The first thing that we see, it is the obvious progress since Navigatoria voice: his soprano voice takes on its full splendor, where its predecessor had a more intimate singing uneven across titles and sometimes not adequately controlled in treble. There are the famous epic choirs since become his trademark on the most titles, and navigate between quiet neo-baroque (the beautiful Haru Tsuge Raggi di Primavera ~ ~ Luna Piena and Reimei ~ ~ Aurora, performed in Italian), neofolk or dream folk (the mysterious Souheki no Mori that sounds very "Elvish" with an almost childlike vocals, or the touching classical-ride Mahoroba Japanese style) and most tragic songs with ethnic influences orientalizing as the singular Kinkanshoku which opens the album after intro very tribal, Inori ~ ~ Monlam and Gothic and ethereal Tibetan folk-rock (!) or the highly experimental and completely barred Utau Oka EXEC_HARVESTASYA ~ /. ~ and its apocalyptic tones. There are also "sora no shita de Haresugita" which is still one of his best songs in an epic medieval folk style reminiscent Branduardi, Stille Volk walks or Rhapsody of Fire.
It's hard not to be charmed. The particular voice (schizo?) Akiko, chameleon capable of various and varied colors, is in itself a delight. Raka is a strong album, creative and full of emotions, a journey both in space and in time since music Akiko Shikata both evokes bygone times (Middle Age to various ancient civilizations) that traditional songs and melodies from four continents on which it feeds without moderation. In total, Akiko sings here in four languages (Japanese, Italian and Tibetan, a language invented more on the last track). Only flat, a cover of Ave Maria by Schubert agreed very, strange for a typically audacious artist, but allowing his ears to rest before the final tumultuous Utau Oka EXEC_HARVESTASYA ~ /. ~ Which could quite shake listeners . Shikata Akiko is a kind of Loreena McKennitt who likes to experiment and not be confined to a specific genre, which can make his work difficult to access, or this album despite its creativity and diversity rest of the far more accessible to uncover her so particular music. Raka is a unique masterpiece of its kind: if you want to discover a genre between folk, darkwave neoclassical and out of the ordinary and songs that touch you deep in the soul, go for it!
