Walls of Akendora [Import]

Keiko Matsui, ???? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sony/Columbia
• ASIN: B0002XVUMM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #494,119 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese HDCD pressing of 2004 album includes two exclusive bonus tracks, 'Walking Through It' (Solo Piano) & 'Gentle Sands' (Solo Piano). Plus a bonus DVD (all code/NTSC) 'Bronze Casting' of Japan tour at Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo. The DVD features 10 tracks - '1942, From Russia', 'Ruins Of Sonora', 'Bronze Casting', 'Water Lily', 'Light In The Rain', 'Safari', 'The Wind & The Wolf', 'Deep Blue', 'Wildflower' (PV) & 'Road Movie'. Planet Joy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything contemporary jazz should be, and then much more, June 6, 2005

By 

Ricardo Carreon Quinones "http://ricardosblog... (Sao Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Walls of Akendora (Audio CD)

Keiko Matsui has done an absolutely wonderful work with Walls of Akendora. But let's step back a bit to do some history before coming back to this wonderful album.

Keiko is a virtuoso piano player that mixes many contemporary jazz, electronica and some hints of new age to create beautiful music that is very distinct to anything else. So, please do not expect Chris Botti or Kenny G on piano. She has created a wonderful instrumental style of her own.

Keiko does an awesome job mixing both traditional instruments as well as electronic music with her world class piano. The results are very elegant music compositions that are very dynamic and carry you through a range of sensations and emotions effortlessly.

It is very hard to try to describe Keiko's music in its entirety. If you want to try some tracks, try the following and decide for yourself: "Overture for the City", "Mountain Shakedown" and "Walking through it".

The DVD adds a very nice touch as you can see Keiko's down to earth personality as she travels the world. A very nice addition to this great album.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For The Piano Lover !, August 7, 2005

By 

Linda J. Winslow (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Walls of Akendora (Audio CD)

Oh, Wow!
This is a cd that will be liked by all who enjoy George Winston, Mehdi, Danny Wright,David Lanz, or even Jim Brickman. It is the very essence of good new age. So tranquil, yet so spirited, this cd is a refreshing break from my well-worn collection, I just keep wanting to listen to it over and over again. I am amazed!
It reminds me somewhat of Kevin Kern, but still very unique. This is music to the soul. Absolutely relaxing, as well.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: Mehdi ~ Instrumental Heaven Volume 7 ..Truly a Gem...Samples are at SoothingMusic,Com...Just Listen.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A TALE OF 2 CD'S, WELCOME BACK KEIKO!, April 14, 2005

By 

J. L Pusateri "pusateri99" (rockville, md United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Walls of Akendora (Audio CD)

For those of you like me that missed the Keiko Matsui from the 90's, with all of those melodies and jazzy funk that would become immediately ingrained in your memory banks, I have semi-good news: The horns and funky percussions are back. The bad news is maybe with too much of a vengeance. Starting from track #1, the songs are loud. Whistles blowing, drums banging, in one song I swear I even heard a fax machine going off. It's almost like she said, okay, you want loud, I'll give you loud! On the plus side, the songs are catchy, with my favorite tracks being 1, 4, and 8. Having possessed this CD for only 5 days, I am already humming the melodies- a great sign. Now the best news: cd#2-she has included a dvd that showcases earlier recorded songs. This DVD is better than the BET DVD, but falls short of the "Light Above The Trees" DVD. That is untoppable. Included in CD/DVD #2 is a video movie of Keiko's "What I did on my trip to South Africa, Eastern Europe, USA, and points elsewhere". For her to share this trip with her fans is one reason why she has such a loyal following: she shows a human side and really seems to care about her fanbase (which is smart, why alienate the hands that feed?). I particularly loved the scene when she is leaving a seemingly depressed area of South Africa clad in a full length mink coat due to unusually cool temps. (PETA people disregard this last sentence). To watch Keiko interact with the citizens of other countries, especially the South Africans, truly endears you to her. It doesn't hurt that she is also extremely attractive in the looks department. Keiko is indeed the best ambassador that Japan has blessed the world with since baseballs' Kaz Matsui. In Summary, this is the best CD/DVD since 2000, before Deep Blue. It deserves heavy FM airplay, and a place in your CD player.