Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku

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Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku is a spellbinding new album from Shugorei – the genre-defying collaboration between percussionist Nozomi Omote and composer/producer Thomas Green.  Bell-like vibes, ritual drums and glitching electronics merge under projected visions of ancient forests and neon-lit spirits. Shugorei’s new album weaves mythic narratives and urban animism into a tapestry of beat‑driven ceremony and classical lyricism. Experience pulsing percussive textures, delicate melodies and boundary‑defying soundscapes, while projected visuals guide you through dreamscapes where past and future entwine. Dance among memories, awaken your senses, and step across the threshold into a world where sound becomes sorcery, and memories are of magic. 
For Shugorei, “magic” is transformative moments where sound alters time, place, and memory. Across the album, listeners are invited into sound worlds where textures glow, rhythms pulse, and melodies unfold like fragments of forgotten dreams.

  • The album uniquely involves a large number of collaborators.  Shugorei imagines this process as a kind of magic, with artists from many different cities, and featuring an unusual array of acoustic instruments from other places and times. We are forever grateful to:
  • Memories of Magic invokes an unusually large number and variety of instruments: frog guiros; thunder tube; guzheng; baryton; rebek; gamelan; timpani; classical guitar; coral; an antique Swiss music box; prepared piano; two toy pianos; water; to name only a few! (Not to mention a giant range of electronic instruments).

Other interesting facts about this album:

  • Shugorei are known for bending genres, and this work stretches the boundaries of classical music, incorporating IDM, found sound, virtuosic string ensemble performance and cinematic elements.
  • Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku melds Noz’ and Tom’s ideas on spirituality, with each piece a blending of colours and sounds that evoke memories of deep, mysterious places: forests; rivers; oceans; space and time.
  • In one piece, the “snare” hit consists of over ten different layers of sound!
  • “Michi” was written as a way for Nozomi to show appreciation for Shugorei’s existence, and to express her deep thoughts about different worlds.
  • The melody for “Cat Dragon” popped into Nozomi’s head during her lunch break. Tom had asked her to make a super short song, so she quickly recorded the idea on her phone. That little recording ended up becoming “Cat Dragon.” Nozomi’s children even joined in the recording, and the story itself came from her daughter Izumi, who imagined this playful creature called Cat Dragon.
  • “Roboto” came from a dream Nozomi had—it’s based on a story that appeared while she was sleeping.

Listen now on all platforms or purchase from Bandcamp: