Latest album from the guitarist/kyujo hensyo player with group on shinobue, noukan (flutes) koto, bass, percussion, biwa and syo. Relaxing, laid back acoustic guitar with mix of western and traditional instrument accompaniment. Beautifully recorded and performed.

Recorded in Ubud, Bali, this is a collaboration between Japanese guitarist Tatsuya Koumazaki and a ten piece gamelan group called Dharma Shanthi. Koumazaki is used to playing his guitar with its special design, tunings and sound (similar to a Japanese koto) in unusual collaborations such as with Japanese Buddhist chanters. His guitar either picks out the melody or is used in quite a percussive way and on the final track accompanies a single instrument, the gender. 1. Empathy 2.The First Meeting 3. Sekanti 4. Jalanan Ke Bulan 5. Kesanga 6. Ameagari.

Guitarist Tatsuya Koumazaki is joined by percussion, shibobue flute, koto, waidaiko drums, sho (pipe organ) on an album that mixes traditional and contemporary Japanese sounds with elements of gagaku, shomyo (buddhist chants) and even some Balinese gamelan. 1. Furusato / Former Home 2. The Beat of the Steppe 3. The Moon at Bago 4. Totorasu 5. Funaya (Song for Mother) 6. Nostalgia for Home 7. At a Period of Autumnal Cold 8. Stranger

New Age / Healing / Japanese Traditional female duo on koto and flute play a bit of classical (Debussy) a bit of jazz (Take Five) and some Japanese lyrical tunes (Sakura). 10 tracks. 1.Haru no Yoru 2. Shunka 3. Byakko 4. Sosuika 5. Uyuudai 6. Amairo no Kami no Otome 7. Oborozukiyo 8.Take Five 9. Muso 10. Sakura

Jia Peng Fang started playing the Chinese erhu ( 2 stringed bowed violin) from the age of 8. He studied at the Central Music Academy's Folk Music Department in Beijing before he moved to Japan in 1988. where he teaches and plays with musicians from the Japanese pop, jazz and classical music worlds, plays on TV commercials and film soundtracks. He has also performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York. His music is a blend of Chinese and Western music, backed by synthesizers into a kind of New Age style. 12 tracks including newly released versions. 1. Sirious (from Faraway) 2. Silent Moon (from River) 3. Sweet Dreams (from Rainbow) 4. A Water Lilly (from Faraway) 5. Rainbow (from Rainbow) 6. Pure (from Faraway) 7. Bokyo 8. Xinglin Hupan (from River) 9. Shichahai in the Morning (from River) 10. Mirage of the Fall (from River) 11. Memory of Childhood (from Rainbow) 12. Silent Moon (Studio Live Version).

Tone are Yukihiro Mitsuka (shakuhachi and group leader), Mihoko Ono (koto) and Ryoichi Soyama (acoustic guitar, synthesizer. Their music combines traditional instruments with western sounds. While interesting in places, their sound is overall quite lightweight bordering on BGM elevator music. 1. Annupuri 2. Kakko no Mori 3. Kaze 4. Chikyu-Misaki 5. Kamuy 6. Yoko 7. Shuppatsu 8. Ishikari-gawa

In much the same vain as the first album. Fairly lightweight songs combining shakuhachi and koto with guitar and synthesizers. 1. Harunire no Ki 2. Tokachino 3. Toypira 4. The Music of Earth 5. Sunayama 6. Hamanasu 7.Daichi 8. Toya 9. Yuki Monogatari 10. Hoshi no Furu Sato.

The group are based in Hokkaido and draw inspiration from the mountains, seasons and the general beauty of their environment. On this album are some exciting moments as well some other rather forgetable ones. 1. Kita Hiko 2. Tono 3. Natsuame 4. Komori Uta 5. Kiri no Hi 6. Yume Tome 7. Hana Densetsu 8. Kyoshu 9. Tabi 10. Michi

Latest album, 11 tracks of healing, new age meets Japanese traditional.

