The human voice is capable of so much more than speech. When used by a well trained vocalist, it can become a compliment to well written music. Or it can become as a musical instrument itself, a focal point for the music written.

Examples of this are familiar to those who know Enya, who's voice accompanies some beautiful Celtic music, Maire Brennan, another Celtic Vocalist and Lisa Gerrard, of Dead Can Dance.

We also have surpassed the need for the words to be understood. While Enya and Maire Brennan sing in the language of the Celts or Gallic, Lisa Gerrard's vocals are reminiscent of Aramaic.

Pacific Moon Records presents us with the vocals of Eri Sugai on the CD "Mai". We are immediately taken to the gardens of Japan, and her voice is the focal point, the harmony and the musical instrument by which we are transported. The music is a combination of Japanese folk and is blended with western harmonies derived from church music. Eri Sugai was strongly affected by church music early in her career, and it gives an almost spiritual tone to her vocalizations. This can best be realized in her track "Konjaku Monogatari". Though definitely Japanese in flavor, it has the serenity of a spiritual moment in a stained glass lit church.

Eri Sugai has strong vocals which are best experienced in her tracks "Honen Bushi", "Mai" and "A Song of Birth". She shows how well the voice can be incorporated as a musical instrument and is able to stand on its own when well developed and experienced. I am reminded on some tracks of the style of music most associated with Japanese Animation, pop, but never main stream. We have no need to understand the lyrics, the feeling is in the music, not in the words.

Her harmonies are excellent. The music is well chosen to show off her vocal abilities. Recording quality is well done, and Pacific Moon Recordings shows again the fine quality of material they have previously offered continues with this release. Again, the CD contains their signature incense sticks, which I think just adds to the quality of all their releases.

Eri Sugai deserves a place as a premier vocalist, in the same caliber as Enya or Maire Brennan. She stands on her own with her particular style and "Mai" is a wonderful introduction to her and her particular style of music.

Track List

1. Horizon
2. Honen Bushi
3. Konjaku Monogatari
4. Aqua
5. Lullaby of Takeda
6. First Love
7. Mai
8. Rakuen
9. Song of Birth
10. China Rose


Recommended: Yes