| | |
 | MISAKO KOJA
Ama Kakeru Hashi
(Reference #FSD 1433)First post Nenes solo album from former leader of the women's quartet was worth waiting for.Traditional and original lullabies and songs that tell the life of Misako Koja. Produced and with textured keyboards by Kasuya Sahara who helped shape the original Nenes sound. Includes fascinating song featuring Koja's voice when aged 9, with present voice aged 48. Not just one of the Okinawan albums this year, but of any year. Simply beautiful.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
SHISARS
Kuwa no Shita de Biru
(Reference #FSD 981)Japanese female duo mixing traditional music with honking horns and grunge like guitar on a compelling album.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | SACHIKO SHIMA & KENJI YANO
Sons of Ailana
(Reference #FSD 909)Wonderful mixture of Okinawan, Hawaiian and Caribbean music, featuring ukulele, sanshin and guitar.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
SURF CHAMPLERS
Champloo a Go Go
(Reference #FSD 986)Brilliant mix by Kenji Yano of traditional standard katcharsee with surf music,also includes a stunning take on the James Bond Theme.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | SARABANDGE
Sarabandge
(Reference #FSD 1154)Okinawan Trance Music; the new project by the innovative Kenji Yano(Surf Champlers). Okinawan music for the new century.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
TSUHA KOUTOKU
Singapore Gwa
(Reference #FSD 1435)Stunning double CD is contender for the best Okinawan album of 2000. Disc 1, Singapore-Gwa, is a glorious blend of Okinawan sanshin with guitar, drums, bass, organ, sax, tuba and more, with warm vocals, singing songs of emigrating to Singapore by boat, and other emigration songs. Disc 2, Tropical Hot Dog Night,is a straight, traditional, sanshin and vocal set.
Price: £20.99 |  |
|
|
 | VARIOUS
Okinawan Hits & Standards
(Reference #FSD 1255)Okinawa's most famous tunes, female vocals over brass and guitar accompaniment. Recommended.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
VARIOUS
Ryukyu Island's Music
(Reference #FSD 1260)Featuring Testsuhiro Daiku, also Satoru Shimoji, Sachiko Shima Rikki and others. Mostly Yaeyama and Miyako island artists. Excellent album, highly recommended.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | KALABISA
Roochoo Gumbo Y2K
(Reference #FSD 1371)Rinken Teruya (of Rinken Band) teams up with Haruomi Hosono and Makoto Kubota to record new versions of one of Hosono's classic tunes. 3 versions of that plus one new song. CD Extra features film of Okinawa.
Price: £12.99 |
|
|
TOMOKO UEHARA
Kunachi
(Reference #FSD 1372)Female vocalist with Rinken Band accompanied by mainly simple acoustic guitar. Beautiful songs, beautifully sung. Recommended. Comes as CD Extra.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | CHIDORI NARAI
Shima Tsundasa
(Reference #FSD 1375)Okinawan female singer from Iriomote, Okinawa's wildest and remotest island. Mixing traditional and contemporary but occasionally turns too bland. Features Kenji Yano of Surf Champlers fame.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
RINJI KADEKARU
My Sweet Home Koza
(Reference #FSD 1160)Son of 'shima uta godfather' Rinsho. Off beat mix with guitars, horns and distinctive hoarse vocals.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | KAZUMI TAMAKI
Tinin
(Reference #FSD 1081)Reminiscent of early Nenes.Okinawan female vocalist, part of the original Okinawa Chans. Traditional with interesting, unsual backing including oud and violin.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
SATORU SHIMOJI
The Peaceful Island
(Reference #FSD 1441)From Miyako Isand, Satoru Shimoj produced some wonderful albums on an independent label, playing a kind of funky Okinawan music. Now on a major, his music has lost some of it's charm. Some good moments still, especially the remix of the single, 'Chida no Uta', but often lost in a sea of overproduction.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | KOTOBUKI
A-yo
(Reference #FSD 1442)Less Okinawan flavors, from Japanese/Okinawan duo, but all the better for it. Female singer Nabi's powerful voice is better suited to their jangly pop.Good songs, and the best album yet from Kotobuki.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
KOTOBUKI
Tsuide yuku mono
(Reference #FSD 1164)First major album by duo mixing Okinawan music and rock. Powerful singer from female vocalist, Nabi.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | IKUE ASAZAKI, AKIRA TAKAHASHI
Amami
(Reference #FSD 1271)Traditional vocals and melodies set over piano accompaniment. Described as 'Healing' music, whatever that is. It's very short, but really quite beautiful
Price: £16.99 |
|
|
OMOTO TAKEO
Begin no Shima Uta
(Reference #FSD 1444)Album of 'shima uta', folk/pop versions of traditional and original compositions, by rather confusingly, the trio Begin who for this album have given themselves a new name. At it's best, delighful and irresistible, especially on the faster songs, ballads slightly less appealing.
Price: £16.99 |  |
|
|
 | RINSUKE TERUYA
Heisei Watabu Show 1
(Reference #FSD 1074)Father of Rinken Teruya, Rinksuke's "Watabu", or "Mr Fat Belly" show has been a institution in Okinawa for years.Music and some talk, but it all adds to the fun atmosphere.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
THE FERE
The Fere
(Reference #FSD 1451)Four men vocalists singing traditional songs, with simple sanshin accompaniment or pop backing.Kind of male version of Nenes, they're even from the same camp, but not quite the same charm.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
|
 | ALBERTO
Light My Fire
(Reference #FSD 1450)Diamantes singer Alberto's solo album, includes salsa versions of 'Light My Fire' and 'Just the Way you Are', with the real salsa tracks more successful.
Price: £17.99 |
|
|
DIAMANTES
Azucar
(Reference #FSD 1349)Latest album of the Peruvian/Okinawan mixture, with the latin influences to the fore.
Price: £17.99 |  |
|
