JOE HISAISHI / Kikujiro (1999)

Hisaishi's main tool is his piano, and his greatest strength is his ability to convey emotion via simplicity. Kikujiro is possibly the finest example of his working method to date. He can make you happy and sad at the same time; but the sad is a happy kind of sad. Trust me.
It might not sound like a lot, but there's only really three themes throughout, played with a slightly different arrangement each time, or accompanied by the violin. Each one is as beautiful as the one preceding it and the one following it.
If you haven't already, go watch the film, too. It's equally magnificent.

Songs of Note: Summer; Mother

5 roads travelled out of 5