UMEKO ANDO / BATTAKI - JOAQUIN JOE CLAUSSELL REMIX

The second release from the Japanese label "VOLKUTA ~ Nihon Uta", which released the first release of Ikue Asazaki's "Yoisurabushi". This time, three songs are excerpted from "Ifunke" released in 2001 by Ms. Umeko Ando, ​​who is known as a master of upopo (song) and mukkuri (mouth harp) and one of the successors of Ainu culture in the Obihiro region of Hokkaido. Like Mr. Asazaki's Yoisurabushi, Ando continued to spread Ainu music both domestically and internationally, while respecting the originals handed down from ancient times, while always adopting new styles with an attitude of not being afraid to challenge new generations. Umeko Mr. A1 "Battaki" is a style that combines the Ainu Upopo with the folky sound of tonkori and percussion, a stringed instrument handed down to the Ainu by OKI of OKI DUB AINU BAND. A2 and A3, in contrast, are mukkuri that are played as they were in the primitive form of the Ainu. The B-side features a 14-plus-minute remix from Joe Claussell that infuses "Battaki" with jazz elements. Like indigenous peoples such as Indians and Eskimos, the Ainu originally lived a dynamic life in harmony with nature on the land of Hokkaido and developed their own unique culture. It is a well-known fact that the place names of Hokkaido are forcibly phonetized from the Ainu language. It is difficult for the Ainu to imagine their own high-level culture and customs, as well as trade with foreign countries, which is far from the simple style of living in nature that was created for tourism. We must not forget the history of persecution of the Westernized Wajin (Japanese people other than the Ainu) who seized land in unfair ways and forced their own sense of values ​​on them. It is our pleasure as a label to be able to release to the world the work of our courageous predecessors to restore our pride as Ainu, and the work of Ms. Umeko Ando, ​​who is undoubtedly one of them, and Mr. OKI, the producer. is. One of the meanings of releasing a record is not only releasing the sound source, but also using the medium of the jacket to deliver the background of the music. completely different in The remixer, Joe Claussell, did not remix the sound source, but reproduced the worldview he found in this music with his own musical view. It's been 4 years since the first release, but I still feel the same emotion as when I decided to release these songs 4 years ago. I am sure that you will be able to listen to it all over the world for a long time, just like the first release.



A1.Battaki Original


A2. Mukkuri - 1


A3. Mukkuri - 2

B.Battaki JoaquinJoe Claussell Remix