Akasau - Akasau (2004)

Kirilo, former bassist and singer for the Japanese punk-indie outfit Ex-Girl, has formed an experimental group called Akasau that concentrates on the ambient application of traditional Japanese sounds. Akasau uses flutes and percussion to weave ethereal, unfolding melodies as delicate as ink drawings on rice paper.

Kirilo's voice, both sensuous and otherworldly, sounds as traditional and old world as the geishas that grace the album's cover. The result is haunting, soothing, and deeply meditative music that offers a respite from the synthesizer-heavy recordings that dominate the ambient market. By contrast, the sounds of Akasau are organic, textured, and place-specific, while still transporting the listener to a timeless space