Customer Reviews

Yoshida Brothers 2

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Well, actually this album is a compilation of two CDs released in Japan - Renaissance (2004) and Frontier (2003). I heard both, and I must tell you that this US version contains the best of the best of these two Tsugaru Shamisen virtuosos.

There are 11 original compositions, one remix and a music video of Nikata.

Frontier is a beautiful breathtaking New-Age theme for strings and percussion, featuring background vocal.

Gales of Wind, Mirage and Nikata are disco/pop compositions. They are very energetic, bright and shining, featuring professional guitar and drums arrangements. By the way, don't forget to check the music video of Nikata, which is also included in this CD.

Lullaby of Takeda, Evening Calm and Arigato are New Age relaxing beautiful themes arranged for uillean pipe, strings, piano, guitar and many other instruments.

Indigo is a Jazz theme featuring drums, bass, saxophone and keyboards.

Kagero sounds like flamenco. You'll hear guitar, palma, tabla, percussion, bass and violin.

Kodo and Old/New - are solo Shamisen themes.

CD is furnished with an 8-page colour booklet. MP3 samples for all 12 tracks are available on the web-site of Domo Records.

Many have complained that this is not traditional music of this type. Yes, it is quite different because it is a blend with modern instruments and melodies that make it a project of our times today. I love the creative input into each of the tracts and the overall creativity of the artists. I would not call this new age music but post-modern music with a traditional "twist". The brothers are quite young, so be prepared to hear from them for many more years!

For those who are familiar with the sound and music of the Shamisen instrument, you will be blown away by this album if you enjoy giant leaps in musical creativity. Like playing rock and roll on a Harpsichord, these two brothers take their Shamisens, instruments created hundreds, if not, thousands of years ago, and play various genres of modern music with them. Some musical genres lend themselves better to the Shamisen than others but the experimentation is both appreciated and brilliant. The tract, "Kodo" is played with a Break Beat and is nothing short of genius. These two brothers have introduced the Shamisen to a whole new generation of young Japanese fans and I hope to the World. I can't wait to get to Japan to go to one of their concerts and hope I can see them even sooner in the States. Brilliant!

This album offers some very unique rhythmic variations with japanese instruments and sounds. I bought it because the online samples sounded interesting and different from what is normally heard in USA radio and music guides. I was not disappointed for this is a a very unique sound that is refreshing to my ear. ON the faster songs I would say these guy "Rock". I plan on getting some of their other volumes.

*THIS* album defines tsugaru shamisen. If someone asks you about Japanese music and mentions the shamisen, give them this album, especially the track Kodo (and the remixed track). They capture the essence and vibrancy of tsugaru shamisen and take it to a modern level. They are great shamisen players in their own right, but the modern twist adds a great flavor to a Japanese (excuse me, Ainu or Tsugaru) musical style.

This CD mixes the old with the new and the east with several different western inlunces. Representative of Japan moving forward while still clinging to it's traditional past. The Yoshida Bros. are masters on the Shamisen, techinically brilliant pieces.

The Yoshida Brothers have brought something new to the world of music.
While the best known song on this CD is the theme for the illusive "WII" gaming system TV commercial, each and every song is a wonderful blend of traditional Japanese shamisan with a modern beat.
If you are a fan of Japanese music, this is a nice addition to your collection.