Mini album with four tracks one for each of the seasons. 1. Fuyu (Winter) 2. Haru (Spring) 3. Natsu (Summer) 4. Aki (Autumn).

Famous Japanese songs played healing new age style by the group Collage featuring koto player Mie Kato and producer Hiroshi Igarashi, on synthesizer, programming, guitar and other instruments. Tracks include Aoge ba Toutoshi, Akai Kutsu, Aka-tombo, Amefuri, Amefuri Otsuki san, Amefuri Kumano ko.

Koto plus synthesizer and other western instruments on versions of famous Japanese tunes including Inu no Omawari san, Ue o Muite Arukou, Umi, Ureshii Hinamatsuri, Edo Komoriuta, Ookina Kuri no Ki no Shitade, Oshogatsu.

Pleasant enough new age healing versions of Japanese songs on koto and luscious keyboard arrangements. Tracks include Ohanashi Yubi san, Oborozukiyo, Omocha no Cha Cha Cha, Kahsan no Uta, Kata, Tataki, Kamome no Suihei san, Karatachi no Hana.

Koto plays Japanese well known songs with western accompaniment: Kisha Poppo, Kyo no Hi wa Saoyounara, Koinobori, Kojo no Tsuki, Kono Michi, Konnichiwa Aka chan

The famous tracks on this one include Sakura Sakura, Sacchan, Shiawase nara Te o Tatakou, Shiki no Uta, Jidai, Shabom-dama, Zui Zui Zukkorobashi.

Sei-kurabe, Zosan, Takibi, Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa, Tulip, Tsuki no Sabaku, Tsubas o Kudasai and other tunes played on koto and western instrumentation by the group Collage.

Collage play Te ho Hira o Taiyo ni, Tohryan se, Doremi no Uta, Donguri Koro Koro, Tombo no Megane, Nada Sou Sou, Natsuno Omoide and other well known Japanese tunes.

Tracks include Nanatsu no Ko, Hana, Hanyu no Yado, Hamachidori, Hamabe no Uta, Haru ga Kita, Haru no Ogawa

This selection of tracks includes Fuyugeshiki, Fuyu no Seiza, Furusato, Hotoru no Hikari, Miagete goran Yoru no Hoshi o, Mikan no saku Oka, Musunde Hiraite

Tracks on the final volume of Japanese songs played on koto with new age style accompaniment include Medaka no Gakko, Momiji, Yashi no Mi, Yuhi, Yuyake Koyake, Yuki, Ryoshu, Ringo no Uta

Latest compilation from Chapter One / Pacific Moon of Asian New Age / Healing with artists from China and Japan. These include Jia Peng-Fang on erhu (Chinese bowed violin) Hiroshi Nagashima on oud (Arabic lute), taiko group Bonten, pianist Masaji Watanabe, composer Kiyoshi Yoshida and Tone, a trio of shakuhachi, koto and guitar.

Hajime is a pianist who divides his time between Paris and Sapporo. He's known for his melodious compositions in a kind of new age/healing style that are sometimes performed with an ensemble. Has played at major festivals in Japan such as the Rising Sun rock festival and overseas such as MIDEM 2007 (Cannes) and Manchester In the City 2006. 12 tracks including Butterfly Effect, Le Papillon de Paris, and Travel Notes in Napoli Mercato, Sicily Rondo and Okinawa.

Hideki Togi plays the sho (bamboo mouth organ) and hichiriki (flute) instruments used in the stately court music, gagaku. He played the traditional music with the Imperial Palace Gagaku Orchestra, but has become much better known for breathing new life into the instruments by playing a kind of new age music. On this album he sinks to new depths (or reaches new heights depending on your point of view) playing covers of western classics, and Japanese pop hits. These include Romeo & Juliet (Prokofiev), Turandot (Puccini) and Japanese pop songs Sweet Memories and Yozora no Muko (SMAP).

