Lately, of all the things to think about, I’ve been ruminating on what we consider “sacred spaces.” For me, it strays far from the textbook definition. Far from any storied temple or holy site, I’ve landed on something closer to the spirit. It’s those unlikely places we pilgrimage to, we give quiet reverence to, because they hold deep significance to us, because when we are in their presence something within us transcends time and space. In the end, there’s no religion that can speak to it. It’s this meditation that inspired my latest Digging Deep mix for LYL Radio.
I was thinking of the lyrics to You’s “いつかのあの場所へ” (Someday to That Place), the track that opens this mix. In them, You sings about a stranger unfolding a map and pointing to places that instantly resonate with You. Distant places are conjured by the lingering memories held in sight, sound, and smell. Sung by someone trying to move on from a breakup, the song speaks to memory palaces that are incredibly hard to leave behind. In better days, those distant places belonged to You, as much as they could have belonged to someone else.
I was thinking of a memory I saved in photos. I was thinking of a snapshot I took of a couple in Kobe. I can remember them, in profile, having a lively conversation about life and dreams. Then, in a quiet moment, when the evening light hit just so, I can remember them pausing their conversation, tenderly looking at each other, and letting the memory dig deep, speaking for itself. It was then I felt I was in the presence of something sacred.
Recently, as I walked along a certain path carpeted with fallen maple leaves, picked up the scent of the forest, and took in the sights of another golden hour, something within me was transported to a different place. Somehow the memory of a special distant place, somewhere dear to my heart, felt so tangibly close in this space. For a moment, I had to be quiet with myself. Once again, something transcended.
With autumn in the air, I felt compelled to chase the tail end of You’s memories, choosing music that points to places that dig deep, speaking to us in their quiet, coded language. In the end, as leaves turn, trees have to let go.
Golden Hour (ゴールデンアワー)
Tracklist (Approximate Time):
00:00 You – いつかのあの場所へ
04:52 Jack Lee – Cheju-Do
10:01 Jun Sato (佐藤準) – At Random
14:38 Isao Sasaki & Yoshio Suzuki (佐々木功・鈴木良雄) – セイリング＆ローリング
17:45 Takahiko Ishikawa (石川鷹彦) – Running Water
22:14 Rynten Okazaki (岡崎倫典) – Eros
28:00 Shun Komatsubara (小松原俊) – 文明開化
31:18 Akira Inoue (井上鑑) – Green Gables No Asa (グリーン・ゲイブルスの朝)
36:50 Naoyuki Onda (恩田直幸) – Heartland
40:08 Hiroki Tamaki (玉木広樹) – 季節の凪ぐ宵
44:40 Yuki Takao Group – SANSUI – The Water Labyrinth.
51:55 Hitoshi Komuro (小室等) – 海へ I
55:13 Yuka Noda (野田ユカ) – ディ・ドリーム
