This would be a fun CD to use as a bedtime CD for kids, encouraging them to relax and imagine they are drifting off on a barge on a night-dark river. Or good for atmosphere during your next sushi dinner at home. Very pretty stuff.


Exquisite!   October 12, 2002
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

"Oyasumi" is a very deceptive album: deceptive in its simplicity, that is. Like most folkloric music, the songs on this CD are deeply rooted in experiences common to all people, and their emotional impact is complex, subtle and very powerful.

I first heard sound clips from this recording in the wake of the horrific events of 9/11. I listened to the clips again and again, deeply moved by the beauty of Aiko Shimada's voice and Elizabeth Falconer's work on koto. The creativity and undertone of joy broke through the pain and brought new hope. (This in the midst of constant military surveillance flights in the airspace surrounding the Pentagon, and a pall of silence in an otherwise lively neighborhood...)

My initial impressions haven't changed, though my appreciation for what Falconer and Shimada have achieved grows deeper each time I listen to the CD. Both women are master musicians, but the chemistry here is something unusual - and lasting. All of the tracks reach the very high standard set by their creators, making it very difficult to choose the so-called "best." However, my top picks include "Mimura nu Angwa," "Hagoromo no Komoriuta" (traditional Okinawan songs), an extremely elegant reworking of "Sakura, Sakura," and two original compositions by Falconer and Shimada respectively: "Hatsu Yuki" and "Aiko's Lullaby." I'm sure you'll find your own favorites soon enough...


A big disappointment   August 27, 2005
 8 out of 18 found this review helpful

[...]
I dislike Aiko Shimada's singing style intensely. She slurs the notes in a very annoying way.
This CD is more like new age music than authentic Japanese songs.
Even the koto playing is uninteresting.



Lovely album   October 9, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Aiko Shimada's voice is like the sky on a clear blue day. Simply gorgeous. Elizabeth Falconer's koto playing is superb! Simple and never distracting. This album of traditional Japanese lullabies is amazing. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Japanese music. This one is not just for children and parents.


Beautiful collaboration!   October 19, 2001
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

A mesmerizing, vey relaxing compilation of songs sung in Japanese and English. Some interpret classic folk tunes, some are modern original ballads (a la Jewel or Tracy Chapman). All feature Ms. Shimada's spectacularly clear, pure, delicate voice, accompanied by the sonorous rainwater sounds of Ms. Falconer's koto. The harmonies are delightful and enchanting.
Even without knowing the lyrics (which can be accessed on their website), you'll be able to hum along with many of them, and the language exposure is wonderful for young minds! The CD is long enough that even an energetic little one will slow down by the end. My 18-month old was completely transfixed for the first 3 or 4 songs at least, and on subsequent days would hand me the case as a hint to play it, even at bathtime.
With songs about dragonflies, cherry blossoms, stars and the ocean, one's spirit feels charmed, lightened and youthful; and yet there is also a deep wisdom and connectedness to nature and culture in these traditional sounds that have probably soothed generations.