'On Buddhist Chanting-Music For the Path to Spiritual Enlightenment', Nascente's Far Eastern expert, Paul Fisher has compiled a unique double album of mantras and Buddhist music. The electronic keyboard accompaniment augmented by Chinese traditional elements contained on this album is designed to add accessibility and atmosphere to the overall effect- creating music suitable for Buddhist prayers as well as being perfect for relaxing and unwinding to, whatever your path.' 2 CD set, 6 tracks. Click Read About for the full liner notes.

Blue Asia is the brain child of Japanese producer Makoto Kubota. He toured the world in the 1980s with his group the Sunset Gang, and the later the Sunsetz. He introduced Okinawan and Asian elements into his music, eventually becoming a full time producer, working with a variety of artists from Indonesia (Elvy Sukaesih, Detty Kurnia) to Madagascar (Njava). His co-conspiritors in Blue Asia are long time assistant Yoichi Ikeda and Malaysians Mac Chew and Jenny Chin, both Berklee graduates and top arrangers. Hotel Ibah is their first album featured around the gamelan music of Bali. As always with Kubota's projects, the is of the highest quality. Original, inspiring, a cool ambience of jegog bamboo gamelan, kecak chants, suling flutes, bells, chimes and more blended together with stylized electronic backing.

DVD with music by four Asian musicians produced and mixed by Makoto Kubota. Balinese and Sundanese gamelan expertly melded together by a master producer with some Turkish and Middle Eastern influences broadening the soundscape. More mellow than most things Kubota's done but this makes great late night listening and on headphones.The visuals are of scenes, images, festivals, and people of Bali, beatifully put together.

Third album in Kubota's fascinating 'hotel' series, and after Bali and Turkey, this time focused on Hawaii. Featuring Yuki Yamauchi and Martin Pahinui, Kubota leaves his trademark sound and innovation as always.

Compilation of Blue Asia/Makoto Kubota's three superb 'Hotel' albums: Ibah (Bali) Istanbul (Turkey) and Waimea (Hawaii).

Compiled by Makoto Kubota to go with the Blue Asia Hotel Bangkok CD. Eight tracks are taken from the excellent tradtional recordings of Thai music from various King Records series. These include phin (guitar) solo, traditional morlam singing with khaen accompaniment, jahke (zither) pong laang (xylophone) and pee (reed oboe). The other five tracks are superb new recordings by Makoto Kubota in Thailand of a small combo playing some sublime traditional tunes. Wonderful.

An album of Vietnamese and 'Indo-Chinese' music from the King catalogue compiled by Makoto Kubota, who recorded his 'Hotel Vietnam' for the same label. An excellent selection that takes you on a discovery of local traditions.

Makoto Kubota has arranged the takes from Sandii's album into a relaxing, ambient sound.

Young guys playing shakuhachi and koto (including the 17 string bass one). The music is a sort of watered down Japanese 'traditional' easy listening with drum machines and electric bass on some tracks. Mini CD of 7 tracks, plus DVD with 2 video clips.

Compilation of Japanese traditional 'healing' music played on koto, shakuhachi etc by young musicians. These include Kokohana (25 string koto unit) Hideaki Matsumoto (shakuhachi) Sakura Project (Japanese traditional and classical instruments). 8 tracks, mostly original tunes.

Another compilation of Japanese traditional meets New Age, this one of lyrical songs and lullabies including from Okinawa and Amami. 8 tracks from Sakura Project, Kokohana, Akito Obama (shakuhachi) and T's Colour among others.

Words such as 'Spirit' and 'Healing' normally set off alarm bells here, as an excuse to add a few nature sounds or slushy keyboards over some decorative ethnic sounds to appeal to a new age market. Which makes this album's delights all the more welcome. While there are the expected ocean and forest sounds and the occasional lush keyboards, this is a beautifully crafted CD that showcases some of Okinawa's most well known traditions, instruments and songs, (mo-ashibi, sanshin, Tsuki nu Kaisha) as well as some lesser known traditions (prayers) instruments such as Ryukyu kokkyu (erhu), ryukin (zither) and some superb vocal performances from Sachiko Shima, Coi-na and Team Kukuru, with music played by Toru Yonaha and others.

