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
Ainu musician Oki and Irish group Kila met in Japan a couple of years back and knew instantly they liked eachother and eachothers' music. Indigenous Ainu and Irish roots might not be the most obvious of collaborative choices but this one seems entirely natural, probably due to the pure fun they clearly derived recording together. Neither partner dominates, with 4 Ainu tunes and 4 Irish ones featuring tonkori (Ainu zither) plus fiddles, banjos, dulcimers, flutes and whistles with vocal duties also shared equally between OKI and Ronan and Colm of Kila. Comes with a free 4 track CD single of their first collaborative recording Tog e go Bog e, which you can listen to as the sound sample.
Out in July, 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. 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.
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.
Price: £18.99
Fantastic old lady Ainu (native Japanese) singer, produced by and featuring on tonkori, the wonderful Oki. 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, and currently gaining a lot of media exposure. Wonderful.
Oki's best album so far, has more musicians, a bigger and a more contemporary sound, without losing any connection to it's Ainu roots. Female singer, Repko in particular impresses as on the opening, infectious track. Reggae, African and other world influences add variety, but it's still the Ainu voices and instruments that dominate. An accessible, enjoyable album that establishes Oki as one of the most important musicians to emerge from Japan in recent years. Price: £18.99
Umeko Ando is 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.
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. Price: £18.99
Wonderful, accessible album of Ainu (Native Japanese) music. Stringed instrument tonkiri, guitar and chants. The first album by OKI.
