Imagine this: you’re sitting on a small wooden bench in a garden; perhaps the roof of a pavilion is shielding you from the sun. A small chime dangles from the outer fringes of said roof, calmly reflecting the touch of the wind through its little sounds. You are looking out over flowers and gnarled old trees, loving grandparents of the smaller plants flourishing within their protective reach; a willow dangles thoughtfully beside a pond, billowing in the afternoon breeze. Carps are lazily drifting through the waters, calmly evading the roots of water lilies and lotuses as they lounge about their quaint aquatic realm. Then, drip, a rain drop. And another, drip. You must’ve missed the approaching clouds; luckily, you’re sitting in a protected spot, earning the best seat for the symphony that follows.
Water, wood, leaves, stone – the rain has plenty of instruments to choose from, pouring its steady rhythm across various surfaces and textures. The gentle pitter-patter reflects off these instruments quite elegantly, creating a varied soundscape from a limited resource. The pulse becomes skewed as the water collecting itself on the pavilion’s roof starts dripping down its sides, adding a counterpoint to the established tonality. Instead of fleeing the inclement weather, you choose to remain and bear witness to mother nature’s concert; only you, the rain, and the utterly disinterested carps below the gently rippling water’s surface.
Idyllic sceneries of this nature might befall your inner eye as well upon listening to Radio Yugawara, the collaborative record of Italian/American contemporary classical duo Passepartout Duo (consisting of pianist Nicoletta Favari and percussionist Christopher Salvito) and Japanese legends of kankyō ongaku/environmental music, Inoyama Land. It’s a spirited effort combining all strengths of the two subunits involved while shedding all potential hinderances through concentrated effort. For a collaboration between ensembles who were founded at least 32 years apart, their vibes and musicianship mesh exceedingly well, producing ambient music of the highest category.
Indeed, in keeping with Brian Eno’s axiom that good ambient music should be ‘as ignorable as it is interesting’, Radio Yugawara presents a perfect example of such an execution. You can use it to aurally furnish your room, like a gorgeous wallpaper or skilfully crafted vase, or you can study it intently like a particularly gripping tome on a subject of your choosing. It’s never bland or colorless; it merely lends itself to blending in with your surroundings so artfully that it becomes one with whatever occupies your mind and body at the time of listening. Upon deeper interaction, it enhances the presence of everything around you, instead of merely providing a soundtrack – the telltale sign of great ambient music.
Through the use of various synthesizers, including the chromaplane (an electromagnetic instrument designed by Passepartout Duo in collaboration with KOMA Elektronik), and percussion, Inoyama Land and their congenial counterparts weave 11 tracks of electronic ambiance that harken back to the particularly inspired days of ’80 Japanese ambient music, which to this day represents an absolute highpoint in the genre regardless of time or geographic location. I genuinely couldn’t think of a higher compliment in the given context. Carrying evocative names such as “Tangerine Fields”, “Xiloteca” (undoubtedly Italian for xylotheque), and “Axolotl Dreams”, these compositions draw from the same utensils to birth different but inherently related soundscapes to please and comfort the – more or less – attentive listener.
I strongly believe that this album deserves to be met on its own terms, taken in not through the words of a humble scribe but through the recognition of its own merits. As such, you will not find a dissection of the musical content here; such mincing of words would only serve to delay or render abstract the moment of interaction with Radio Yugawara. What you should do is read this review as a strong indicator towards what Passepartout Duo and Inoyama Land have laid out for you, and an endorsement of the musical contents awaiting your attention. I am 100% certain that you will not find the effort in vain; neither mine in contributing my thoughts, nor yours in following what small guidance I hope to provide.
