Ancient Seeds, releasing on the 19th of October this year, is a layered chanting album that draws from ancient traditions of Japan, Native America, Yoruba, Tibet, Africa, and India, with themes of nature, healing, and unity. Takenaka’s voice, sometimes a solitary whisper and other times part of a soaring chorus, guides the listener through these spiritual landscapes, reminding us of our shared, innate beauty and our connection to all beings. Ancient Seeds is a testament to the power of musical convergence, an exploration of global traditions, seamlessly woven together to create a new, deeply resonant tapestry, an experience to be felt, a reminder that in our turbulent world, the most profound truths can be found in the ancient, sacred sounds that live within us all. Aco presents flawlessly and in an uplifting manner, dedicating her message to honor and solemnly celebrate all life on Mother Earth. She has magnificently achieved her intentions with this work, both culturally and personallyーRobin B James(Music Journalist)
Robin James – Music Journalist (Igloo Magazine, BrainVoyager Radio; former Op Magazine contributor)
What if someone could take all the songs from the ancient world throughout time, and keep them safe in a botanical garden of music, keeping them safe for the decades and centuries ahead, on Ancient Seeds by Aco Takenaka the artist has tried to do just that. The album has one of the most original concepts I have ever come across, as ancient chants from Yoruba and other African traditions, Native American, Tibetan, Indian, and Japanese songs are all arranged in a contemporary musical soundscape, and caters for everyone’s palate, on its forward thinking journey.
There are 11 tracks on this brilliantly arranged, composed and recorded album, ranging from one of the most harmonic starts ever in Ame Kuni, whilst my knowledge of Japanese is quite limited, I believe translated it means rain country or land of rain, the repeating chant here is mesmeric, and the use of pause within the piece brilliantly executed.
The listener can find music from the great Native American nation The Lakota in the piece Wani Wachi Elo, which I believe is a Lakota Peyote Healing Song, boy does the planet need this right now, or the energy raising O Mama Bakudala, Xhosa women sing this song at the beginning of gatherings or celebrations as an invocation to the spirits of their matriarchal ancestors. The words translate literally as “The mothers from way back used to pray.”
Next we fall into one of the most beautiful of all pieces in my view called Ramadasa, The Ra Ma Da Sa mantra is often used in healing practices, specifically in Kundalini yoga, I remember a version of this a few years ago by Snatum Kaur way back around 2010, the gentle acoustic guitar and layered vocals make this track for me one of the most cathartic from the album.
Lokah would be one of my wife’s favourite tracks from the release, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu is a Sanskrit mantra that’s translation reads; “I wish peace and happiness to all beings. May my actions and behaviour contribute to others in a way that brings peace and happiness, and reminds me of the Reiki Precepts of, Just For Today, Do not Anger, Do not worry, Be Humble, Be Honest in your Work, Be Compassionate to Yourself and Others, this is also one of the finest examples of globally fused music I have heard for decades.
The conclusion to the album is the most powerful of all and called Tohokami Emitame, from my research I believe it is an ancient Japanese Shinto mantra believed to invoke divine protection, harmony, and spiritual connection, the incredible vibration from this track alone makes it a stand out track, and the powerful vocals remind me of Miriam Stockly with AO Music back in the day.
Ancient Seeds by Aco Takenaka has to be one of the most original albums of the year thus far, probably for many a year, and with this being said, I highly recommend this release for all who wish to immerse themselves in a myriad of musical chants and cultures, showing it’s not just our planet that requires our respect and love, it is the world of tone, timbre and music and art as well, leaving me in no doubt that Ancient Seeds by Aco Takenaka will be thoroughly embraced by all who listen to it, and a huge chart hit and possibly more will be seen on the horizon of hope for the artist.
Steve Sheppard （Founder & Owner of One World Music Radio）
“A beautiful pop hymn to the African goddess Oxum — sung and chanted clearly by Aco, through which the listener truly feels the blessing of a goddess.”
— Carman Moore(Internationally acclaimed composer, professor, and former Village Voice music critic)
Listening to Aco Takenaka’s latest song “ Oxum” is a breath of sonic fresh air. I have enjoyed listening to her songs and recordings over the years and there is a constant flow of peaceful energy in her melodies and voice. Aco’s voice here on Oxum is confident and strong as it rises with the melody and lyric. There is sweetness and soul in her vocal performance. The wonderful arrangement and production enhances her voice and the song. I am looking forward to hearing Aco’s next releases. Oxum is now added to my “peaceful” playlist to listen again … and again.
ーPeter Bliss((Songwriter, Producer, Former Director of New York Songwriters Circle)
“Ancient Seeds” is an almost mystical work by the artist based in Tokyo, the Japanese capital, Aco Takenaka, a composer who moves like a fish in water in a territory that is mainly nourished by the traditional music of the Asian archipelago and also by New Age sounds, a perfectly balanced mix that gives her sound creations an intentional aspect of medical music. In fact, Aco Takenaka is the founder and leader of the Japanese choral group Kazoku, a formation that provides musical support to the increasingly numerous Japanese communities that are looking for this type of sound creation designed for the connection with nature and with inner and spiritual listening.
“Ancient Seeds”, ancient seeds, this is the title of the new work by the Japanese resident in Tokyo Aco Takenaka, an artist who, as we said before, goes beyond the simple music trade with her creations and who leads us towards a territory that is gaining followers all over the world, that of music as a therapeutic option, a fact that in a certain way connects us with the ancestors who naturally already used music as a healing element, at least on a spiritual and emotional level. Through avant-garde sounds, then, Takenaka connects directly with this ancient and fortunately reborn universal function of root music.
Jordi Demésenllà – Radio Host, Demésenllà / Panelist, Transglobal World Music Chart (Spain)