I absolutely LOVED this CD, and have owned it or it's predecessor for over 10 years....and listen to it often. The music is beautiful, and to me at least, very unique.

This album I purchased as an oldie 33 spd. vinyl. It is pretty good, but lacked the intensity of the others. Of course being a fanatic of Kitaro, anything by him is awesome. I was introduced to his music by a friend and was hooked instantly. I have neglected purchasing some of his newer works due to other interests. I will update my collection in the near future.

As indicated on the cover art and inlay drawing depicting a young child, this 1986 album had a very personal inspiration with regard to the composer's life history.

(1) ' Tenku ' begins the story with a spacious, serene ambience touched by a joyous infant utterance.

(2) ' Romance ' is a beautiful song sung with soft and lovely flute melodies, reminiscent of the Italian composer Rota's soundtrack for " Romeo and Juliet ".

(4) ' Aura ' sings out another lovely air with flute and orchestra filled with childlike joy and innocence, but marked by a haunted chill.

(8) ' Milky Way ' resembles a bright Aura variation radiating youthful cheer and optimism throughout, kindled with an upbeat rock rhythm to the very end.

The other four pieces contain some more shady tones yet enchanting in their own ways.

(3) ' Wings ' sounds like a short modern ode with tensely pressing rhythms and orchestral air, which reminds one of the 1992 album " Wings " by the Duo Band ' 2002 ', depicting the youthful Icarus myth of Ancient Greece.

(5) ' Message from the Cosmo ' is composed of two contradistinct songs - a traditional, deeply wistful flute air, and a drummed-up exhilarating brass tune.

(6) ' Time Traveller ' follows up with another upbeat brass air, contrasted with delicate passages of a sad flute tune with mandolin tremolo.

(7) ' Legend of the Road ' whistles out a quiet flute air that is subtly haunting.

The drum and brass music is simply not my favorite cup of tea. This transition to a more western style music, along with the 1985 album " Toward the West ", would characterise Kitaro's compositions continuously up to the present time, as his explorations for amalgamation and endlessly new, creative music continue.

A twinkle in the Kitaro music world.

The track and album titles are excellent~~~~ but having Kitaro go solo all day on his keyboards just does not appeal to me. Ambitious (as always) but not good enough.

Badly needed an orchaestra to bring that raw emotion out.