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Jojo Hiroshige, Shiraishi Tamio

Enka Mood Collection

Label: An'Archives

Format: 10"

Out of stock

This is the first in a series of Enka mood 10" LPs to be released on An' archives. This record is an expression of the soul of a people, an exotic, sentimental journey. To stand aside or take the ride? The decision lies with what our feelings say. Side A of this split LP features self-proclained 'King of Noise', Jojo Hiroshige, founder member of the legendary Hijokaidan and stalwart of the Japanese noise scene. The B-side is engraved with the naked and guttural voice of sax-player Tamio Shiraishi, accompanied here by guitarist Malenkov. Both sides appropriate the enka repetoire in remarkablky different ways. Jojo Hiroshige's howled declamations and metallic scoria guitars chisel these old enka ballads into something more monstrous while Malenkov's flamenco arpeggios bandage torn lace around Shiraishi's voice. Shiraishi recorded these songs in Uramado, a small kabuki-cho bar haunted by the ghosts of the Tokyo underground. Wandering through the streets of this floating world, one gets re-acquainted with those long lost voices of Enka. This document is only a superficial incision into the exquisite corpse of the japanese underground, a body of work where traditional and modern musical lines converge and take their rest, having now been cast into oblivion by the relentless changing trends. Enka music is deeply anchored in Japanese society and still remains influential today among those who frequent Karaoke bars where singing is the preferred language.

Details
Cat. number: An04
Year: 2014
Notes:

Enka Mood Collection. Split 10 inch LP ltd to 200, comes in a silkscreened gatefold cover with obi, insert + postcard Liner notes by Alan Cummings. Text by Michel Henritzi.

B1 to B4 recorded at Uramado, Shinjuku Golden-Gai just after midnight on 2005/03/16. Comes in a silkscreened gatefold cover with obi (white or pink), inserts, postcard. Limited to 200 copies. 

Many thanks to Tetuzi Akiyama, Alan Cummings, Michel Henritzi, Junko & Alan Sherry.