Makoto Kubota's first Indian excursion features various musicians recorded in Chennai on bamboo flute, violin, sitar, veena, dilruba, steel guitar, mandolin, tabla, dholak, udu and some superb vocalists to which Kubota has addded his trademark programmed beats, keyboards plus guitar and bass. His Blue Asia pals, Jenny Chin, Mac Chew and Yoichi Ikeda all help out at various points too. All tunes are Kubota or Blue Asia originals except for a wonderful version of Ever So Lonely. Quality Indian chill out music but not quite like anything you've heard before.

From the excellent (surprisingly) Spirit of Healing Series, Hawaii combines natural sounds (sea, surf) with acoustic instrumentation including ukulele and slack key guitar, steel guitar, plus bass, various nose flutes, keyboards, all performed by artitsts based on Oahu, Hawaii.

New album by the man behind Surf Champlers and Sarabandge and Okinawan Cafe Music. Solo sanshin playing of contemporary classics of Okinawan music, in fairly easy listening style. Songs includes Hana (Shokichi Kina), Nada Sousou (Rimi Natsukawa), Shimanchu nu Takara (Begin), Shimauta (The Boom), Warabigami (Misako Koja), and classics such as Asadoya Yunta, Tinsagu nu Hana and Akata Sun Dunchi. Great as background music and to hear some of Okinawa's best known melodies on it's most recognized instrument.

Instrumental versions of Okinawan songs, played on sanshin and guitar with percussion, keyboards electronic sound effects and mouth organ, resulting in the first ever Okinawan meets country music on the song "Wild East".

Imagine yourself walking along a beautiful beach in Okinawa. Well, that's exactly what the compilers hope you can do as you listen to a selection of songs and instrumentals with a decidely laid back feel. Excellent selection that includes Donto, Yachimun, Roli, Parsha Club, Sarabandge, Yoshiyuki Chinen, Sanshin Cafe Orchestra, Ganeko Yoriko and Yoshikawa Chuei.

Compilation of Chinese artists playing traditional instruments, such as Cao Xue Jing (Erhu), Jiang Xiaoqing (Guzheng) Fei Jianrong (Pipa, Sanxien), Jia Peng Fang (Erhu), George Gao (Erhu) and singer Jenny Zhang mostly accompanied by western instrumentation in a kind of new age mix. Some pure traditional tracks and some tasteful productions and arrangements of Chinese traditional songs, Japanese popular songs and original tunes. 14 tracks. 1. Heri jun zailai -[Ye Lai Xiang] Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong 2. Boy in the sunset -Jia Peng Fang 3. Shimauta- Cao Xuejing 4. Three Variations of the Plum Blossom -[Continental Melody] Fei Jianrong 5. Hua-Zi Hill -George Gao 6. Shyounen-Jidai - Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong 7. Shanghai story - Cao Xuejing 8. Kougenfujo - Cao Xuejing 9. Big Waves Against the Sand - Fei Jianrong 10. Aisansan - Cao Xuejing 11. Nada-Sousou -Cao Xuejing 12. Tokino-Nagareni-Miwomakase - Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong 13. Magnolia Park -George Gao & Jenny Zhang 14. Sarai - Cao Xue Jing

Collaboration between erhu (Chinese violin) player Geroge Gao and Chinese singer Jenny Zhang. Easy listening versions of classical (Ave Maria) jazz (My Favourite Things) pop and Chinese tunes. This album is a compilation from their past releases Heaven on Earth and The Villa which were hits in Canada. Appeals to the New Age market. 13 tracks.

Chinese actress Chen Hao became a superstar with Chinese communities across Asia when she starred in the TV drama Pink Ladies. Well now she's making records as well and making them in Japan. Bossa Nova, French Jazz, and New Age are combined into an album of Asian Healing. Apparently.

