On her new live album, recorded during the European Leg of the tour in the Milton Court concert hall with the London-based 12 Ensemble, the Japanese folk singer demonstrates her enchanting style and beauty in live performance, complementing her already beautiful and delicate music with its natural processing and smooth strings accompaniment.

By now, Ichiko Aoba has come a long way from a humble but impressive internet sensation to a respected and revered songwriter of today. Since 2010, she has conquered the world with her dreamy and airy voice, acoustic and sublime indie folk, and has constantly progressed and improved her skills, applying her authorial talent in various fields of art. As a result, at the moment she managed to take part in the soundtrack for 2019 «The Legend of Zelda: Link`s Awakening» remake on Nintendo Switch, also composed and performed music for several movies, in particular won the "Mainichi Film Award" in 2022 for music score to "This Is Amiko" and also earned huge acclaim from critics and listeners along with her two latest
studio albums – "qp" of 2018 and "Windswept Adan", which became one of the best albums of 2020.

While her studio work was full of light arrangements that complemented the course of events and made it truly full and voluminous, the live versions of the same compositions, captured in the recording of a live performance – come out more minimalistic and bizarre, but due to this even more finer than their original versions. Sometimes it even gets to the point, when outside noise from the audience can be added to the general audio sequence – and in the end it makes the narrative of the album even more interesting, when you realize, how sensitive this music is, when it is on the same level of ease with interference, merging with the background and becoming like one with the air and the passage of time.

The string accompaniment never overpowers Ichiko's instruments or voice – it subtly complements its beauty, making its dreamy mood even higher and lighter. Their interaction is the case when both parties are placed to each other with respect and honor, reproducing their best sides and combining their efforts together for the best result. The violins imitate the sounds of birds with a light touch of the bow and elegantly resonate with chords, while Ichiko herself sings and strums in fancy scales, jumping from one tone to another – this tandem reveals Ichiko's serene music from another side, while at the same time creating the feeling that these sides are an infinite number. To create the most beautiful configuration from the smallest possible number of instruments – this is the talent of Ichiko Aoba, with which she captivates listeners with the same ease with which she takes the highest notes.

order Ichiko Aoba – Live at Milton Court (with 12 Ensemble) HERE