The Japanese ambient music scene is one that stretches back decades, with many TV adverts making use of this relaxing and peaceful sound in the 80s and 90s. This album was originally recorded in 1993, so it fits right into the time period. Hiroshi Yoshimura based these songs off his visit to Hoh Rain Forest across the water from Seattle, it reflects what he felt when venturing through the area. This is the first time the album is seeing a vinyl release too, so for all you audiophiles out there, this is a special treat.
The album begins with these almost ethereal synths matched with French speaking parts over the top, before quickly being joined by keyboard and electronic flute. Then the subtle beat appears and carries you along this calm and serene melody. The title track is a lovely introduction, and it actually sounds like something from an old Nintendo 64 game, very fitting for the time it was recorded. ‘Whispering’ takes us along to a more downbeat sound, the synth plodding along with the flutes intersecting, it almost feels like you’re in the air listening to it, a very mystical sounding track, carrying you adrift the clouds. ‘After Rain’ feels like it could be in the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack, it’s very dreamy and gentle. Atmospheric is the best way to describe it, just the keyboard and some very quiet synths, it feels like the forest and more like the vastness of space (which sounds just as good).
The pace picks up for ‘Hoh River’, where the music does feel very tropical. The beat is bouncy, it feels like the running of water. And as the track goes on it seems as though it is flowing along with the river, running faster and faster, before slowing back down again. It gives off an almost tribal feel. ‘Sunrise’ is an optimistic piece, the synths making the song rise to a different level each time it’s played. It truly does feel like a song to match the sun coming up before your eyes, the break of dawn. ‘Deep Echoes’ is just so serene. The sound is just positive the synth and the beat making me think of a leisurely summer walk in the woods, the feeling of adventure in the mind. The synth pattern just hooks into you, a perfect pace for walking to as well.
‘Melting Winds’ is the shortest track on the album, just over a minute. But in that minute, the synth in the song is just this warm crescendo that seems to melt in the ear. Short but sweet. ‘Dancing Creek’ has a smooth intro, with the sounds of water flowing, the keyboard dancing along, the synth is the background almost elevating your soul when you listen to it. And as the beat gets introduced, the track turns into a piece of ambient house (see Aphex Twin), the beat thumping with the synths lightly lingering over the top. And at the end of the song, we are back at the beginning. ‘Rain Forest’ relies on the rising synths and blocky notes that crescendo throughout the track. Images of the rain dripping down from the canopies run through my mind. The final track, ‘Lullaby of Leaves’, is very surreal. The ominous synth that runs throughout feels like it could be a theme tune to some mythical creature that lives in the forest. Like something out of a Studio Ghibli film. It works as a great outro to the album.
Yoshimura is a master of his craft. This album proves it. The beautiful ambience created by Quiet Forest is nothing short of serene and blissful. From a time period where the music industry was so heavily saturated with Grunge, Britpop, electronic and house music, it makes for a nice change to have something more relaxing and good to wind down with. And I’m certain this album on a turntable would sound crisp and fresh.
Hiroshi Yoshimura: Quiet Forest – Out 13 November 2026 (Temporal Drift)
Yoshimura – Quiet Forest full album(1998)