Cao Xue Jing is an erhu (2 stringed Chinese fiddle) player based in Japan. He is best known for providing the theme tune to Japan's long running News 23 programme. On this CD he plays that old favourite in Japan Amazing Grace, the theme to Hayao Miyazaki's anime classic Howl's Moving Castle, Chinese traditional, Japanese pop and classical tunes. His erhu is accompanied by piano, cello and saxophone. 12 tracks.

Jiang Xiaoqing (guzheng), Fei Jianrong (pipa,sanxien) plus Daisaku Kume (piano, synth, pianica) and others perform a mixture of Asian and Japanese tunes, including the Peanuts 'Vacance de l'amour'. 1. Ye Lai Xiang 2. Shounenjidai 3. Miagetegoran Yorunohosiwo 4. Amairono Kamio Otome 5. Sakutazaka 6. The River of Rain (Fei Jianrong Original) 7. Last Emperor-Theme 8. Chijounohoshi 9. Ihoujin-Silk Road's Theme 10. Heri jun zailai 11. Tokinonagarenimiwomakase 12. Kokoro-no-tabi (Jiang Xiaoqing Original) 13. Asian Dream 14.Koino Vacance (Vacance de l'amour) (Vocal:Jiang Xiaoqing & Fei Jianrong)

Chinese erhu renditions of mostly Japanese and Okinawan popular songs including Hana, Nada Sousou, Umukaji, and his tune 'Put Your Hands Up', the theme tune to the TV programme News 23.

Jia Peng Fang started playing the Chinese erhu ( 2 stringed bowed violin) from the age of 8. He studied at the Central Music Academy's Folk Music Department in Beijing before he moved to Japan in 1988. where he teaches and plays with musicians from the Japanese pop, jazz and classical music worlds, plays on TV commercials and film soundtracks. He has also performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York. His music is a blend of Chinese and Western music, backed by synthesizers into a kind of New Age style. 12 tracks including newly released versions. 1. Sirious (from Faraway) 2. Silent Moon (from River) 3. Sweet Dreams (from Rainbow) 4. A Water Lilly (from Faraway) 5. Rainbow (from Rainbow) 6. Pure (from Faraway) 7. Bokyo 8. Xinglin Hupan (from River) 9. Shichahai in the Morning (from River) 10. Mirage of the Fall (from River) 11. Memory of Childhood (from Rainbow) 12. Silent Moon (Studio Live Version).

Chinese two stringed violin, the erhu, played by Jia Peng Fang and Hiroko Kuwakino, accompanied by synthesizer, acoustic guitars and percussion into a mostly new age style of music. Music composed & arranged by Yoshihiko Sano 1. Foreigner in Shanghai 2. Boy in the sunset 3. Ocean harmony 4. Rainy day on the beach 5. Under the blue sky 6. Maryvonne's cherrytree 7. Farewell in the hill 8. Kinmokusei 9. From savanna to the hill 10. Misty dawn

Cao Xue Jing plays some of the most popular Okinawan songs on erhu, the Chinese two stringed bowed fiddle. He is accompanied by piano, sanshin, guitar, bass and percussion.1.Shimauta 2.Tinsagu nu Hana 3.Hana 4.Juku no Haru 5.Asadoya Yunta 6.Haisai Ojisan 7.Koishikute 8.Warabigami 9.Nada Sousou 10.Wadatsumi no Ki 11.Umukaji 12.Satoukibi-batake 13.Bashofu 14.Tsuki nu Kaisha

Tonkori is the long skinny Ainu stringed instrument. Oki, after listening to old reel to reel recordings of Ainu elders playing solo tonkori decided to 'transcend time and star in his very own period piece'. The repetitive phrases of these old traditional tunes transport the listener into a tonkori trance, exactly as Oki himself would imagine would happen if he could play along with those elder Ainu whose recordings he stumbled upon. 15 tracks with English liner notes. Fantastic.

