Tokyo-based singer-songwriter Aco Takenaka returns with her long-awaited third album, Ancient Seeds, a luminous and deeply spiritual journey through the landscapes of sound, culture, and memory. Co-produced with Japanese composer Toshiyuki O’mori, the record is a masterful work of ambient and New Age expression, weaving together ancestral chants, global rhythms, and meditative synth textures into an experience that feels both timeless and forward-looking.
At its core, Ancient Seeds is a project rooted in preservation and rebirth. Takenaka reimagines traditional songs and mantras from Japan, Tibet, India, Africa, and North America, reawakening melodies that might otherwise fade in the noise of globalization. The result is an album that bridges ancient ritual and modern electronic production—an ethereal dialogue between the sacred and the contemporary. O’mori’s meticulous arrangements and Takenaka’s multi-dimensional voice together form a sonic architecture where nature, soul, and technology coexist in harmony.
The album opens with “Ame Kuni,” a gentle invocation that introduces the listener to Takenaka’s shamanic vocal style—her “seven-colored voice”—which seems to resonate from another realm. Layers of ambient synths drift like mist, while subtle percussive elements pulse beneath the surface, grounding the piece in a hypnotic rhythm that mirrors the breath of meditation. The following track, “Tate Yorinaka,” expands on this concept, with choral harmonies and rhythmic chanting that evoke both Japanese temple rituals and contemporary electronic trance. The synth lines, airy yet deliberate, create a space of weightless contemplation.
Rhythm, in Ancient Seeds, is never merely functional—it is spiritual. Tracks like “Wani Wachi Elo” and “O Mama Bakudala” employ world percussion to summon the communal energy of tribal ceremony. Japanese percussionist Tamao Fuji brings organic depth, while producer Joss Jaffe’s cross-cultural sensibility merges Indian tabla patterns with ambient textures. Each beat feels intentional, connecting the listener to a primal sense of time and pulse. Rather than propelling the music forward, the rhythm anchors it—a steady heartbeat that recalls the universal rhythm of life itself.
Synth work plays a central role throughout the album, sculpting a soundscape that is lush yet restrained. O’mori’s touch is evident in the harmonic layering and cinematic expansiveness of tracks such as “Ramadasa” and “Tohokami Emitame.” The synthesizers do not dominate; they serve as a subtle current, guiding Takenaka’s voice like wind over water. In “Om Mani Padme Hum,” the balance between analog warmth and digital clarity perfectly encapsulates the album’s philosophy—ancient wisdom refracted through modern sound design. The synth tones shimmer and dissolve, creating a meditative resonance that feels both intimate and cosmic.
One of the album’s most captivating pieces, “Lokah,” embodies Takenaka’s commitment to unity and healing. The fusion of flute (performed by Hiroki Okano), overtone singing, and ambient drone conjures an atmosphere of sacred calm. It is easy to understand why radio hosts have described Ancient Seeds as a form of “medical music”—its frequencies seem to operate on both emotional and physical levels, offering restoration through listening.
Vocally, Takenaka remains the center of gravity. Her phrasing carries the precision of a classically trained singer and the freedom of a spiritual improviser. Whether she sings in Japanese, Sanskrit, or ancient languages, her voice transcends linguistic barriers, functioning as a pure instrument of vibration. There is a sense of devotion in every note—a quiet invocation to reconnect with the earth and the self.
The production throughout Ancient Seeds is immaculate. O’mori’s arrangements are cinematic yet never overwhelming, leaving space for silence, breath, and resonance. Each track unfolds like a ritual, guided by intention rather than structure. The fusion of organic instrumentation—such as the sho (played by Ko Ishikawa) and jinlei (by Masashi Yamaguchi)—with electronic ambience reflects a sophisticated understanding of sonic balance.
With Ancient Seeds, Aco Takenaka solidifies her position as one of Japan’s most visionary artists in the ambient and New Age realm. The album is not merely a listening experience but a meditative passage through sound and spirit. By merging traditional wisdom with modern technology, Takenaka reminds us that music remains one of humanity’s most enduring forms of connection and healing.
This release stands as a testament to the power of sound to transcend borders and eras—a collection of ancient echoes reborn through modern resonance. Ancient Seeds is a high-quality, emotionally rich work that we are honored to feature, an album that invites the listener to pause, breathe, and rediscover the sacred relationship between sound, nature, and soul.