Brilliant new album featuring Ikue Asazaki, veteran traditional singer from Amami, and sitar player Daikichi Yoshida, a veteran of Japan's alternative music scene. Asazaki has one of those immediately arresting voices, that drips with character but often has been set against a new age accompaniment that hasn't always done her justice. Yoshida is probably best known for playing with improv band Psycho Baba, but has played with a host of other musicians including Alaya Vijana (Fuji Rock festival 2006) Keiji Haino, sax player Kazutoki Umezu and Sitar Tah! and has written songs for female singer UA. On this suprising album, Amami celebration songs meets Indian, Indonesian gamelan, Korean and other Asian elements in a decidely experimental, boisterous manner. Other musicians include Akira Sotoyama (drums), Arunangshu Chaudhury (tabla) U-zhaan (tabla) Urotsute Noyako (gamelan) Fuyuki Yamakawa (hoomi-throat singing, igil) Maya (harmonium) Indora (Korean pansori) and Tonchi (steel pan drums). Wild and rather wonderful.
