramatic scores that sound like they are from an epic movie to mysterious and sometimes menacing pieces. Note Crystal Sands on this album for an example of the latter.)
B**I
Ancient purchase
There is something so mystical about this music, rendering thoughts of God stirring the waters with a stick and creating the Japanese Islands......very moving
P**S
Ancient buy Kitaro
The whole album is great from start to finish. Music creates a good atmosphere. I never get tired of the music. Soft beautiful songs.
I**G
Four Stars
Good relaxing music
J**N
Ancient
Kitaro is the master. His music takes me to beautiful places and calms me down. I sent this particular cd to my 83 year old mother.
R**A
nice music
this is my fifth cd bly kitaro and as with all his music it is great background and relaxing, verly satisfied with all his cd's
G**R
recommended!
Lovely Kitaro, as usual?
O**A
Very good
Very good seller
C**N
Ottimo
Ottimo prodotto
P**L
great cd fab music to
great cd fab music to. thank you tim
J**N
Excellent
Musique très rythmée avec un son fort mais très agréable. Totalement sublime et très varié dans la musique avec des sons. J'adore. Ce cd me change vraiment les idées.
F**N
lazy and indifferent compositions, nicely played
I'm not sure if Kitaro has had a single original musical idea in the last 15 years or so - it all begins to sound a bit second rate, like the incidental soundtrack score to a straight-to-DVD Disney release. The melodies make you cringe in places, and the choices of instruments are very old hat....whistles, flutes, oriental stringed things, and his own inimitable Synthesiser Patches. Everything has a used and recycled feel, like you heard it on one of his earlier albums. The production is however top notch.
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