Music for Onmyo-Ji

AMG Review of Music for Onmyo-Ji

Ted Mills
All Music Guide

A double-CD, released only in Japan, which marks the first major team-up between Brian Eno and Peter Schwalm before their widely released Drawn From Life CD. The music on disc one is comprised of 14 tracks of traditional Japanese instruments, which are more appropriate for this CD, which is meant to accompany the Reiko Okano/Baku Yumemakura manga. The second disc leads one to ask what Schwalm actually adds to the mix in this collaboration. The sonic palette is very typical of Eno, with treated piano, synth washes, and a general modal sound to the floating proceedings. "Faraway Suns" has a rhythm to it, as well as some silvery, manipulated vocals, but it's not too far removed from Music for Films III. Schwalm would be more equal on Drawn From Life, but here he seems in awe of working with the master. An expensive purchase, by the way, import as it is -- worth it mostly to the Eno fanatic.