Customer Reviews

Asian Drums

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The title is a bit deceiving. By the title alone people think this is a CD on taiko music. But what Kiyoshi Yoshida has accomplished is more along the lines of jazz-fusion group Hiroshima. From that standpoint this is an excellent CD. Yoshida takes the taiko, koto, synthesizers and many other instruments and creates a multilayered compilation of music that is Japanese and Western at the same time. The first song "Rising Sun" is a perfect example. I would suggest listening to the sample and getting a feel for what lies ahead. If you like that, you'll enjoy the rest as well.

As a taiko player in Los Angeles, I should say that listening to ANY kind of taiko music on CD isn't and can never be the same as experiencing a performance live. Part of the joy and excitement of taiko music is the PHYSICAL sensation that one feels by watching/listening to it. Taiko music is very much a physical experience because the sounds made by the drums rumble through your body like shockwaves during an explosion. You feel it down to your very soul. Those physical sensations can never be recreated through artificial means like video, audio or CDs. Even with a subwoofer the recreation is a poor substitute for the real thing. Believe me, it hasn't been done yet. Having said that, every OTHER element of this CD is great. You'll just have to "pretend" that the drums are rumbling through your body like an earthquake.

(It should be noted that "Ouichi Daiko" was actually composed and trademarked by Japanese taiko powerhouse Oedo Sukeroku. No credit was given on the CD but it should have been.)

For a debut album, this is an incredible peice of work. I am not a big synthesizer fan but the way Yoshida blends his sounds with the drums is truly inspired. I hope his next album is half as good as this one. It will be a tough act to follow. I have many CD's with a variety of Japanese music, from shakuhachi to Kodo, from Kabuki and Noh Theater to Hiroshima, and Asian Drums is a wonderful addition.

The way Kiyoshi took the taiko drums and synthesizer and was able to put them together in the perfect way he did astounds me. Every song stirs spirit within me and takes me to "another world." I am excited to see what other works Kiyoshi Yoshida comes out with in the future!

After hearing this CD in a book store a few months back, I was taken by the combination of old-meets-new. After I left the store, I regretted not buying it, low and behold, I found it on the big A! Using the ancient drum the Taiko as a foundation for the CD, Kiyoshi Yoshida weaves ethnic feel with a modern flavor, weaving synthesizers and keyboards in a mix that is melodic, moody, and very memorable. Some of the tunes have haunting melodies that leave the listener in a spellbound state that never lets up. Clocking in at 44 minutes the CD is the perfect blend of tuneage for any listener. Higlights include: Rising Son, Mikado and Spirit. Listen in good health!

In "Asian Drums", the non-stop pounding of ancient Japanese Taiko drums is combined with a lush, brooding soundscape created by modern synthesizers. Composer and keyboardist Kiyoshi Yoshida handles the digital end of things, while Wakon, a group of Taiko drummers, provide the primal, deep-voiced rhythms. Occasional breaks from the drumming feature other traditional Japanese instruments, such as the shamisen (a plucked, banjo-like instrument), fue (Japanese flute) and bell, adding color and distinctive cultural character to the album. The resulting blend, which flows and blends together like a well-engineered movie soundtrack, is striking, driving and full of intrigue. More of the same can be found on the Yoshida's follow-up recording, "Asian Drums II". Another Japanese drumming ensemble which sometimes incorporates modern fusion elements is Kodo.

This CD has a perhaps unfortunate title because it has the word "uchi" (hit, beat) on the cover but it's not all about drums. It's not even about pan-Asian drums. This is a mix of Japanese traditional instruments like the koto and shamisen with synth, electric guitars, Chinese zither, piano, bamboo xylophone, and something that sounds like church bells. Don't expect much traditional taiko drumming here. It's a very eclectic fusion of styles and musical instruments. Some tracks are very upbeat with a rock-driven tempo and some are very somber. Oiuchidaiko is the only track that's really wadaiko. And it doesn't sound that great (only a minute long). Taiko doesn't translate well to CD. You really have to enjoy it live.

The three "Forest" tracks are the most traditional compositions, performed on shakuhachi (bamboo flute), and very melancholic, like something you'd hear from the soundtrack of Akira Kurosawa's Ran. Wave is also traditional sounding but also very short at 1 min, played on shamisen. Some of the songs do take me back to good memories I had in Japan at town festivals, visiting Buddhist temples, and attending musical performances. Overall, a mixed CD experience, but still highly recommended.