Review Summary: Impressions and easy living.
There are so many different examples I could use to describe the kind of feeling I got while listening to Sasaki Kaishin’s Soundscapes of Mine. Things like sitting on a park bench on a warm spring day, watching cherry blossoms in bloom, or looking through a window and watching snow fall on the valley below. It’s rare for me to come across such rich imagery and yet I feel like these small moments were all inspirations for the artist himself. These impressions and inwardly peaceful moments translate into the experience of the album, and manage to add a significant deal of emotional depth and charm to an otherwise simple concept.
Kaishin’s guitar dreamily drifts through track after track, unfettered by a rhythm section, horn arrangements, or any other such trappings. He intentionally seems to eschew technicality or showmanship. The subtly complex chord progressions and charming melodies are treated like an impressionist painting. The soft tone and short songs amplify this effect and it never feels dull or boring. The tenderness with which Sasaki Kaishin treats his guitar and music is compelling and his willingness to let the listener into his world is both deeply personal and gratifying. At no point in this album does he ever try to impress, and while the album could probably use a couple more flourishes, the sincerity makes it that much more endearing.
So next time you’ve got a quiet moment alone, let Sasaki Kaishin’s guitar join you. Sure, you could augment it with a cigar, maybe a glass of wine, and if you have a fireplace, go ahead and turn that on too. Even if you have none of those things though, even if you’re just looking for a peaceful experience, you’ll find it in Soundscapes of Mine.
