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
