It's two years since the unpredictable UA last released a full album. One of her great abilities, apart from her smoky voice, is to find and work with some talented and upcoming producers and songwriters. On this album of 10 tracks these are Kazuhisa Uchihashi, Masato Suzuki and Mai Fujinoya, as well as old faces Hirofumi Asamoto and Daikichi Yoshida. Walks the line between cutting edge and catchy J-pop. 1. Obon no Midori (Golden Green) 2. Melody La La La 3. Paradise Alley / Ginga Cafe 4.Turi 5. Noren Noren - Haiiro Shita Saru no Yume 6. Love Scene 7. San Andreas Fault 8. Elm 9. Panacea 10. Moor
Female maverick singer UA has another compilation album released. UA has been much in demand to appear on other artist's albums. Mostly these artists are themselves some of the more interesting, from experimental to jazzy club to dub. Each track therefore appeared somewhere else, but have been conveniently compiled together for UA's many fans. Those artists who have featured UA are, Yoshihiro Hanno, Towa Tei (Dee-Lite) Hiroshi Fujiwara, Dub Station (Kazufumi Kodama) Little Creatures, Mondo Grosso, Mai Fujinoya, Naruyoshi Kikuchi, Kurikorder Quartet, Little Creatures, Alaya Vijana and from the soundtrack to Kuchu Teiyen. Each track is very different and has that unique UA flavour. Price: £18.99
UA is nothing if unpredictable and intriguing. This latest album has an avant garde and diverse feel, combining electric and acoustic sounds, an orchestra and some unique instruments, the ondes martenot and daxophone.
Another live album from the wonderful female singer UA. This one is of mostly songs from her latest studio album Sun, scattered with a few past hits. Good but better to start with the studio albums. Price: £18.99
Despite her popularity female singer UA goes against the grain of mainstream pop to produce challenging music, none more than on this new album. Her unlikely collaborators are Balinese gamelan group, Gamelan Semarandana, which makes for a strange concoction with UA improvising over the top of one of Bali's top gamelan orchestras. Elsewhere she is joined by Japanese avant garde and experimental musicians for some more unusual outings, which feature Hiromichi Sakamoto (cello) and Takero Sekijima (tuba) also of Cicala Mvta.
NHK children's programme, which features UA as it's singing host. 20 tracks of children's songs, sang by the excellent UA and arranged by some of Japan's best musicians operating in the rock and pop scenes such as Takuji Aoyanagi (ex-Little Creatures), Yumiko Ono (Buffalo Daughter), Tamuro Geniji (steel guitar) Asa-Chang, Tico (Little Tempo). Double CD, with Disc 2 a karaoke version. Price: £19.99
Double live album from one of Japan's best female artists. These live versions of her best known tunes are refreshingly different, played by her band that includes Asa Chang on drums, Masato Suzuki (bass, from Little Creatures), Hiromichi Sakamoto on cello, and Yumiko Ono (synthesier, from Buffalo Daughter) and Hirofumi Asamoto on keyboards (Ram Jam World). A rare talent, who never seems to compromise, instead challenges her audience and herself.
UA has been one of Japan's most innovative female singers since the mid 1990s. This compilation draws from material throughout her career, including all the hits and best album tracks, ranging from pop to the more inventive. Excellent place to discover this amazing artist Price: £23.99
4th album from one of Japan's best female vocalists is one of her best. Some of the same collaborators as before, including Hirofumi Asamoto, and some new people too, most notably Asa Chang, who co-produced. It's probably not as immediate as her other albums, it's definitely stranger, more intense, but it grows on each listen.
Best album since stunning debut 11. A kaleidoscope of sounds from dub to club, with British and Japanese producers. Price: £18.99
It was obvious from the beginning that UA was something different in the J-Pop scene. She has a smoky voice and her albums are usually made with a host of cool musicians from the club, dub and dance scenes. She has certainly never conformed and usually her albums come as a surpsise and might be described as slow growers. Ametora was her second album following the more pop debut 11. She didn't keep to the same formula instead recorded an album with jazzy influences. UA continues to intrigue today in a variety of incarnations.
One of Japan's best singers, UA's soulful voice hovers over the coolest rhythms and die-for melodies. First album from 1997. Price: £18.99