Ikue Asazaki is an elderly lady from Amami island whose voice is full of character, slightly hoarse and sometimes with falsetto. On this album she sings Okinawan and Amami traditional minyo, plus old Japanese songs and lullabies. Excellent.

Veteran female singer from Amami island, who in her twilight years got signed by a major. Her music sometimes borders on the new age / healing, and here collaborations with pianists and guitar players such as Chichi Matsumura from Gontiti continue this theme.

The three songs on Asazaki's mini-album get re-released onto a full album with six new recordings, and two interludes of voice and soundscape. Asazaki's vocals are accompanied by Akira Takahashi's piano on a kind of Okinawa meets new age piano CD. But don't let that put you off too much. It's actually a pleasant enough listen, designed to soothe the senses rather than stir them. Wonderful Japanese vocalist UA guests on one track adding street cred.

New Age waffle? sort of. Bach pieces played on Japanese koto (harp) with dreamy synthesizers in the background.

Chopin nocturnes, preludes, waltzes, etudes, played on the koto (harp) with synthesizers in the background. Pleasant if you are in an elevator; as long as it doesn't get stuck.

Akihito Obama is one of the best young shakuhachi players in Japan. He has played with the excellent Takio Band and performed in many countries around the world. On this album he plays duets with six other top musicians on a variety of instruments. Akira Horikoshi (percussion), Yukihiro Goto (Satsuma biwa), Hiroshi Yoshino (wood bass), Taro Matsumoto (shakuhachi), Yuriko Mukoujima (viola) and Etsuko Takezawa (17 stringed koto). It all hangs together well, with a lot of variety and some great musicianship.

Dozan Fujiwara is a young shakuhachi player who studied under the great Hozan Yamamoto. Emiko Miyazaki is a female koto player, known for her contemporary performance and compositions. This CD contains some of Miyazaki's original tunes, Japanese folk tunes, tango and others styles on a varied CD.

Shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player Kinohachi is a student of the pioneering Kifu Mitsuhashi, active back in the 60s. Kinohachi is attempting to do roughly the same as his master on his first album, that is bring something new and fresh to the instrument. His imagination however doesn't stretch much beyond adding synthesizers, programmed beats and attempting to look cool on the cover. Music seemingly made to have on in the background, which is fine if that's what you want.

Kinohachi's second album is an improvement on his debut. The backing has a slightly harder, more interesting edge to it, and his playing has more expression.

12 Girls Band from China become popular in Japan (and in the USA) for being rather attractive girls playing Chinese music on traditional instruments. Groups who sound and look a bit like 12 Girls Band have now emerged. Enter Sakura Project, 6 girls playing Japanese traditional instruments, biwa, koto, sho, plus wood bass, flute and vibraphone. They play a mixture of Oriental and Western tunes. It all sounds very nice on this mini CD. Unfortunately the final outcome is likely they will disappear as fast as they emerged.

Two young female koto players perform various tunes under the guise of healing music. They play 25 stringed koto on nine tracks, mostly original tunes with titles such as 'gentle rain'.

Zan are three young cool image conscious musicians who've learned to play Japanese traditional instruments such as shakuhachi, fue, koto and junana-gen (seventeen stringed koto). On this mini-album with 6 tracks they play East Asian contemporary tunes on those instruments. Melodic and easy on the ear.

Hideki Togi has Japanese court music, gagaku, running through his veins.His family have been engaged with preserving and developing this ancient musical style for over 1300 years. Some might say, for the last few years Togi has been engaged in watering down the tradition, by turning gagaku into a so-called 'healing' pap. Togi has combined his hichiriki (a gagaku wind instrument) with synthesizers and western instruments in an attempt to bridge the gap between east and west, take an ancient sound into the modern world....you get the picture. On this latest album, Togi teams up with a 6 piece Chinese group called Bao from Shanghai who are playing a variety of Chinese traditional instruments. This makes perfect sense as the roots of gagaku lie in China. Nevertheless, it's still heavily marketed as healing / new age. CD extra comes with live footage of Togi and Bao playing together.

