Live recording from Japan in 2007 of the OKI Dub Ainu Band, the group that performed in Europe in 2006 and 2007. Seven tracks. 1. Intro. 2. Topattumi 3. East of Kunashiri 4. Ashipet Parun 5. Iyomante Upopo 6. Kai Kai Ashi To 7. Utuwaskarap
The album we've been waiting for. OKI Dub Ainu Band have gained a reputation as one of Japan's most exciting live acts, after appearances at WOMAD, City of London Festivals, and other festivals throughout the world. While OKI had remixed some of his previous tracks on the excellent Dub Ainu albums, the band had never recorded together, until now. This album, is essentially the material play during their magnificent live shows. OKI's brittle, rhythmical, bass tonkori is combined with driving percussion, guitars, funky bass lines and some of the catchiest traditional melodies you've ever heard. Price: £18.99
Tonkori is the long skinny Ainu stringed instrument. Oki, after listening to old reel to reel recordings of Ainu elders playing solo tonkori decided to 'transcend time and star in his very own period piece'. The repetitive phrases of these old traditional tunes transport the listener into a tonkori trance, exactly as Oki himself would imagine would happen if he could play along with those elder Ainu whose recordings he stumbled upon. 15 tracks with English liner notes. Fantastic.
Fantastic follow up Dub Ainu album from OKI. More trippy, dubby, hypnotic, psychedelic tonkori grooves and Ainu chants. These tunes are newly recorded so more similar to the acclaimed OKI Dub Ainu Band live shows. Echoes of Africa with guest vocalist Fania, bass dub master Hirohisa, new version of Hanro featuring female vocalist Rekpo, and solo tonkori pieces with various added effects and instruments. Ancient Ainu sounds created while turning knobs on a mixing desk with a spliff hanging out the mouth. 8 tracks, 35 minutes. 1. Dub Serenade 2. Utari 3. Shamanic Dub 4. Dub Arrow 5. Hanro Dub 6. Sannupista Dub 7. Koshi Turiri Dub 8. Ninja Drum.
"More supercool Japanese minimalism" Carol McDaid, the Observer.
Price: £13.99
'This set is compiled from remixed versions of tunes selected from previously released albums and was originally conceived as a special edition for a summer 2004 concert tour. Oki's approach fuses reggae, Africana and electronica with Ainu folk melodies. The wistfully brittle sound of the tonkori (a long flat stringed instrument with an unfretted soundboard that produces mysterious overtones) on Dub Ainu may suggest kora, sometimes qin or guitar but generally it's like nothing you've ever heard before.'
Steve Barker in Wire February 2005.
In July 2004, sadly Umeko Ando the superb lady Ainu (native Japanese) singer passed away. This, her last album produced by and featuring on tonkori, the wonderful Oki was probably her best. Slightly more contemporary than her previous album, with mostly percussion, and some mukkuri (jew's harp). Charming, hypnotic chanting vocals that recall the music of Mongolia or Tuva. One of the most successful 'roots' albums of recent years, that gained a lot of critical acclaim.
Price: £18.99
If it wasn't for Oki, Ainu (or native Japanese) music, might be all but forgotten. Until recently the Japanese government had a policy of systematically trying to suppress the Ainu culture. Instead, this album marks a high point in the rejuvenation of Ainu music, making it relevant for the young Ainu, just as Oki set out to do about seven years ago. The roots of the Ainu can be traced to Siberia and Mongolia, and musically they share much common ground too, immediately blowing apart any preconceptions about what Japanese roots music might sound like. No One's Land, is Oki's third album, and by far his most experimental and contemporary. His band, now called the Far East Band, has expanded to accompany Oki's tonkori (long skinny lute) on a variety of instruments, together with a female chorus group. Female singer Rekpo takes centre stage on some of the albums best songs, such as the hypnotic opening Kane Ren Ren, featuring percussion, bass, guitar, and tribal sounding programmed drums. Other influences range from reggae to hints of Spanish and African guitar, all set to chanted vocals clearly from another world. Several songs feature Olga Letykai Csonka, a Chukchi, (an indigenous Siberian people) throat singer, the two meeting at a United Nations conference on Indigenous Peoples in Geneva, and recording while they were there. Interspersed between are a few simple, equally mesmerizing tunes of tonkori and Ainu singing, and some solo experimental pieces of tonkori set to more programmed rhythms and effects. A major step forward for the Japanese music with the most ancient roots of all. (From fRoots magazine)
Umeko Ando who sadly died in 2004 was an elder Ainu (native Japanese) women singer. She appeared as a guest on Oki's last album, himself of Ainu descent. This album was produced by and features Oki, with Ando's haunting voice accompanied by Oki's tonkori (a traditional Ainu stringed instrument). An atmospheric album of a tradition that was in danger of dying out that is both accessible and beautiful. Doesn't sound necessarily Japanese, perhaps not surprisingly more central Asian, the roots of the Ainu themselves. Highly recommended. Price: £18.99
Highly recommended album of Ainu singing from OKI and the late Umeko Ando plus tonkori (stringed instrument), percussion and sax (by the brilliant Dr. Kazutoki Umezu) in contemporary sound. Hypnotic, spellbinding.
Wonderful, accessible album of Ainu (Native Japanese) music. Stringed instrument tonkiri, guitar and chants. First album by OKI Price: £18.99
How's this for an ecclectic release? Originally released on LP in 1975, a children's choir sings songs themed around the Ainu, some in the Ainu language with lyrics by Kohei Oikawa, music by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also arranged the songs together with Tatsuro Yamashita of the legendary group Sugar Babe. 12 songs.
