Download: Brave Wave Store | iTunes | Spotify
After a hiatus of 7 years, Saori Kobayashi (of Panzer Dragoon) and Yumiko Takahashi (of Suikoden) are finally back with their musical ensemble AKANE. Journey features new original music inspired by the Panzer Dragoon series of games, compositions from Crimson Dragon, Crimson Dragon: Side Story, and a special appearance by legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu (of Final Fantasy).
AKANE was formed by Saori Kobayashi and Yumiko Takahashi. The band’s rich and majestic signature sound incorporates Japanese folk vocals, synthesizers and traditional instruments. "I am particularly fond of making music that blends elements from Japanese folklore with Takahashi-san's powerful voice, combined with a unique soundscape," says Saori Kobayashi. "This has given us some very exciting and profound experiences, making us even more enthusiastic about creating new music."
After composing the music for Microsoft's Crimson Dragon (Xbox One) and meeting Brave Wave's president Mohammed Taher, Kobayashi decided to revive AKANE in the form of a second album titled Journey. "Before encountering the series, I didn't focus on a specific type of music, but composing for Panzer Dragoon Saga and Panzer Dragoon Orta and experiencing these games made me interested in working with similar musical elements. A big part of AKANE is inspired by the Panzer Dragoon series."
Brave Wave teamed up with Berlin based designer Natalie Hanke to create a beautiful CD package, with imagery and packaging designed exclusively for the physical release. This worldwide collaboration continues with two remixes for the album, one by Helsinki based composer KOZILEK (Nuclear Throne; Luftrausers) and another by Tokyo based composer Takahiro Izutani (Metal Gear Solid 4; Bayonetta), further exploring the dynamic and rich sound of AKANE with new styles of music.
AKANE's Journey is available to buy from Brave Wave's online store, and is also available on iTunes and Spotify starting September 29th.