If anyone has heard "MAI" by Eri Sugai and liked it, buy this. If you live outside Japan, pay the price for this import - it's thoroughly worth it. The album is a mixture of classical pieces performed in an unusual, but simple style - it sounds like Eri Sugai is singing along to the melodies, using her voice as an additional, multi-tracked instrument - and her own compositions, which are in a similar classical style. The title comes from the first track - J. S. Bach's "Air On A G String". This is followed by Erik Satie's "Gymnopaedies No. 1" (in similar vein) and then "In Your Arms", which reminds me very strongly of Enya. After that, it's plain sailing with pieces by Beethoven, Faure and Mussorgsky as well as more of Eri's own compositions. It's all so beautiful, you'll just keep listening to it. The talented Ms Sugai should be congratulated, because the nine tracks are superbly put together and, whether you like classical music or not, you will surely like this. And if you do, I understand that there is another album on the way. But for now, whilst we wait impatiently, we must all make do with this woonderful album. Stella Mirus (note the spelling!), aka Eri Sugai and ensemble, take a well deserved bow.
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