Solo album from Sachiko Kojima, the ex-Zelda and current Amana member. Kojima sings, plays various zithers and is accompanied by Indian and African instruments in a kind of swirling blanket of traditional sounds. All very hypnotic. Includes the song Nami, written by Donto.

Easy listening Vietnamese instrumental music played on three traditional instruments with keyboards and drum machines.

Dem Tan Ben Ngu (Night's End at the Royal Docks) is a tune based on Hue traditional music, as are the other nine songs on this CD. Modern instrumental versions of those tunes played on dan bau, dan tranh, with keyboard backing. Vietnamese easy listening.

Accompanying CD to Blue Asia's Hotel Morocco. Compiled by Makoto Kubota, includes new recordings of some of featured artists on Hotel Morocco, such as Youssef Gnawa, other new recordings of some deeply rootsy, hypnotic gnawa and other Moroccan music many performed live and solo. 13 fantastic tracks.

Tracks from the King World Music library, compiled and mastered by Makoto Kubota. Not much more than old tracks reissued into a hip package, but Kubota has chosen well with music from Burma, Timor, Madagascar, Mongolia, Greece, Nepal, Vietnam and elsewhere. Hugely enjoyable CD that is full of discoveries.

Compiled by Makoto Kubota from the King World Music catalogue of various world music. Part 2 of the equally excellent World Cafe.

Compiled by Makoto Kubota to go with the Blue Asia Hotel Bangkok CD. Eight tracks are taken from the excellent tradtional recordings of Thai music from various King Records series. These include phin (guitar) solo, traditional morlam singing with khaen accompaniment, jahke (zither) pong laang (xylophone) and pee (reed oboe). The other five tracks are superb new recordings by Makoto Kubota in Thailand of a small combo playing some sublime traditional tunes. Wonderful.

An album of Vietnamese and 'Indo-Chinese' music from the King catalogue compiled by Makoto Kubota, who recorded his 'Hotel Vietnam' for the same label. An excellent selection that takes you on a discovery of local traditions.

The sound of crickets, a pounding bass gong, the occasional bird call, the sound of thunder. You can't tap your foot to it, or sing along to it, just wonder how it is that 40 minutes of this makes not just pretty good background noise, but an inspiring listen.

Makoto Kubota has created a superb album of Balinese (and Javanese) soundscapes, from gamelan jegog to suling overlaid with cool beats and some natural sounds of the forest. Quite similar to Blue Asia's first album Hotel Ibah, but more laid back. As ever with Makoto Kubota this is a high quality album, great to chill out to, but equally great as a pure listening experience.

Cao Xue Jing plays some of the most popular Okinawan songs on erhu, the Chinese two stringed bowed fiddle. He is accompanied by piano, sanshin, guitar, bass and percussion.1.Shimauta 2.Tinsagu nu Hana 3.Hana 4.Juku no Haru 5.Asadoya Yunta 6.Haisai Ojisan 7.Koishikute 8.Warabigami 9.Nada Sousou 10.Wadatsumi no Ki 11.Umukaji 12.Satoukibi-batake 13.Bashofu 14.Tsuki nu Kaisha

Accompanying CD to Blue Asia's Hotel Morocco. Compiled by Makoto Kubota, includes new recordings of some of featured artists on Hotel Morocco, such as Youssef Gnawa, other new recordings of some deeply rootsy, hypnotic gnawa and other Moroccan music many performed live and solo. 13 fantastic tracks.

Tracks from the King World Music library, compiled and mastered by Makoto Kubota. Not much more than old tracks reissued into a hip package, but Kubota has chosen well with music from Burma, Timor, Madagascar, Mongolia, Greece, Nepal, Vietnam and elsewhere. Hugely enjoyable CD that is full of discoveries.