REVIEW

The second album from Tokyo-based ambient folk band Grace Cathedral Park.

Formed in 2017, the trio currently consists of Mayuco Inui (vocal), Shuma Ando (guitar, shruti box, bass VI, field recording, keyboard), and Taichi Shimokobe (bass, bass VI, synthesizer). The band takes its name from a song by the American slowcore group Red House Painters.

On this record, the group incorporates the Indian traditional instrument the shruti box alongside field recordings, building delicate soundscapes within a drumless arrangement. The result is a soundscape reminiscent of a mist-covered forest—hushed, immersive, and quietly otherworldly. Compared to their previous work, elements of traditional music are more pronounced here, and the Japanese lyrics often resonate like the folk songs of some distant, half-imagined land.

A standout moment arrives with #8 “birth.” Flowing seamlessly from the chorus-driven and culturally ambiguous #7 “rappel,” the piece unfolds around a shruti box drone, over which a lullaby-like vocal gently drifts. The crackle of a campfire blends into the soundscape, slowly guiding the listener into a state of deep meditation, as if participating in an ancient ritual.

Across its 45-minute runtime, the album feels like a quiet journey of the soul—music that captures fragments of beautiful landscapes from around the world and transforms them into sound. Listeners who appreciate artists such as Ethel Cain, Ichiko Aoba, or Yoko Kanno should definitely take note.

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