Album Notes

(This CD is HDCD mastered for best recording quality)
Latest News!"Winter Story" was nominated for IOMA 2006 as best instrumental/soundtrack music. Thank you.



Eric Chiryoku is one of the finest multi-instrumentalists ever to have emerged from his side of the ocean in recent years. His blend of pop and folk-oriented soundtrack music stretches the imagination to a point where the listener willingly allows his or her heart and soul to be caressed by some of the most wonderfully innovative piano, flute and violin based 'Eric' compositions.

Eric Chiryoku's first release 'Winter Story' won widespread critical acclaim around the world. His latest album 'Spring of Life' is likely to surpass that accolade.

Eric was recently awarded two 2007 International Online Music Award nominations for Best Composer and Best Male Solo Artist, and in 2006, he was awarded Best Instrumental Soundtrack for the song "Winter Story".

***************
Latest exclusive CD review from International Online Magazine:

An album of such immensely proportionate platinum-like quality should be revered as a treasure and should never ever be used as a coffee mug coaster. The contributing members involved in the creation and completion of this magnificent album deserve a firm but forceful pat on the back for having the decency to share what was writhing around in that deep mind of Eric's. Ladies and gentleman it is my esteemed pleasure to introduce to you the reason why people like Eric Chiryoku become world famous motion picture soundtrack composers!!!
This remarkable album opens up with Winter Story is not only the opening track to the doors of this album or to the beginning of a season filled with white flakes of bliss but an opening to a truly wondrous state of mind. This track that is so eloquently caressing my senses is arranged with a talent that far surpasses the reaches of any sane thought. The extraordinary flute handle and the benevolence of the piano playing is enough to make a person feel the need to seek out refuge from this at times overwhelming world in a place where no one could find you for as long as you didn't want to be found.

Season Romance is the difference between the world we live in and the world we sleep to dream of. It is without a doubt good for your entire well being, it's as though it has the power of healing any negative thoughts that may be bombarding your existence. The violin is a magnificent instrument even when it's just leaning against a wall waiting to be picked up and played but it takes real talent to accent an already perfect piece of music, accelerating its integrity.

Life Journey radiates orchestral splendor while taking this listener on a ride of mixed emotional cascades of sound. The beauty of the surprising flood of unbridled thrust that fuels through this track's eccentric flow is astonishing at its best. The violin playing had such a strong grip on my tears it held them at bay until the time for the fall was at hand and then, without any haste, the levee was opened to reveal the salty sea-like water that filled my penetrated soul. What a wonderful piece of music!

Cherish reminds me of the longing that I have felt for the loss of love in its every form and the way it rips your heart from your chest's comfort. The emotion that is felt by this track's compositional creator is so powerful that it feels like a first hand experience passed through to all who listen so that they may take comfort in that they are never alone in their states of longing, dismay, and sorrow.

Meadow Whisper... its like actually laying in a vast field of bright green blades of grass, seeing the occasional perfectly sprouted daisy swaying back and forth by the gentle force of a warm sweet-smelling breeze. While you look up at the sky and take great enjoyment in discerning whether or not the white puffy cloud formations are those of a herd of elephants running through the fields of an African land, or of toads sitting on the lily pads of a beautiful crystal clear pond. It's a truly beautifullly realised collage of sound!

Remembrance speaks an unspoken language of sheer eloquence. The graceful movement of the violin strings being pressed against and through your ears is magnificently accented with astounding pianistic integrity. The two lovely melodies merge and bind together to form a marriage of emotionally enthralling majesty. Then we have Morning Breeze as it throws any sense of not belonging to every part of the world to the air above. Its romantically inducing feel is such that you are drawn into deep thoughts of life, the kind of thoughts that reminisce of all of the wonderful experiences in life that make it worth living.

Embracing Moment could very well be the track that could describe the moment in a film where you can see two people together in everything enjoying a moment of complete and utter blissful splendor. Two people who have not a care in the world for anyone outside themselves for that stretch of time. A beautiful track is a beautiful track... and there's no two ways about it!

Sweet Memories are something we all hold dear in our hearts. What a wonderful depiction of the niceness associated with feeling something joyous. It is without a doubt a perfect example of what immense talent was involved in every aspect of this album from every contributing factor and person. The piece is followed by the last track on the album; The Song of Nature. This exquisite track sends a very powerful message of suggestion to those who are not concerned with the issues in which they do not feel affects them when they do in fact affect us all. Global warming is an issue that needs urgent attention and for this track to be dedicated to this growing and very real concern is admirable to say the least. It marks the closure of a level of enjoyment that will forever be in my mind as a remarkable and unforgettable experience.

--International Online Music, Elley Wilson - September 05
***************