Phantasia - Whispers of Ethernity (1979)

©️ 𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 - 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘
Whispers of Ethernity (無限の囁) is a landmark album released by Phantasia in 1979, showcasing the trio’s most refined exploration of sound up to that point. By this time, the original trio—Takashi Yamada, Hiroshi Nakamura, and Shun Tanaka—had already released several albums following the departure of founder Ryo Kobayashi. Their prior work laid the groundwork for the innovative sonic textures and polished compositions heard on this album.

At this point in their career, Phantasia also began incorporating a narrative dimension into their work. Through evocative artwork and carefully chosen track titles, the band unveiled a story of transcendence and spiritual evolution. Whispers of Ethernity connects with both previous and future releases, weaving a larger universe through their music and visual concepts.

Deeply inspired by artists like Herbie Hancock, the album delivers a futuristic yet soulful experience, blending synthesizers with the trio's established jazz roots. A true gem ahead of its time, Whispers of Ethernity is often regarded as one of the band's finest works.

Fun Fact:
For this record, Takashi Yamada took on the role of keyboardist, while Hiroshi Nakamura added the saxophone. Both musicians had developed remarkable proficiency with these instruments through experimentation in their previous albums, enhancing the trio’s ability to explore jazz funk and electronic jazz.

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Track List:

00:00 - Gaia's Breath (大地の息吹)
03:52 - Primal Instinct (原初の本能)
08:06 - The Spark Within (内なる輝き)
10:50 - Veil of Illusions (幻影の幕)
13:37 - In Between Dreams (夢の狭間)
18:43 - Whispers of the Eternal (永遠の囁き)
25:48 - The Wheel of Life (生命の輪)
29:38 - Eclipsed Truth (隠された真実)
32:28 - Spirals of the Mind (思考の螺旋)
36:41 - Quiet Presence (静かな存在)
40:10 - Fading Duality (消えゆく二元性)

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Guitar/Keyboards: Takashi Yamada (山田 隆司)
Bass/Saxophone: Hiroshi Nakamura (中村 博)
Drums/Percussions: Shun Tanaka (田中 俊)

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This project is a heartfelt tribute to the golden age of Japanese jazz fusion. Through storytelling, art and AI, we aim to reimagine a lost era and evoke the timeless beauty of this genre.

The channel is run by musicians and partially uses AI in the creation process. Most tracks are based on human-made musical inputs, with AI tools enhancing the final style. Fully AI-generated tracks are rare, as current models often lack the ability to generate grooves, progressions, and melodic structures that meet the standards of this project.

Phantasia wouldn’t exist without the trailblazing work of artists like Casiopea, T-Square, Caldera, Masayoshi Takanaka, Ryo Kawasaki, Hiroshi Sato, Herbie Hancock and Walter Wanderley. Their visionary labor has profoundly shaped our understanding and love for music.

Our vision is inspired by the narrative and captivating storytelling of ARGs and mockumentaries, where discovery and gradual realization are integral to the experience. For us, it’s about creating immersion and telling a story, not about deception. We aim to keep the focus on the art itself rather than shifting attention to the process. Our goal is to honor the essence of an era and offer listeners a chance to lose themselves in the atmosphere we’ve worked to recreate.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

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All tracks and images are the property of PhantasiaRecords.

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