Prusinski's concept for the album is that it's "a soundtrack for a movie from another dimension, set in a future where the descendants of Earth populate desert worlds, and massive starships, like overcrowded Eastern bazaars, teem with intrigue, magic, and strange beauty." Sounds pretty Star Trek-y, however it's a very accurate description of the sounds on Kokoro Ire.

There is a spaciousness to the music that gives it a "futuristic" sound, and effective use of panning and other effects give the listener the feeling of being somewhere otherworldly. The album definitely prevails in pulling off what it's intended to be, due in no small part to the impeccable mixing job and the ambience it creates.

The result of three years of work, Kokoro Ire is not only an accomplishment in its production and conceptual values, but in the way that Prusinski effortlessly blends aural themes. And he does this not only from one song to the next, but within songs as well. For example, the sprawling "Mothership," which opens the album, begins with a gorgeous, Oriental-tinged synthscape, but evolves into a rich sonic stew complete with a trip-hop bass line, African percussion, electric guitar, and Middle Eastern motifs on the synthesizers.

The entire album reflects a similar recipe, and highlights Prusinski's abilities both as a composer and a player. The guitar work on the album is outstanding-on the track "Water-Moon Rising," Prusinski effortlessly alternates between an eerie, harmonizer-laden lead track and a smooth, unfiltered acoustic one with classical overtures. All the while, the synths provide a post-modern backdrop. While on paper this might sound like auditory overload, Prusinski finds a way to make it all work for the listener.

The album's title is taken from the book Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo, and means "with the inclusion of the heart's spirit." When I read this, it really stood out, because Kokoro Ire is one of those albums that left me feeling as if I had actually communicated with the person who created it. It's clear that Prusinski has amassed a wealth of musical and cultural knowledge, and his ability to transform it into his own unique score is obviously well developed.

Kokoro Ire succeeds on many levels, and is a strong production from start to finish. Although similar musical themes abound, the songs never repeat themselves and they hold the listener's attention throughout the album. Kokoro Ire isn't just for fans of electronica-it's chock-full of Prusinski's stellar guitar playing too, and when combined with all the ethnic influences from around the world, it adds up to a truly unique musical experience.