CIRCULATION

I had already decided that I really enjoyed this album before I took a closer look to see who was involved. The instruments and vocals are mostly shared between Tae and Midori but investigations of the booklet revealed that both Akihisa Tsuboy and Dani has been involved on violin and bass respectively, both members of one of my favourite Japanese bands KBB. This album is a mixture of instrumentals and songs, taking the music of Quikon and putting it into a more Western environment. At times I kept thinking of Mike Oldfield but the music doesn't have that depth ? it is almost as if there is a deliberate shallowness so that all of the music is on the surface ? what you hear is what you get. The accordion is an important part of the Japanese folky side of the music, but it often gives way to piano or violin.

Tae's vocals are gentleness and innocence, all wrapped in purity ? as if a small child was singing and not a woman. There is a naievety that is beguiling and enthralling ? music that starts as a small voice that fills the room. I found this album compulsive listening ? and it is hard to explain why. That it is in many ways quite beautiful is never in doubt, as is the fact that it it is hard to get this out of the player. There is a simplicity to this album that shows that it is not about note density or complexity, all you need are for the right elements to be in the right place and here that has easily been achieved. In many ways this is a stunning album. www.musicterm.jp/intermusic