21st century sounds: Japanese fusion bands

liz June 8, 2009 0 comments Asia, Japan

If you’re interested in new music from different parts of the globe you’ll love Al Jazeera’s Playlist series which looks at original and surprising musical fusions from all over the world. I just watched a recent episode which explores some of the interesting fusion music coming out of Japan.

Bands featured include Asakusa Jinta with a modern take on Japanese street music; ex-fisherman rockers Gyoko; girl band Pistol Valve; The Yoshida Brothers and their rock version of traditional shamizen music; Omodaka with their enka meets gameboy soundtrack.

Omodaka’s version of Cantata No 147 synthesised on a Nintendo Gameboy even makes Bach sound 21st Century.

Image: Pistol Valve (credit: Mr Malinois)

To watch the series online go here or subscribe via iTunes podcast directory. On a side note, these programmes are also useful for language learners as the interviews are subtitled rather than dubbed.

Read more:
Top world music albums of 2008
Food of the world – Japanese breakfast
Japanese blogs from Blogs of the World
Interview with two ladies who love Japan

About the author

Lucy (Liz) Chatburn
Lucy is English and first ventured out of the UK she was 19. Since then she has lived in 4 different countries and tried to see as much of the world as possible. She loves learning languages, learning about different cultures and hearing different points of view.
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