Fourth album and first for three years from the UK/US duo with their brand of Okinawan club music. Familar tunes are given a not so familiar workout, while other original tunes are full of Okinawan sounds. Dub, Afrobeat, Trip Hop, Lounge and more influences are poured into the Okinawan blender, and out comes some of the coolest new Okinawan music of recent years. Collaborators include Mika Uchizato, Toru Yonaha, Ayano Uema and Natsuki Nakamura.
1. Kajimaya 2. Miyarabi Yunta 3. Urizun 4. East Town Dub 5. Ahabushi 6. Umaku Kamade 7. Wattachine 8. Zamami 9. Hanjo Bushi 10. Paikaji
Ayakaji is female singer Kaori Nakata and Tetsuaki Shimajiri, sound creator and producer. 8 tracks in a kind of new age style including traditional songs, originals and a cover of a Begin tune. Price: £22.99
The Ryukyu techno-twins are back with a new CD single of three tracks. Naoto of Orange Range guests. 1. OK Sampler 2. Taiko Rock 3. Sanshin8.
Latest album from the Ryukyu techno twins, now recording for a major record company. Techno and club rhythms combined with Okinawa melodies and sounds. Continue to be firm favourites of the Japanese festival circuit. Price: £23.99
Currently one of the most in-demand live acts at Japanese festivals, Ryukyudisko consists of twin brothers Tetsushi Hiroyama (rhythm and sequence) and Yosuke Hiroyama (vocals, mix, effects) or RKD1 and RKD2 respectively. There must be something in the twin's brotherly understanding, as when they get on stage to perform their signature blend of Okinawan traditional music with techno, it seems an entirely natural mixture that even someone who might hate techno can somehow get into. The contrasts in their music can hardly be more different, deeply rooted traditional Okinawan music and machine powered driving rhythms. Female vocalist and sanshin player Natsuki Nakamura adds a further dimension in the roots cause. Peekan is their second full album and mostly consits of full on techno beats with plenty of traditional Okinawan sanshin and rhtyhms. A radical reworking of one of Asia's thriving musical traditions.
Ryukyudisko are the young Okinawan dj duo of twin brothers Tetshushi (RKD1 rhythm and sequence) and Yosuke Hiroyama (RKD2 vox, mix and efx). On this remarkable debut, they combine their own Okinawan melodies and Okinawan singers and instruments with techno and other dance sounds. Powerful, original club music.
Price: £22.99
Eisa is Okinawa's version of the Obon festival, when the souls of the departed are said to return. It's one of the best times to be in Okinawa as Eisa parades and groups take to the streets, banging drums, singing and chanting. On this album some of the most popular Eisa tunes are given radical new mixes by Geetek with dub, hip-hop, house, reggae and ambient mixes. 7 tracks, one for the dance floor.
DJ, producer, remixer from Okinawa, Takuji aka Geetek gets his hands on Okinawan kacharsee dance classics performed by some of the island's top musicians including Rinken Band and Nenes for some studio remix fun. Probably Takuji's best work so far, as the mixes seem less formulaic, and instead are stamped with his own sound. Not so much for the club floor, but more like experimental electronica that makes this a rewarding listen. Price: £20.99
Words such as 'Spirit' and 'Healing' normally set off alarm bells here, as an excuse to add a few nature sounds or slushy keyboards over some decorative ethnic sounds to appeal to a new age market. Which makes this album's delights all the more welcome. While there are the expected ocean and forest sounds and the occasional lush keyboards, this is a beautifully crafted CD that showcases some of Okinawa's most well known traditions, instruments and songs, (mo-ashibi, sanshin, Tsuki nu Kaisha) as well as some lesser known traditions (prayers) instruments such as Ryukyu kokkyu (erhu), ryukin (zither) and some superb vocal performances from Sachiko Shima, Coi-na and Team Kukuru, with music played by Toru Yonaha and others.
Shimadelica is the long awaited third album, the first in three years, from the US/UK duo, Ryukyu Underground. 'Shimadelica' sees the guys back in the studio, recording with live musicians and adding beats, rhythms, and some surprises too to create the trademark, unique sound that is Ryukyu Underground.Jon Taylor and Keith Gordon bring some new ingredients to the RU blender this time. 60s and 70s psychedelic music are mixed with the local sounds of Okinawa. Those local ingredients are still at the root of their music. Funky rhythms, progressive house, 90s Brit rock, dub, trip hop, Brazilian, Arabic, Indian plus other world and club influences all help to take the listener on a global trip that begins and ends in Okinawa. Ryukyu Underground have employed the talents of some of the brightest young names from roots side of the Okinawan music scene. Toru Yonaha is much demand as a session musician and a fine sanshin player and singer in his own right. Long time female collaborator and singer Mika Uchizato is featured once again as are other young female vocalists Natsuki Nakamura and Ayano Uema. Another significant step forward, Shimadelica takes the rich sounds of Okinawa into previously uncharted territory.
