The latest film score from Ryuichi Sakamoto (Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, The Last Samurai) tells the story of a smuggler in 19th-century France travelling to Japan for his town’s supply of silkworms and becoming infatuated by a concubine (Sei Ashina) referred to as “The Girl” on the CD labelling. It stands out by being the one track to feature Joshua Bell, who also starred on the soundtrack of director Fran¡ois Girard’s The Red Violin. The violin imitates the sound of a pipe before becoming purer in string tone as the tune progresses.

Sakamoto’s score comprises a set of slow-moving mood movements employing strings, piano, harp and discreet percussion as well as that pipe. A slow chorale on brass in the final track marks their one contribution. Sakamoto’s “Mill Theme” (tr 2) is the obvious attraction, piano set against plucked strings, harking back to it in the track “Building the Garden” (tr 17). Other picturesque moments include a dawn sunrise in the opening track, a Love Theme on piano (tr 3), an extended composition charting the adventurer’s first trip to Japan with some luminous string-writing (tr 5) and a snowy village with piano recorded as it were surrounded by a halo. “Revolution” (tr 15) begins with a low rumble and features distant voices and the sound of a jail door being locked. It’s all very beautifully played and effortlessly strung together and so fragrant in tone that one can almost scent the perfume of blossom in the air.