Abrasive, harsh, forceful, intense, confrontational -- those are the sort of adjectives one might use after hearing a lot of hardcore techno at a rave. But not all electronica has that in-your-face approach. At the other side of the electronica spectrum are styles like chillout, downtempo, ambient, and trip-hop, all of which are much smoother, gentler, and softer than techno -- arguably, the difference between techno and the chillout/downtempo side of things is like the difference between Stan Getz's caressing bossa nova and Charles Gayle's blistering free jazz. And that kinder, gentler side of electronica prevails on this compilation, which takes a look at Japan's electronica scene. Because the CD's art work employs some obviously Japanese imagery, one might expect a fusion of electronica and Asian music. But truth be told, this 2003 release isn't much different from similar compilations that have come from Europe and the United States -- and heaven knows, plenty of chillout-friendly compilations were assembled in the early 2000s. Some were excellent, and some were totally forgettable; Sakura Aural Bliss, thankfully, falls into the excellent category. If someone hasn't experienced electronica's softer side, this CD could easily make him/her a convert. From Takayuki Shiraishi to Cosmic Village to Electric Sheep -- from downtempo to chillout to ambient -- all of these artists paint an attractive picture of Japanese electronica. Many of the tracks have a definite jazz influence; Grooveman Spot's "Voyage the Sky," for example, is loosely based on Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage." Of course, being jazzy isn't the same as actually playing jazz -- and no one should think that Sakura Aural Bliss is a jazz compilation in the strict sense. However, artists like Grooveman Spot and Calm do show how nicely jazz overtones can work in an electronica setting. Sakura Aural Bliss is, without question, one of the strongest and most memorable electronica compilations of 2003. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide