Joe Hisaishi – Songs of Hope: The Essential Joe Hisaishi Vol. 2 (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Joe Hisaishi – Songs of Hope: The Essential Joe Hisaishi Vol. 2 (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:10:44 minutes | 2,36 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © UNIVERSAL MUSIC LLC

Songs of Hope: The Essential Joe Hisaish Vol. 2, features even more of Hisaishi’s greatest hits. From iconic films including Spirited Away and Porco Rosso to orchestral works and solo piano recordings, plus two brand-new recordings: “Kids Return” and “Hana-Bi.” Pitchfork proclaimed him, “The most acclaimed Japanese composer to have ever worked in film.” Out via Decca Gold and UMG Japan.

In order to fully satisfy the fans of some of the cult films with soundtracks by Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, this XXL compilation includes extracts of soundtracks from some feature films which were already released in a 2020 volume (Dream Songs). Thus, the Kids Return theme is offered here in a live version with a larger band than in the previous outing, and the main theme of the music from Kikujiro is played here on the marimba (Summer). In addition to these two Takeshi Kitano classics, the listener is treated to the haunting melody of Miyazaki’s iconic Porco Rosso cartoon-with a jazzy second half that echoes the Roaring Twenties, which form the backdrop to the film. Such a rich compilation is what is needed to really convey all the protean talent of an artist who can compose a rousing tango `a la Astor Piazzolla (Tango X.T.C.), as well as minimalist music in the style of Steve Reich (DA-MA-SHI-E), and a concertante piece with a vibrant neo-romanticism (View of Silence). The present album also highlights a number of pieces from the Piano Stories project-a collection of the Maestro’s records launched in 1988: the gravity of the Nocturne or the tender and mysterious Lost Sheep on the Bed. The album includes two unreleased tracks: a live version of Hana Bi and, as an opener, a new version of Kids Return (Angel Doll). – Nicolas Magenham

Tracklist:

01. Joe Hisaishi – ANGEL DOLL (From “Kids Return” Original Soundtrack) (02:21)
02. Joe Hisaishi – la pioggia (05:15)
03. Joe Hisaishi – il porco rosso (04:51)
04. Joe Hisaishi – Lost Sheep on the bed (03:39)
05. Joe Hisaishi – FOR YOU (from “Water Traveler – Samurai Kids”) (04:15)
06. Joe Hisaishi – White Night (03:59)
07. Joe Hisaishi – DA-MA-SHI-E (07:50)
08. Joe Hisaishi – Departures -memory- (From “Departures” Soundtrack) (04:09)
09. Joe Hisaishi Ensemble – TWO OF US (04:59)
10. Joe Hisaishi – Rain Garden (05:02)
11. Joe Hisaishi – Friends (Live) (03:58)
12. Joe Hisaishi Ensemble – Summer (04:09)
13. Joe Hisaishi – Les Aventuriers (04:17)
14. Joe Hisaishi – Kids Return (Live) (04:08)
15. Joe Hisaishi – Links (05:55)
16. Joe Hisaishi – VIEW OF SILENCE (05:31)
17. Joe Hisaishi – Nocturne (04:10)
18. Joe Hisaishi – Silence (04:31)
19. Joe Hisaishi – MKWAJU 1981-2009 (04:56)
20. Joe Hisaishi – Ashitaka and San (Live) (04:18)
21. Joe Hisaishi – The Rain (From “Kikujiro” Soundtrack) (05:40)
22. Joe Hisaishi – DEAD for Strings, Perc., Harpe and Piano: 1. D.e.a.d (06:15)
23. Joe Hisaishi – Tango X.T.C. (Live) (04:56)
24. Joe Hisaishi – The Little House (Live) (05:38)
25. Joe Hisaishi – HANA-BI (Live) (03:15)
26. Joe Hisaishi – Silencio de Parc Güell (02:36)
27. Joe Hisaishi – WAVE (05:06)
28. Joe Hisaishi – World Dreams (04:52)

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