On the 17th September 2021, Anoice, an instrumental music band featuring a dark and cinematic sound, will release their sixth album 'The Hidden Forest'. Because of the effects of the spread of coronavirus, Anoice decided to cancel all upcoming tours in March last year, and after that, released new works from Anoice and the members' solo/side projects; Takahiro Kido, Yuki Murata, RiLF, Films, Mizu Amane, Cru, and Tokyo Ambient Collective and took charge of soundtracks for movies and TV drama series, but have now finally completed Anoice's new album after the longest ever production period in their history.
This album 'The Hidden Forest' took inspiration from 17 paintings of the forest painted by Naoko Okada, and includes 17 songs with the same title as each of the paintings, with a total length of 72 minutes. It consists of mainly beautiful neo-classical songs played by a piano and string quartet such as the first lead single 'a perfect day for a funeral' and 'second coming', and also spectacular songs with dynamic drums like the powerful ground, such as the second lead single 'quiet wish' and 'the promised day' and sometimes quiet ambient music made of collaboration with the nature sounds such as 'into the light' and 'trickery and butterflies'. You can find similar themed melodies and patterns of the codes, with similar instrument formations through the whole album, but no two are identical, just like the leaves of trees within the forest.
In addition, one of the biggest features of this album production process is having used not only recording studios but also power of nature such as forests and rivers. You may be able to feel as though you are standing quietly in the forest via the songs with the sounds of animals such as birds, owls, insects, and flogs and the nature such as wind, water, and squeaking trees which were sometimes recorded in a foggy forest, sometimes in a dark forest in middle of the night, and sometimes in a forest where a strong wind blew.
This album with the tension in the air will be hopefully be remembered in history as one of the most beautiful dark music albums of all time.
