Do'a - Ancient Beauty

Philo - LP
US, 1980
New Age / Ethno / Folk 

Cheap but Excellent US only New Age folk album. A bold mix of imaginary oriental and European medieval music.

Just like Hiroshi Yoshimura's AIR, I guess this Ancient Beauty LP was mass-produced. It would be an expensive record otherwise, because, just like Hiroshi Yoshimura's AIR, Do'a's Ancient Beauty is an excellent new age record. Of a very different kind: in place of kankyo ongaku, ethno folk inspired by an imaginary Orient and European medieval music and a perfectly arranged mix of diverse percussions, flutes, guitars and other string instruments. It's a novelty record, but I can't help being amazed by the fact that these 2 musicians plays perfectly dozens of instruments. The artwork features a huge Mitsubishi logo, praising the Mitsubishi recording systems, and indeed, the recording is great. I know it's a dollar bin record in the US, but it does not mean it's not a good one (so many great albums ended in the cheap bins, not experimental enough, not mainstream enough to end in the crates), reminding me of its equally overlooked European cousins, like Osjian or Om Buschman. (VG+ / sleeve is VG though)

Tracklist

1. Ancient Beauty
2. Morocco
3. Coral and Pearls
   
4. Gathering of the Friends
5. Phoenix of Love
6. Flowers in the Garden
7. Reflections of Mt. Carmel
8. Glad Tidings