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"This vibrant celebration of the mystical realm of the samurai...calls forth visions of misty mountain peaks, remote villages, dancers and drummers, and temple chanters. The Samurai Collection is a perfect musical soundscape for your Earth Day celebrations." - Aquarius, A Sign Of the Times "Excellent selections, one of the best compilations I've ever heard." - GalaxiePlus, Digital Radio-Canada "Samurai Collection presents us with some of the best Pacific Moon has to offer. Included here are Uttara-Kuru, Kiyoshi Yoshida and Eri Sugai. The pieces are chosen for their emotional draw. The drumming tracks are vibrant and forceful contrasting the flute tracks which, while still powerful, are more subtle yet skillfully done... A very lovely presentation, and one that will introduce you to the artists, give you a good taste of the Japanese musical experience and lay the foundation for future exploration of Japanese World Music." - Ambient Visions 
"The really interesting thing is that this is India as seen through the eyes of Japanese musicians Susumu Ueda, Hiroshi Shibayama, Tadahiro Wakabayashi, and Takeshi Kobayashi. This is a fresh and fascinating look at India through admiring eyes. Highly recommended!" - Aquarius, A Sign of the Times
"...the grace and elegance of Johnouchi's composing and playing is amazing as well as deeply evocative.... There isn't a weak track on "Kataribe." If you like elegant, deeply felt solo piano you'll love this album. I do! Very highly recommended." - Ambient Visions "Missa Johnouchi... is a "Storyteller of the Piano" and I know many of you will hold the experience of her music close to your own heart as I do. Missa's sincerity is imaginative, moving, and offers the listener a sense of being privy to something so sacred and innocent that I liken it to a child's prayer. Long after listening one continues to feel the ever-present peaceful calm that all life springs from and returns to. Missa is a jewel of creation and as the finest of jewels do, she has an almost otherworldly shimmer to her soul which envelops the listener with noteable excellence." - PlanetLightworker
"East Wind delivers a fresh breath of exotic sound that takes the listener on a global journey without having to leave home." - Alternatives "In this impressive follow-up to its chant'n' groove-driven debut, Prayer, Uttara-Kuru explores a more impressionistic terrain...Uttara-Kuru avoids many of the East/West cliches, and its shakuhachis are decidedly real, not sampled." - Billboard Magazine "From shakuhachi flute and synth duets to traditional Japanese techno-folk and even Oriental fusion jazz, this is a CD that twists and turns with every new tune. In Buddhist terminology, Uttara-Kuru is synonymous with Shangri-La. Yes, they are." - Point of Light "Kitaro, move over! …This Wind blows through the imagination, capturing and delivering pure natural essences...." - NAPRA ReView "This music is both sweet and powerful, ancient and modern, elegant and down-to-earth. I highly recommend it." - Aquarius "A wonderful album which reminds us of the depth which Japanese fold instruments and traditional melodies have." - Crystal Tower "...a most unique musical experience...Gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and our PICK of this issue for 'best eastern music.' Simply SUPERB!!!" - Improvijazzation Nation "...unusual, intriguing and engulfing...." - EMOL - Entertainment Magazine On-Line "Uttara-Kuru...has a style of music all its own...strangely hypnotic and an easy listen." - Leader Times "Blending the finest elements of new age and Oriental music, this is 'East-meets-West' at its best and is highly recommended to all." - Musical SoundScapes "Fusing folk music with contemporary pop sounds, they offer a lively mix of worldbeat grooves...an intense sonic voyage with great melodic hooks..." - New Age Voice
"Every time I listen to this disc, or hear it on Echoes, I'm seduced by its subtle arrangements and the kind of melodies that, like Pachelbel's canon, seem like they could go on forever." - John Diliberto, in his "Pick of the Week" review ECHOES - Nationally Syndicated Radio Program "Jalan Jalan creates musical soundscapes that transport the listener into the deep spiritual energies of this small Indonesian island. ...profound musical experience..." - Musical SoundScapes "Jalan Jalan's recording, Bali, captures the very essence of this paradisiacal island. ...these eight songs paint an aural landscape as beautiful as Bali itself.... This CD would be perfect for meditation, yoga, any type of bodywork, or for simple relaxation." - A Sign of the Times - AQUARIUS MUSIC
"Jalan Jalan's melodically luminescent themes linger like a dream of a Balinese sunset." - Billboard Magazine "Bali dua conveys the richness of Bali's natural environment - its waterfalls, rivers, lush vegetation, mountains, beaches - and also its spiritual essence. This music will touch your heart and refresh your spirit." - Aquarius "Each track is a delight, a remembrance, and echo of the Island of Bali." - Ambient Visions