Price: £23.99
One of our favourite Okinawan compilations of the many has been the Ryukyu Rare Groove CD of 60s and 70s Okinawan pop tunes (FSD2283). Songs from this album are now given remixes or covered by contemporary Japanese and Okinawan artists including Yasuhiro Konishi (Pizzicato Five), Hakase-Sun (Little Tempo), Takuji Aoyanagi (Little Creatures, Double Famous) and Orange Pekoe. Great variety of sounds, from Brazilian to Hawaiian, reggae, jazzy sounds and electronic beats. Recommended.
Okinawan Trance Music; the new project by the innovative Kenji Yano(Surf Champlers). Okinawan music for the new century. Price: £23.99
Instrumental versions of Okinawan songs, played on sanshin and guitar with percussion, keyboards electronic sound effects and mouth organ, resulting in the first ever Okinawan meets country music on the song "Wild East".
On RU's stunning thrird album, tunes from the first two CDs are given new mixes by a dazzling array of like-minded DJs, musicians, producers, remixers, other creative artists and Ryukyu Underground themselves. All collaborators on this project were chosen by Jon and Keith. Some they have previously worked with, while others they have long admired. They include some of the top names in the world dance music scene, alongside equally talented up and coming artists. The breathtakingly diverse range of styles includes ethnic lounge, ambient, techno, dub, and ethnic drum and bass over 2 CDs and 126 minutes of pulsating music. Remixers featured are Kid Loco, Saru, Da Lata Jason Bentley, Junkie XL, Lelonek, Chaos Luda, Bill Laswell, Rohan, Brown Sounds, Richard Kirk, Sharaab, Karsh Kale, Depth Charge and Dub Farm.
Price: £27.99
Following the success of their first album, Ryukyu Underground release their much anticipated follow up. In contrast to their first album, which sampled many traditional recordings on local labels, this time around Jon and Keith were keen to cooperate and interact with Okinawan musicians in laying down the basic tracks. Despite his young age, Toru Yoneha is one of Okinawa's top players, much in demand as a session musician of the sanshin, the three stringed snake skinned banjo at the heart of Okinawan traditional music. In female singer Mika Uchizato, they have unearthed a real new talent. It's Mika's beautiful voice that is heard on the opening track 'Hana' originally recorded by legend Shokichi Kina, and one of Okinawa's best known songs around the world. 'Koi no Michi Kusa', features Mika over a heavy dub backing, a sound that has become one of the trademarks of Ryukyu Underground. Elsewhere Kuiji nu Hana is set to an infectious bossa nova/samba rhythm, Sefa Utaki has a laid back ambient drum 'n' bass feel, while Kanasando is in a downtempo lounge style.
Ryukyu Underground's first album. ' Electro dub adventuring from Japan's Okinawan archipelago. Gordon & Taylor keep the mystery while adding their own voice to the music, blending traditional children's songs with dub reggae on 'Tinsagu Nu Hang' or mixing the punchy sound of the sanshin banjo with nifty drum programming. A triumph.' - Muzik Price: £13.99
Rinken Band's excellent Eisa, (festival) material is given the remix treatment by Okinawan djs, including dj olive who has worked in New York. Good at what it is, with added new field recordings.
Club music with strong Okinawan flavours has been popularized by Ryukyu Underground and more recently Ryukyudisko. Female singer Natsuki Nakamura has associations with both, as the featured singer on Ryukyudisko's album and as part of Chaos Luda, one of the remixers on RU's Ryukyu Remixed. Uru too have joined that scene mixing Okinawan minyo with club music, featuring Natsuki and two other artists. Price: £22.99
Remixes by Takuji of tracks by Toru Yonaha. The track titles and subtitles give you a good idea on what the music is like. Honen Ondo (drum 'n' bass) Umi no Chimbora (raga house) Tako Yama (Okinawan dub) Nanyogaeri (hip-hop) Toshin-doi (jungle) Honen Ondo (ohayashi drum 'n' bass). Sounds formulaic and made to order rather than a creative work, but is pretty good for the dancefloor.
Takashi Hirayasu and Chuei Yoshikawa's acoustic album of Okinawa's greatest tunes is given a laid back remix treatment. Not for the dance floor, more for chill out. The originals have extra beats, echoes and effects added to them in varying degrees. Price: £23.99
