Sales Information:

The 2nd release will be coming up from Japanese dispatching Label “VOLKUTA - Songs of Japan“ which has released Ikue Asazaki’s “Yoisurabushi” for the first release. For this release, 3 songs are selected from the album “Infuke” released in 2001 by Umeko Ando who is known as the master of Upopo (song) and Mukkuri (mouth harp) and also known as one of the successor of the Ainu tribal culture of Hokkaido Obihiro district. Umeko Ando has been sending the Ainu Music to both at home and over the world with her unafraid of challenging style adopting new style for new generations but the same time respecting the original which is followed since the ancient. A1 “Battaki” is fusion of the Ainu’s Upopo and folky sound of Tonkori the stringed instrument of the Ainu & percussion by Oki from Oki Dub Ainu Band. Contrariwise A2, A3 are Mukkuri representing the Ainu’s primitive style itself. For sideB, Joe Claussell has remixed over 14minutes giving Jazz essence into “Battaki”.

The Ainu originally has been living powerful on the ground of Hokkaido with great natures as well as aborigines like Native Americans or Eskimos. It’s a well-known fact that a place name Hokkaido is phonetic equivalent from Ainu Language by force. It is not easy to imagine their original highly developed culture & tradition and their trading business with abroad when you already know the Ainu’s simple freely living style which is actually made up for tourism. The truth is father from our expectations. And we can never forget the persecuted history that the westernizing Japanese (Japanese expect the Ainu) robbed the land unfairly, forced the values which is convenient only for themselves. The Label is happy to release all over the world of Ms. Umeko Ando and the producer Mr. Oki’s production who are definitely one of the brave predecessors who has been creating wonderful music to redeem the pride of the Ainu.

Releasing the sound by vinyl record is also to deliver the background of the music through media of a jacket. It is absolutely different from what is released with simple two hole sleeve. The remixer Joe Claussell has not just remixed the sound, he had recreated the view of this music into his world of view.

It has been 4years already from the first release, but still have the same touching ever since we had decided to release these music. We have faith this music will be play for many years in the whole world as well as our first release.

TRACKLIST



A1. Battaki - Original / 4:22

A2. Mukkuri - 1 / 2:34

A3. Mukkuri - 2 / 3:07



B. Battaki - Joaquin Joe Claussell Remix

Joaquin Joe's Claussel's Cosmic Arts Story / 14:11



B1. Metal Rain Shower / 1:36

B2. Asianic Earth / 4:59

B3. Festival For The Devoted / 1:20

B4. Fusion Galactica / 3:36

B5. Asianic Earth Outro / 2:40