Brian Eno & Peter Schwalm + Reiko Okano - Music for Onmyo-Ji (2000) [2CD] {Victor Entertainment Japan}

Brian Eno & Peter Schwalm + Reiko Okano - Music for Onmyo-Ji (2000) [2CD] {Victor Entertainment Japan}

Ambient / Experimental / Avant-Garde / Traditional Japan

Music for Onmyo-Ji is a two-CD album of music for the books of Reiko Okano. The first disc is by Reigakusya, the second by Brian Eno and J. Peter Schwalm. A double-CD, released only in Japan, which marks the first major team-up between Brian Eno and Peter Schwalm before their widely released Drawn From Life CD. The music on disc one is comprised of 14 tracks of traditional Japanese instruments, which are more appropriate for this CD, which is meant to accompany the Reiko Okano/Baku Yumemakura manga. The second disc leads one to ask what Schwalm actually adds to the mix in this collaboration. The sonic palette is very typical of Eno, with treated piano, synth washes, and a general modal sound to the floating proceedings. "Faraway Suns" has a rhythm to it, as well as some silvery, manipulated vocals, but it's not too far removed from Music for Films III. Schwalm would be more equal on Drawn From Life, but here he seems in awe of working with the master. An expensive purchase, by the way, import as it is -- worth it mostly to the Eno fanatic. tracklist: Disc 1 01. Sojo no Choshi Bongen 02. Shundeika [Togaku Bugaku] 03. Oshikicho no Choshi 04. Jissuiraku [Togaku Kangen] 05. Yoshinso [Biwa Hikyoku] 06. Ichikotsusho no Sugagai 07. Ryo-o Ranjo [Togaku Bugaku] 08. Hyojo no Chosi 09. Bairo no Ha [Togaku Bugaku] 10. Asukai [Saibara] 11. Banshikicho no Choshi 12. Soko [Togaku Bugaku] 13. Taishikico no Chosi 14. Chogeishi [Togaku Bugaku] 15. Jisei [Rouei] Disc 2 01. Star Gods 02. Six Small Pictures 03. Connecting Heaven to Earth 04. Little Lights 05. The Milky Way 06. Faraway Suns