Dream

Performer: Kitaro
Artist: Jon Anderson
Engineer: Gary Barlough; Norikazu Komada
Producer: Kitaro
Distributor: IDN Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Kitaro (synthesizer); Jon Anderson, Jonathan Goldman (vocals); Hiroshi Araki, Jimmy Hahn (guitar); Kristin Stordahl Kanda (flute); Shigeru Okazawa (electric bass); Steve Bailey (bass); Syoji Fijii (drums); T.Y. Burhos (tabla); Ken Park (percussion); Deborah Anderson (background vocals); Coral Symphony Strings. Kitaro has always shown a flair for the dramatic with his serious synthesizer opuses, but on DREAM, he lets loose with a hitherto unexpressed romanticism, couched in showy orchestral arrangements and ecstatic love ballads. Added to the mix is Jon Anderson, whose vocals and lyrics take center stage on about half of the songs on this highly theatrical album. Kitaro's showstopper, "Lady of Dreams," marries a memorable accordion-laced cabaret melody with spectacular symphonic flourishes. Steve Bailey's fretless bass drives the tuneful "Agreement," which sounds like a FRAGILE-era Yes. In keeping with the aggressively entertaining songs, even "Dream of Chant"--a drone for vocals, tabla, and harmonium--is less a peaceful meditation than a tense mood piece punctuated by violent percussion. DREAM culminates in the exhilarating "Island of Life," which begins as a sweet synth lullaby, and builds to an ecstatic crescendo of passionate singing and crystalline strings.

Born Masanori Takahashi, Japanese keyboard wizard Kitaro first came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of the band Far Out, which would quickly change its name to Far East Family Band, one of Japan's first and most legendary psychedelic groups. On his own, Kitaro produces pioneering New Age synthesizer music that is atmospheric and meditative, with simple melodies unfolding at unhurried tempos. His world-famous TV soundtrack SILK ROAD led to soundtracks for other films and even a Broadway show, in addition to numerous successful Kitaro albums proper.

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