AUDIOPHILE RYUSUKE SETO MIROKU OBI STUNNING Rarity *NM*

$

295

ARTIST : RYUSUKE SETO

TITLE    : Miroku

Produced & Directed by Naotsugu Sagara

Recording & Mixing by Sakae Sekine & Ryusuke Seto

Cutting Engineer by Shizuo Nomiyama

Ryusuke Seto is a dichotomist, a believer in the mysterious interplay between the In (Yin) and Yo (Yang), East and West, Fire and Water, and Man and Woman. Out of the fusion of the two come creation, energy, and new life. He looks forward to the approaching merging of peoples and the dawn of a new age.

The theme of this dichotomy is repeated throughout Seto’s first solo album : in “Question & Answer,” “Fire & Water,” and the two companion pieces “Miroku 567” and “Miroku 369”. The result is new creativity in music.

Seto is well versed in Western music, having spent many years in the American music scene. And now he’s back in Japan. At a time when the East is eagerly seeking the fruit’s of the West’s “hard” material civilization and the West is curiously probing the ancient wisdom of its Pacific neighbors, Seto has them both. Raised in Hindmost (Japan), gaining first-hand experience in music in America, and returning once more to the place of his birth, Seto is saying, “As the plus and minus electricity is needed to have lights in your room, as the sunlight (fire) and rain (water) is needed to have flowers in your garden, East and west music must live together to create a new soul in music,” …………………………………….....the dawn of Miroku, a new age.

Side One :

1. Question & Answer (6’57)

Seto draws upon the teachings of the Zen master Misao Matsuoka for the theme of this piece . Out of the “tale of a white monk” comes a parable of water and waves . “Life is like a wave, or a wave like life, rising only to fall, and falling yet rising again. Smashed into a thousand pieces upon the rocks, yet always remaining the same in essence.”

2. Angels Forest (3’57)

An angel dances from tree to tree in an open wood while chanting the five great universal tones…..Seto traveled to distant Togakushi to listen to the silent murmuring of its remote seclusion. The result is the sound of nature itself crystallized in a three-way dialogue between the forest, percussion instruments, and an angel.

3. Cool Rain In August (6’14)

Seto has journeyed to many places in his dreams, and this song is derived from one of them. He is walking in a forest in a cool August rain. In his dream, he comes to realize the truth of the unity of all things……that all men are brothers, all else -- the trees, flowers, and birds around him - are cousins, and the wind and sky his friends.

4. Dream Land (4’41)

“Dream Land” alludes to the illusionary goals set by people, whether it be wealth, success, or fame. Seto underlines the futility of toiling in the ocean of society to reach such ephemeral goals, and points to the heart and mind for the eternal.

Side Two :

1. Fire & Water (2’37)

Written especially for this album, according to an arrangement by Japan’s famous conductor Kosuke Onozaki. Fire and water are the mysterious stuff of the universe and within them lies the source of all things.

2. Miroku (5.6.7) (6’41)

The first instrumental piece by Seto. The theme came to him one night in his California home. First comes five, then six, and then seven beats. The first stanza consists of 36 bars. 36 can be read Miroku in Japanese, for Mi is three and Roku is six. 567 Miroku is fire (vertical), 369 Miroku is water (horizontal), each adds up to 18, and when they come together as a cross it becomes 36.…………………Miroku.

3. Susano No Mikoto (13’01)

There is an ancient myth in Japan, handed down orally from the distant past. An eight- headed serpent terrorizes the people and all attempts to slaughter it end in failure. The hero, Susano no Mikoto lulls the monster with wine and song and cuts off its heads when it falls into a drunken stupor. This is the first in a series of myths and tales from Japan that Seto plans to put to music.

4. Miroku (3.6.9) (2’31)

This last piece of the album starts with a chorus of the five great tones of space and moves on to a three-six-nine theme. These five tones are said to resound with incredible force throughout the universe. The mystic chant “Om”, of Yoga as conceived by Seto, is also derived from the same source.

One of the finest demonstration records you will ever find………………………………...........................................................

This record is going to stop you in your tracks !!!

I mean that. Perhaps in the top-ten of all discs in your library.

Among my favorite records, this is not to be missed, by music lover and audiophile alike. Simply thrilling.

Music to behold, in the very finest vinyl edition ever released, anytime, anywhere, by anyone.

Rare music from a remarkable recording !!!

Great record, with great sound, to be sure !!!

Absolutely, positively not to be missed !!!

For other fine records, TAS picks and hard-to-finds, please view my Audiophile_lp.my here on Ebay !!!

LABEL     : ZEN

NUMBER : ZEN 1005

Note : With OBI + Insert

RECORDS CONDITION : NM

COVER CONDITION      : NM

SHIPPING POSTAGE : ASIA - $9 ,  EUROPE - $12 , USA - $15

How we visually grade our records :

Sealed : Album is still sealed in original shrink wrap and has never been opened.

Mint (M) : Album has been opened and most like unplayed and as close to new as possible.

Near Mint (NM) : The records appears as Mint condition with perhaps one spindle mark and no marks on the vinyl. Vinyl has original gloss.

Very Good Plus (VG++) : May have some minor scratches or scuffs that would not effect play quality. And well looked after with still glossy vinyl.

VG+, Poor or Fair condition items : I do not sell .

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RETURN POLICY :

If item is not as described, we will refund money. Customer is responsible for shipping back to us. I mark my LP's so I'll know if there is a substitute. Damaged items won't qualify for credit. We will pay the shipping to ship back to you (only on domestic customers). For International customers, the customer is responsible for returning the item back to us.