Moon Over Ci. Ruins

This remarkable album explores the shared history of music between ancient China, specifically the Tang Dynasty (seventh to tenth century CE), and Japan, which absorbed the instruments and music of that abundant culture. Producer Ye Yunchuan has overseen several album projects on his own Rhymoi Music label bringing Chinese music to a wider audience, with this his best release to date. Chinese guzheng player Mao Ya acts as music director for a roster of Japanese and Chinese musicians playing a selection of Japanese hôgaku (traditional and folk songs) and regional folk tunes from throughout China, featuring instruments from both countries including the shakuhachi, shamisen, taiko and koto from Japan, and the guzheng, ruan and erhu from China. Far from being a stuffy academic exercise like many such projects, the performers here find new angles to approach even well-worn traditional songs like ‘Solan Bushi’ and ‘Sakura’. Hasegawa Shozan's shakuhachi particularly stands out. When he alternates with Mao Ya's guzheng on the unsettling and beautiful title-track that closes the album, the listener is indeed transported to a place where the moon shines down on ancient ruins, left to contemplate the passing of time. Stunning and an early album of the year contender.