Review of Lin Hai & Friends "Pipa Images"

by Brad Hall (AudioAsia)

Published in 2003 by Wind Records [a Korean ver. was released in 2005 --Ed.], “Pipa Images” is an album unlike any other. As its name implies, every track utilizes the pipa, a stringed instrument, commonly referred to as the Chinese lute. The pipa was created over 3000 years ago during the Chin Dynasty.

Some time ago I'd fallen in love with the sound of the guqin, a similar instrument, so naturally my interest was piqued when I came across this album in an Asian specialty store in town.

The album starts off with a drum-centric piece that accentuates the lush sound of the pipa, a vocalizing harmony enters halfway through the piece and becomes whole. It would not be hard to go to sleep while listening to this album. There's no harsh notes or visceral yelling.

In my opinion, the best track on the album is the second one, “What the Pipa Says.” It's reminiscent of a lazy day, just sitting back and staring at the sky as the clouds pass. It sounds weird for me to say this, but no song on this album would be out of place in a fantasy RPG.

In all, the sound of the pipa is one of beauty. If Yo-Yo Ma is the master of the cello, then surely, Lin Hai, a male Chinese musician, is his equal in his use of the pipa.