"Asian Blossoms ...is an enchanting and graceful collection of pieces...Gentle and evocative, this album is a rare find." - Wind & Wire "Japanese composer Missa Johnouchi has created a delicate musical fantasy on themes inspired by the Prairie Road, a trade route to the north of the famous Silk Road...The musicians play with both rushing passion and tender delicacy. - Barnes & Noble.com "In Asian Blossoms, the performers often exchange ancient Chinese instruments for the modern European accompaniment of piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, percussion and strings. The blend is stunning in its seeming complexity, overwhelming in its ability to create emotional responses by its listeners." - PowersSound "Asian Blossoms is a beautiful aural garden highlighting Oriental instruments against backgrounds of Western melodies in a brilliant collage." - Ted Cox, New Age Retailer "...incredibly beautiful." - World Music Portal
"...Johnouchi delivers another stunning collaboration with the all-woman Li-Hua ensemble...Eleven compositions reflect this oasis, reminiscent of sorrow, challenge, the joy of achievement, and the miracle of life. That music can communicate such experience and emotion without words is no surprise, but these journeys explore the realm of dreams and imagination as the evoke real scenes of the desert." - Napra ReView "Missa Johnouchi displays the adeptness of an old soul...Her melodies linger as afterthoughts of stolen moments, tugging at our hearts...Johnouchi is a mystic traveler, supplanting the past with a moment of the present, awakening a surreal sense of awe and inspiration…I can't say enough about how wonderful of a musical journey the road to OASIS is." - Awareness "M. Johnouchi... another very beautiful project! Thank you!" - Al Santos, WJZW-FM/Smooth Jazz Brunch
"Shao Rong's performance on the pipa (a Chinese lute) will enchant your ears and soothe your soul." - Improvijazzation Nation "Quite simply the most beautiful of the Pacific Moon label. Quiet music for contemplation and reflection." - Earwaves "This is beautiful music and a welcome change from the typical new age and 'snooze' jazz instrumentals out there. Highly recommended!" - enegade "These melodies will transport the listener to a beautiful, faraway place where romance is in the air, the moon is in the sky and the flowers are in bloom." - New Age Voice "Shao Rong's vibrant music and sensitive yet dramatic performance will just mesmerize the audience." - Wholistic Journal "Shao Rong creates a global feast of sound that is sure to satisfy almost any musical appetite. Even the most discerning connoisseur of New Asian/World music will find 'Orchid' to be a five-star experience." - Musical SoundScapes "The lute's shimmering sounds make each melody come alive, while classical folk instruments are blended with the piano and guitar. This is a powerful and expressive CD from an extremely gifted musician. I love it." - Creations Magazine "Backed by an assortment of western instruments, such as the piano and guitar, Rong and her pipa bring out some simply amazing tones and melodies. World music fans take note." - Album Network "Experimenting with the old and the new, Shao Rong has created a masterpiece of enchanting music sure to please a wide array of music lovers." - Dragonfly Times "Orchid is a vibrant work that deserves a serious listen." - Awareness "The CD maintains the feel of being uniquely Oriental in flavor, though it crosses the cultural lines back and forth?. This is a wonderful addition to ambient music coming from Pacific Moon. We welcome more of this caliber of music to this genre." - Ambient Visions
"While distinctly Asian, Sugai's imaginary dialect breaks through the language barrier, using the voice as an instrument that traverses lullabies and chorales, tribal chants, and serene meditations. 'Mai' means 'dance' in Japanese, and Eri Sugai dances like a flock of descending angels." - Billboard Magazine "One-woman vocal choirs are everywhere...but Eri Sugai has created one of the least affected and serenely entrancing chorales of recent memory. Unlike some more popular singers in this genre, she never loses the detail of her melodies, nor the distinct layers of her lush harmonies." - John Diliberto, in his "Pick of the Week" review. ECHOES - Nationally Syndicated Radio Program "'...a beautiful trance that blends oriental musical influences with some of the most inspiring Western/European orchestral sections you'll ever hear. Eri's vocals are BRILLIANT...! This is not only MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - it also gets the 'PICK' of 2001 for 'most inspiring vocal album." - Improvijazzation Nation "The album is a stunning testament to Eri Sugai’s songwriting and vocal talents." - Musical Discoveries "When I listen to Mai, I once again feel the emotional attractiveness, scales of possibility and depths of touch which are in the human voice." - Celestial Voices "The mixture of Western and Japanese ambience is subtle and irresistible. I'd look for this one, and bet on anything else Pacific Moon has to offer." - The Sensible Sound "This is a beautiful and accomplished album." - The Ectophiles' Guide "Eri Sugai certainly proves that the human voice is in fact the ultimate musical instrument.... Eri's vocals were multi-tracked with choir-like choruses and overdubbed dozens of times to create absolutely astounding harmonies..." - Innerchange "Sugai is daring enough to take chances with her music, and often those chances are the high points of this disc." - The Green Man Review "A wondrous and very professional showcase of her [Eri Sugai's] singing voice. This may very well be the finest masterpiece of a 'human voice album' because it has drawn out the maximum depth a voice has." - Entertainment News "A stunningly beautiful work by Eri Sugai, Mai receives my highest recommendation to all." - Musical SoundScapes "The power of the human voice is well demonstrated on this track of upbeat and soulful tunes." - Dragonfly Times "Eri Sugai deserves a place as a premier vocalist, in the same caliber as Enya or Maire Brennan. She stands on her own with her particular style and "Mai" is a wonderful introduction to her and her particular style of music." - Ambient Visions
"The gu zheng (a Chinese zither, sister of Japan's koto) is one of those instruments that in the right hands can take you all the way to the celestial realm. And these are the right hands…it's utterly transformative." - Napra ReView
"There is no mistaking this album as a powerful work from the get-go... The fusing of Western and eastern on this recording yields a true hybrid music - one that is not just a blend of the two but is actually something altogether different... Representing a fusion of the old and the new in a way seldom heard, Kiyoshi Yoshida has produced a stellar effort. Absolutely my highest recommendation." - Wind & Wire "A fine example of what can happen when inventive, open-minded musicians pair the most ancient of musical instruments with the most modern technology." - Chicago Sun-Times "This high-energy album by Japanese electronic composer Kiyoshi Yoshida is a lot of fun. His basic groove comes from recordings of live Taiko drummers...and would be a terrific soundtrack for your power workouts, cheerleading drills, aerobic routines and treadmill sprints. Step lively now! Give yourself a musical pep talk with ASIAN DRUMS!" - Barnes and Noble.com "The dynamic tension between the percussion and the other instruments lends a color to the proceedings that makes it a step removed from the primal feel of the troupes that consist only of drums and voices." - New Age Voice
"Yoshida balances ancient and modern, and melody and percussion ably...in this relaxing yet invigorating album." - All Music Guide "...An unusual and dramatic soundscape with mystical overtones. This is a spectacular second release by Yoshida, an artist who is proving to be a major force in bringing exotic Asian sounds to the Western market." - Napra Review
"A thoroughly enjoyable set of music, with a wonderful sense of continuity between the eleven cuts. Even if you have never been there [Kyoto]..., this music paints you a picture as you listen. - New Age Voice "The music in Ancient City was composed on the pentatonic scale, and it is a superlative piano recording.... This CD gets a huge thumbs up for piano fans but also for those who thought they had heard it all in the way of Japanese fusion music. Chalk up another winner for Pacific Moon!" - Wind &Wire
The koto sounds similar to a harp, but Komiya's contemporary training in improvisational performance...shines through in her treatment of the instrument and selection of songs. She plays with an artistic oneness of skill and emotion....Throughout this CD the music sounds alternately like harp, classical guitar and mandolin are being played, sometimes concurrently....The overall effect is stunning." - Massage Magazine "In the 25 chords of the koto on this release, you may hear the sounds of a refreshing spring breeze and, if you close your eyes, you may see the splendid colors found in a Japanese garden." - Musical SoundScapes
"The songs transition seamlessly, shifting mood ever so slightly, but never drawing the listener from inner calm…The overall effect is akin to the illustration on the CD cover: A green field dusted with the warm sunshine of a summer's day...." - Massage Magazine "Like the seed thistles in a dandelion floating in a subtle but sure breeze, or like the magic of firefly lights glowing among a summer evening's stars, the songs of this recording capture perfectly the magic of childhood." - Aquarius "Soothing melodies put mind and body to rest, evoking images of peaceful moments and landscapes, like ripples on a pond...in this intriguing and deeply relaxing recording." - Napra ReView "This is a beautiful and dreamy sound…the favorite of everyone in the office." - Light Connection
"Without exception, these performances contain a wonderful depth of feeling and expression that can warm you on the coldest of winter nights or conversely make you feel the chill of winter on a hot summer night. A rare recording indeed." - vanGogh's Ear
"Evoking the open spaces and peaceful beauty of the wilderness in springtime, Fang creates a series of melodies where the silence between the sounds is as important as the notes themselves. A gentle and soothing recording, Rainbow will delight fans of new age and Asian music alike." - All Music Guide
"The erhu (Chinese violin) in the hands of Jia Peng Fang speaks fluently the universal language of the heart..." - New Age Voice
"When it comes to the creative drive which makes for outstanding original music, Jia Peng Fang is one of those rarely well balanced artists who is absolutely vital to the overall presentation. With strokes of his musical brush, he carries us to areas of his creativity that have not previously been revealed." - Alternate Music Press "While the Eastern flavor to this album is undeniable, the easy-flowing melodicism...makes this music very easy on the soul and, likewise, easy on the Western mindset, too. The CD is a true fusion of styles and cultures and a delight for world music fans everywhere." - Wind & Wire
"The flavor is definitely Japanese and the mood is soft, invoking and as beautiful as the sent of a breeze from the ocean. This CD offers a look at the traditional roots of Japanese music while also examining Western influences. It is a most pleasing offering from Hae and Pacific Moon and one I am sure you will enjoy." - Ambient Visions "This is an island worthy of many journeys, and just as much as any tropical island, the sounds convey an invitation to visit, and a source of pleasure." - New Age Voice "The music evokes such a relaxed state that the listener can almost see the oncoming storm and feel the ocean current." - EMOL, Entertainment Magazine Online
"Japanese visual and electronics artists convened for this musical project, which mixes the sounds of Bali, India, and Mongolia into a techno landscape where trip-hop grooves and sensuous beats reign supreme... Not to be missed." - Amazon.com "Complete with actual recordings on location, including the mystical vocals of a young Indian girl, a Mongolian 'Diva,' and a mother and child singing in unison, this CD is rich in sound and subject matter. It is a pulsing with a Far Eastern groove and an international sensibility." - The Edge "An eerie, but exotic, journey into the Far East." - EMOL - Entertainment Magazine Online "Mirage of the East is a dramatic, experimental recording that lives on in your memory long after the music stops." - Alternatives
"F.A.B.'s Meditation [Satori] features seven tracks of chanted Buddhist sutras, accompanied by bells and shimmering, atmospheric backgrounds. At once soothing and energizing, this album is perfect for mental concentration or relaxation." - All Music Guide
"From the opening cut...I was hypnotized by the magnificent and magical sounds of this artist and his musical partners... Programmers should take note. These fresh sounds will delight your New Age, Jazz, and World Music audiences...Onda is a truly masterful artist and creator of delightful music that oozes magic. Highly recommended!" - The Critical Review Hauntingly beautiful melodies, strong use of chords and the flow of his sound allows Naoyuki Onda to make music that creates the sense of a fresh start, with ties to the ancient past. A very relaxing and enjoyable album!" - Boston Post-Gazette "The most memorable music I've heard in the last few months comes from the debut CD of Naoyuki Onda.... Onda has created beautiful music on Dream." - Contemporary Jazz "Give yourself the gift of a little time to relax with this album and flow gently along the spacious currents…on the way through pastoral settings. A beautiful gateway to dreamland." - New Age Voice "The music on Dream...is like a Far East version of adult contemporary music at its best...The compositions show a diversity and assuredness that a lot of AC composers here in the US simply don't exhibit. Dream is a solid recording filled with very likable music..." - Wind & Wire "The music uses ancient themes as the underpinning for painting sonic pictures that will quickly carry you away from your troubles." - Improvijazzation Nation "Naoyuki Onda's Dream, a warm collection of soundscapes...makes for great meditation, relaxation, or 'drifting off to sleep' music." - The Star "The Japanese piano virtuoso has created a masterful mood piece with this recording...a cross cultural journey that evokes images of sweeping grasslands, endless skies and the power of nature itself." - Drakhan's Lair |
