Hosono, Haruomi
Tale Of Genji
Originally released in 1987 as a film soundtrack, this expressly ambient work by the Japanese composer is based on the Gagaku style of ancient Japanese court music, but with a shimmer of tones created by one person using a computer. Unlike much of Hosono's catalogue, here the synthesiser acts mostly as an atmospheric texture and instead focuses on traditional Japanese instruments, particularly koto, flute and drums. The truly striking aspect of this soundtrack is the layering of the instruments, which accumulate to the point of becoming unfamiliar: throngs of finger-beaten strings sound like a beehive of insects, waves of gentle hand percussion sound like the swell of inhalations and exhalations, the elaborate flute suggests the howl of the wind. Comes on clear vinyl.