Customer Reviews

Ryukyu Underground

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

 

 

There seems to be an unfortunate bias among many individuals against quote "world" music. There is this preconceived notion that anything that combines multiple cultural influences in a clearly audible manner is somehow lame. Granted yes, there is some thoroughly lame and hackneyed world music out there, but certainly no more than in any other genre or market.

But on to this CD. This is a solid, multiply-relistenable disc. Chill to it, drive to it, fall asleep to it. It has a decidedly positive sound to it and deftly mixes traditional and contemporary Japanse sounds with dub and Afropop and a number of other disciplines in such a way that ultimately you find yourself listening to something that is excellently produced, highly accessable, eclectic, multifaceted and generally kickass. And to those of you out there who labor under the delusion that world music is wholly and undeniably lame, I hold up this album as an example of exactly why you are dead effin' wrong.

Check out this beautiful ambient-dance electronica from the island of Okinawa, south of Japan. The mixing is skillful and the specifically Asian elements are both intact and integral to the music. The opening tracks feature Japanese vocals and koto strings mixed in with standard-issue beats; later the album shifts into mellower material, with spacy songs such as "Shinkaichi" and the alluring "Tinsagu Na Hana Dub." Nice stuff... definitely worth tracking down!

I love this CD and their newest one too, It puts me back in Okinawa. I can listen to it over and over. Many Okinawa sounds mixed with a modern bass beat.

This album creates a unique sound by taking samples of music from the Okinawa area of Japan and mixing them with dance beats...of sorts. I think it's known as "drum and bass" beats--a lot of activity, but not exactly something I can dance to. At any rate, it's cool to hear this mixture of Okinawan island sounds with western beat.