a r t i s t : Yoshida Brothers
t i t l e : Hishou
d a t e : 2007
l a b e l : Domo Records
c a t : 73071-2
s o u r c e : Normal release
g e n r e : Instrumental
r l s. d a t e : 2007-02-09
t r a c k s : 14
b i t r a t e : 178 kbps avg
s i z e : 87.94MB
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Superstars in their native Japan, young Tsugaru-shamisen virtuosos Ryoichiro
and Kenichi Yoshida-The Yoshida Brothers-have effected nothing short of a
cultural revolution with a muscular reinvention of the ancient
three-stringed instrument, giving it the fiery passion of a rock 'n roll
guitar. Online world music portal World Music Central notes, "Clad in
formal, ceremonial attire of kimonos and hakama pants, but sporting the dyed
light brown hair that is trendy among Japan's savvy youth, the Brothers play
the age-old Tsugaru-shamisen-an instrument akin to a rustic three-stringed
banjo-with the fervor of Jimi Hendrix."
Beyond the rock star status these Pacific Rim mavericks have achieved at
home with their signature East-meets-West interpretation of a time-honored
musical form, they are fast winning major international acclaim as well. By
coaxing startlingly vivid sounds out of their timeless instruments, they
have reinvigorated Tsugaru-shamisen for a new generation, incorporating
elements of jazz, American folk, pop, Latin music, blues and more into their
unique musical tapestry.
Following the release of their self-titled U.S. debut album in 2003,
Interview Magazine wrote, "The duo's approach...has less to do with
upholding traditions than exploring new ones." And, in a 2005 New York Times
review of the Brothers' performance at GlobalFest, Jon Pareles said,
"...their set, like a shredding heavy-metal solo-was all about speed and
twang. They played fast unisons that would have ruthlessly revealed any
mistakes; they played solos that stayed close to the tunes and built
pitiless crescendos. It was music of pure sinew."
On the all-new III, their third U.S. album release on Domo Records, the
charismatic duo's fusion of the ancestral and the avant garde innovates
further with thirteen tracks ranging from the stunningly shredding to the
masterfully serene. The disc was produced by veteran American producer Tony
Berg (Edie Brickell, Michael Penn, Charlie Sexton, Lisa Loeb, Nickel Creek,
etc), who also plays multiple instruments, including steel string guitar and
percussion, throughout. III adventurously expands on what Ryoichiro calls
the Yoshida Brothers', "dualistic exploration in music, both traditional and
western. I believe that our world audiences will be expecting that in our
future. I think incorporating western music attributes will further the
popularizing of the Tsugaru Shamisen outside of Japan."
Stand-out tracks include "Erghen Diado," written by famed world musicologist
Marcel Cellier (Zamfir), and athletically arranged with drums, bass and
strings. A potently hypnotic and psychedelic take on Brian Eno's "By This
River" is the only song featuring vocals, fluidly delivered by former from
Remy Zero frontman Cinjin Tate, whose brother Shelby mans the keyboards.
Many other ace guests add to the album's complex texture, including Mitchell
Froom, who co-wrote and plays keys on the robust "Hit Song," and Oscar
Castro Neves, whose guitar virtuosity enriches the cinematically scored and
aptly titled "Passion."
The Yoshida Brothers work magic completely on their own with a minimalist
and beautiful version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Oh My Love." Ryoichiro
says that Berg, "thought the Japanese-like melody would work with the
Shamisen," while Kenichi adds, "Tony selected this track with the same
sensibilities he had in mind with 'By This River.' There are no cultural
references here." Either way, one can imagine the song's composers being
moved by the Brothers delicate, elegant economy in interpreting it.
The roots of the Yoshida Brothers' music are found in an historic, five
centuries old genre first developed by in a snowy, rural region of northern
Japan by itinerant street buskers, who earned spare change playing melodies
and rhythms reflecting their tough lot in life. The words Tsugaru Shamisen
denote both the ancient folk idiom and the primitive, banjo/lute-like
instrument on which it's played. The Tsugaru is the largest of the three
principal types of shamisen, giving it the fullest sound. As modernity and
western influences swept Japan's young people over time, this spare and
evocative art form fell out of favor.
Its recent hugely popular revival-and the subsequent renewal of interest in
other traditional forms, including Kabuki theater and Tanka, classic
Japanese verse--is due in large part to the Yoshida Brothers' surge in
popularity. Ryoichiro and Kenichi have been practicing the art of
Tsugaru-shamisen since age 5 when, in their northern Hokkaido home, their
father first fashioned them crude instruments made from wooden bowls. They
went on to win top awards in many prestigious National Tsugaru-Shamisen
Competitions, and their first album in Japan, 1999's Ibuki, has sold over
100,000 copies. Considering that historically, shamisen albums sell in the
5,000 units range at best, it was a truly auspicious debut.
Since then, the Yoshida Brothers have scored three more hit albums in Japan:
2000's Move, 2002's Soulful, and 2003's Frontier. In North America, Yoshida
Brothers (2003) and Yoshida Brothers II (2004) have brought their
mesmerizing and energetic, epically historic yet intrinsically modern and
visionary sound to a new world of fans. One of their early songs,
"Sprouting," was recently used in the promotional campaign for the film
Memoirs Of A Geisha.
With the 21st century's unprecedented pan-cultural exchange of art and
ideas, there is a global sensibility seeking transformative musical
experiences, setting the stage perfectly for the Yoshida Brothers upcoming
international tour and their cross-culturally pioneering album III, the
making of which, says Kenichi, "broadened our musical sensibilities." "I
have a renewed appreciation of the Shamisen when I step out of Japan," adds
Ryoichiro. "It is still a rather rare instrument in foreign countries and we
would like to be pioneers in spreading the Shamisen sound."
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01-Prelude: Hishou [ 2:38 ]
02-Ibuki (Hishou Version) [ 6:29 ]
03-Kodo (Hishou Version) [ 3:20 ]
04-Ringo Bushi [ 2:37 ]
05-Ajigasawa Jinku [ 3:07 ]
06-Yasaburou Bushi [ 3:54 ]
07-Panorama [ 3:07 ]
08-Tsugaru Yosare Bushi (Hishou Version) [ 6:24 ]
09-Time of Sand [ 4:36 ]
10-Tsugaru Aiya Bushi (Hishou Version) [ 5:43 ]
11-Modern (Hishou Version) [ 2:26 ]
12-Dual [ 4:28 ]
13-Tsugaru Jongara Bushi (Hishou Version) [14:41 ]
14-Postlude: Hishou [ 0:46 ]
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64:16 min