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Reviews

Ichiko Aoba — Luminescent Creatures
(Bandcamp Hermine 003, 2025, CD / LP / DL)

by Alessandro Michelucci, Published 2025-05-01

Luminescent Creatures Cover art

Westerners' fascination with Japan often feeds on stereotypes. Some are linked to the past, such as the bravery of samurai and kamikaze, whereas others are contemporary: hi-tech Japan, sushi, manga. But Japanese culture includes much more, such as deep love for nature, islands, and the sea. This is confirmed by Ichiko Aoba, whose new CD, Luminescent Creatures, deserves great attention. Aoba's name may sound new to many, but she is no rookie: she has been on the music scene for ten years and this is her eighth work. Grace, delicacy, and elegance are the main characteristics of her music, along with her singing, light and impalpable, which seems to come from another dimension. Or perhaps from the sea, where the luminescent creatures evoked by the title of this precious work live. Tracks such as "Sonar," "Luciferine," and "Aurora" transport us to the bottom of the sea, where the Japanese singer tells us a story of imaginary places but real feelings. A few instruments — piano, strings — lightly punctuate this unusual and refined journey.

Filed under: New releases, 2025 releases

Related artist(s): Ichiko Aoba

More info
http://ichikoaoba.bandcamp.com/album/luminescent-creatures-2

 

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