Search - Kitaro :: An Ancient Journey

A sprawling, experimental epic from Kitaro

Jeffery K. Matheus | Indianapolis, IN United States | 09/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have noticed that this, Kitaro's 2002 Double-CD release, "An Ancient Journey", seems to be the lowest rated of his albums, at least based on the customer reviews here at Amazon (although maybe it's noteworthy that that there have only been two reviews thus far : ) So, just out of fairness, I would like to chime in with a differing opinion...First off, it is important to note that this is not just a random collection of songs, but a conceptual work. The concept is stated in the liner notes as such; "Kitaro takes his audience on a trek to worlds far away. Listeners embark on a myserious crusade, witnessing the texture, life, and spirit of the worlds ancient people". As a long-time listener (and die-hard fan), I find "An Ancient Journey" to be one of Kitaro's most sprawling, experimental, and varied works. While it is admittedly not always as focused or melodic as his classic best-sellers ("Silk Road", "Kojiki", "Mandala") it does have a strange charm of its own, and is best appreciated after multiple (and attentive) listenings. That is not to say that there are not some moments of pure Kitaro melodicism here! The album opener, "Whisper", is unmistakably Kitaro, with a floating lead-line sweeping over a backdrop of warm synth chords and a harp-like counter-melody. "Daichi" features one of Kitaro's most memorable melodies, with a shimmering semi-orchestral arrangement to back it up. "Tabiji", a personal favorite, features a simple, hypnotic melody, coupled with some nice lead-synth playing and a subtle arrangement that gradually builds in power. "Fairy of Water" is an achingly beautiful piano-based piece. "Mori No Tami", another personal favorite, has a mystical vibe and makes clever use of Oriental sounds. And "The Pharaoh" & "Sampoma Dance" both bring to mind the exotic flavors of his "Mandala/An Enchanted Evening" period. But this is a conceptual double-album where Kitaro stretches beyond his usual artistic confines, so the more melodic tracks are interspersed with more experimental fare such as "Golden Mask" (which uses an unusual synth-bass sound as its lead instrument), "Sitara 4" (basically a sitar solo with some percussive "electronica"-flavored backing) and the multi-part "Wonderland" (which seems more like an experiement in sound textures that an actual song.) Personally, I love this album through and through today, but I must admit that parts of it did take a few listens to fully sink in. All in all, this is probably one of those special albums that will be best enjoyed by the avid Kitaro enthusiast, and not so much by the casual fan who only knows the "Best of" albums. It's probably best to purcase with that in mind."

Purely inspiration

Latasha M. Dale | Columbus, Ga | 04/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Greetings,

I purchased this album about 2/3 years ago and it is one of my favorite cds. I find that as you mature your spirit will let you know when you are able to handle music as peaceful as this. Listening to this cd help puts my soul at ease, calm my house and remind me of who I am. I recommend this cd to anyone who yearns for a taste of something different."