"Koto and Crane Dance at Dusk" is a captivating new age album by Ren Shinrin-Yoku, set to release on May 12, 2025, under the label Zenquara. This 15-track collection, spanning 56 minutes, is a collaborative effort with Jane - Angela Flying, offering a serene and immersive musical experience.
Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, the album aims to connect listeners with nature and promote well-being. The tracks, such as "Stone Path," "Mist in the Tea Fields," and "Wings Over Water," evoke the tranquility and beauty of natural landscapes, while pieces like "Onsen Reflections" and "Lanterns in the Mist" draw from traditional Japanese culture and aesthetics.
The album's title track, "Koto and Crane Dance at Dusk," is particularly noteworthy, as it pays homage to the elegant mating dances of the red-crowned cranes, a symbol of longevity and cultural significance in Japan. Other highlights include "Softness of Dusk," "Sleeping Volcano," and "Letting Go of Form," each offering a unique blend of soothing melodies and atmospheric soundscapes.
Ren Shinrin-Yoku's expertise in new age music, combined with the ethereal vocals of Jane - Angela Flying, creates a harmonious and meditative journey through sound. "Koto and Crane Dance at Dusk" is an album that invites listeners to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the natural world, one track at a time.
Vinylscout