Music can be born out of completely unexpected fusions of cultures and the energy of places that many would never even imagine. That is why the music of Shugorei feels so unique, surprising, and genuinely interesting. The group is formed by Nozomi Omote and Thomas Green. By 2019, they already had several significant releases, but I would like to tell you about their new album Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku.

In Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku there are 11 tracks, and each one is something entirely new and endlessly beautiful, filled with the lightness of wind, mystery, spirituality, and the shimmering beauty of electronic textures. Even the name of the band, Shugorei, translates as Guardian Spirit, and in their music they blend the endless beauty and depth of Japanese sound and art with European influences and electronics. Flowing airy percussion, experimental vibraphones, the gentle weightlessness of bells, and eastern motifs intertwine into something truly magical. This is a very sensual release, one that reveals a hidden dimension of music, showing how it can move, resonate, and exist on a completely different spiritual wave. It is unexpected, and inspiring.

Because it is always a joy to touch something new in form yet familiar in sound. And this blend of cultures, faith, and tradition, cast in such a warm sound, allows us to touch something higher and raises Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku into a true work of musical art. To create such music, Shugorei explore hidden rhythms and new sources of inspiration to convey the wonders and vastness of sound to every listener on the planet. For example, in 2024 Shugorei collaborated with The Australian School of Kung Fu and Tai Chi to draw out latent musical rhythms in Chinese Kung Fu forms. It is simply something completely incredible. I would like to highlight for you the tracks in Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku that inspired and moved me the most.

Undoubtedly, it is Michi with its sensual harmonies of Japanese sound. Soft synth electronic elements respond to these motifs, creating a very warm and magical atmosphere. It is like a lullaby sung by the wind in the evenings. It is a wonderful start to an album that will gradually unfold from track to track.

Then the next track is Alchemy, incredibly hypnotic, with a duration of 5 minutes and 21 seconds. But spoiler, it is not the longest on this album. Alchemy is deeper. It transports thoughts from the surrounding reality to magnificent Buddhist temples, shrines on snow-covered mountain tops, and dormant coniferous trees touched by a light snowfall. It is the perfect soundtrack for your meditation and for finding your own path, because listening to Alchemy you feel something sparkling between the beats, and that something is very spiritual and exalted.

I would also like to draw your attention to the track titles and the album cover. The cover uses traditional colors and mystical imagery, addressing complex themes that remain unanswered. The track titles themselves can form a narrative, shaping perception and encouraging listeners to paint their own inner pictures while listening to Shugorei’s music.

For example, the track Past Life clearly alludes to previous lives. It features a rather curious melody with an uneven, vibrant rhythm; keys shimmer and string instruments glimmer, each telling their own story. I like Past Life because it is complex, interesting, experimental, and cozy. I believe everyone who listens to it can create their own story. Without a doubt!

After the midpoint of the album, the music takes on a more experimental sound, and I want to highlight the track Cat Dragon, which features quite intriguing, almost pixelated sounds. The beginning, with distorted speech, creates a very neon atmosphere. The title seems to refer to an imagined deity. The dragons are quite common in culture as deities of various levels , so Cat Dragon holds special meaning for me.

It is quite fascinating when the melody in Cat Dragon breaks down into a dark, heavy dark house sound, yet still touches on airiness and lightness. To me, this creates a sense of collision between the worlds of emotions and legends with the world in which they come alive, or perhaps with a main character confronting the cat dragon. This is very interesting, and I highly recommend listening to this track and feeling it. It is a very deep and unusual experience, especially when you consider that cats often live in our homes… and can you be sure your cat isn’t a deity?

And here it is, spoiler! The track Water Music, with a length of 7 minutes 53 seconds, must be in your playlist. The thing is, it is a unique blend of ambient, electronic, eastern motifs, and a wide variety of instruments. Water Music has a duality: it is boundless in its scale and, at the same time, a thing in itself.

Water Music is a very gentle track in which the flow of water can be perceived in different ways. For example, it can be the endless flow of life, the change of circumstances, generations, worlds, and history. Or it can be water that cleanses all worries and soothes, just as it can be a reflection on philosophical questions—like energy flowing among all of us, connecting everything into a whole. It is precisely because of this that Water Music is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Listening to it gave me chills as if touching something beautiful, and feelings of joy and love overwhelmed me. It is infinitely beautiful, and it is exactly these kinds of emotions for which music should be listened to.

I like that the album ends with the tracks Time Traveler and Three Pathways. These tracks form quite an interesting ending since the album is very conceptual. One cannot help but notice the name of the track Time Traveler. The atmosphere of traveling through time is conveyed with flickering, sparks, movement, flowing synth elements, bells, and a broken and very unusual rhythm. You know, this rhythm reminded me of a heartbeat, which made the melody very tangible and alive. If you are curious about how time travel might sound in music, be sure to stop at the track Time Traveler. Believe me, it will impress you.

The album concludes with the track Three Pathways, a very warm farewell to Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku. The melody unfolds slowly and preserves the cultural mix of sounds. It is here, in my opinion, that the Japanese side of the music and culture is revealed most strongly, combined with the European electronic sound and melodic structure.

Three Pathways reminds me of warm embraces that envelop and warm with their heat. It is the perfect track to draw inspiration, enjoy, or simply enter deep meditation, disconnect from reality, and fill the mind and body with the energy of the cosmos. The track helps to understand the true power of music created with great inspiration, love, and devotion.

Shugorei have done an incredible job. It feels as though their music required many hours of meditation, reflection, and self-discovery. Only musicians with a true sense of sound could create such music. That is why I recommend everyone to listen to the entire album Memories of Magic—魔法の記憶—Mahō no Kioku from track to track, to find their own favorites, take this journey together with Shugorei, and discover new sources of inspiration and strength.

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