Search - Kitaro :: Kojiki

Start From The Beginning

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 02/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kojiki is the original Japanese storybook that retells the core myths of Japanese folklore. These are the tales that underlie the Shinto faith, long before Buddhism and Confucianism took their hold on Japanese culture. As such the have a rough and tumble, tongue in cheek side that makes the stories unique to Western eyes. What they lack lack in terms of refinement they more than make up for in color and imagination.Kitaro's approach to the Kojiki tales is to focus one the creation stories, starting with the creation of the islands, and climaxing in an intense and lurid dance that lures the sun goddess out of her cave, restoring the light and establishing Japan's royal line. The story offers many of the elements that 'program' music thrives on, and Kitaro is quick to take advantage of the resources available to him.My first experience with the music was in concert, during Kitaro's world tour. Previously I thought of Kitaro as a bland, but enjoyable, creator of electronic music. My new age preferences were (and still are) for acoustic musicians, and Kitaro's recognizable style was cloying after much listening. What I discovered at the concert was that Kitaro in person is a completely different phenomenon that Kitaro on DVD.Kojiki's wild emotional swings, from plaintive to ecstatic, make for compelling music. But the performance, with atmospheric special effects and Kitaro leaping from instrument to instrument was extraordinary. He finished to a standing ovation that was well earned. Since that time my appreciation for what the player/composer was trying to accomplish has grown with each playing.This is an excellence place to start your discovery of Kitaro, and a required possession if you are a regular listener."

Absolutely the best of Kitaro's !!!!

HIFI enthusiast | S.F. Bay Area, CA. USA | 11/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"need a high end audio system to really appreciate the impact and beauty of this album. Fantastic! It has everything you are looking for from a instrumental masterpiece. I alway like to compare Kitaro as Oriental Vangelis, while the former has more melody, delicacy and sensitivity. 'Kojiki' is heart-achingly beautiful.I have the regular version, not the Remastered Recording. Would guess the latter would sound even more spetacular.If you want buy only one work of Kitaro's, this is the one."