SHONEN KNIFE

Shonen Knife, clearly influenced by bands like Ramones, Red Cross or Sonic Youth, were formed at the start of the 80s. Fast, in your face, energetic and women. This three-piece female band have released quite a few records in their career so far. Lots of them as important as “Let’s knife”. They released “Genko Shock earlier this year and they remain true to their Ramonian roots on songs like “Twist barby or I wanna eat choco bars”. Gabba gabba knife!

RAINSTICK ORCHESTRA

Even though Baku Tsunoda and Naomichi Tanaka lived close to one and another, they didn’t know each other. That all changed one night when they ran into each other working as DJs in the same joint and they discovered they loved the same type of music. So, four years ago they start working together in Rainstick Orchestra. The stuff they do is rather experimental and tends towards ambience music. This record is for those who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.

ZATOICHI

B.S.O.·Film Soundtrack

It’s always been said that the blind always hear better than anybody else. We can tie Kitano to this idea in the film Zatoichi, where the blind protagonist bases their deftness on their hearing powers. I won’t go into the story of the film here. I do, however, recommend the soundtrack as it does bring us closer to forever distant and strange Japanese melodies. Kitano chose the musician chose Keiichi Suzuki to compose the soundtrack. Suzuki’s imagination and personal touch to the music are magical to me.

KURANDO

Kurando Shoji. When you first hear the music, you’d swear it was African or Jamaican. That’s the type of music you can hear in these sessions. What’s more, you’ve been able to get a blast of the music in the series on Bob Marley recently broadcast by Radio 3. Or you might have heard it on Makala’s Boom Shakalaka radio show as well. Some of you might think that these Japanese are total Martians. Well, more Jamaican than Martian in this case. Donostia lad Ibon Errazkin was involved in the making of this collection.