An exceptional overview of '80s Japanese ambient and environmental music.
An essential instrumental set that's impeccably assembled and executed.
Summing up an entire musical movement in a single reissue is no easy feat ... But as a package, Kankyō Ongaku gets incredibly close, shining a brilliant light on one of Japan's most fascinating — yet hidden — musical periods.
By showcasing an artistic fusion of the tranquil with the bustling, the primal with the technologically advanced, the compilation shows how much work has already been done to find ways of summarizing and celebrating the potential of this new reality.
If some of this music still bears the whiff of eucalyptus oil and yoga sweat, then it’s a small price to pay for the awe it elicits.
Whether the sounds were meant for purely commercial use or for art, each track falls within a unifying vision that’s rare in an anthology.
Visible Cloaks’ Spencer Doran curates an appealingly cohesive compilation of Japanese ambient music that, while decades old, feels uncannily suited to contemporary listening habits.
Both as a listening and reading experience, the entire collection is fascinating and eye-opening, and far more than just pleasant, unassuming musical wallpaper. It's also somewhat overwhelming in a sense, simply because there's far more music from this era to discover, and this release barely scratches the surface.
Light in the Attic comes out with an excellent compilation of old school ambient music from 1980s Japan, an era and location that hasn't gotten enough shine up until this point.
Easily the best compilation of Japanese ambient music from the 80s that I’ve heard all year.
You're in Japan. You're not looking at the flashy neon signs or the tall skyscrapers in Tokyo. You're not in a tour bus. You're not talking to anyone. You're just taking in the nature around you. As you explore the beauty of the nature and years of history before you, you want to do nothing but embrace it all. Just the droplet of water from a leaf is a detail you can't miss. Sometimes you're walking past the historical structures on your own and putting yourself into that scene. Sometimes ... read more
This album is like soup.
It's comforting, peaceful, filling and just feels good in your soul, yet the music (even though it's extremely dreamy) is still forceful and doesn't feel meaningless. The production and soundscapes created in these pieces are nothing short of delectable, like a small cozy fire being lit inside you, or a hug from a great friend. I'm not the biggest nerd when it comes to ambient music, but this is a compilation I really enjoyed. It's an album I hope to come back to when ... read more
I don't know many other ambient collections, so I'm just going to say this is the best. okay.
Disc 1
#38 | / | Bandcamp Daily |