Ryukyu Underground

Amazon.com
While Ryukyu Underground takes its name from the tropical Ryukyu Islands at the southern end of Japan, the duo is actually composed of Keith Gordon, a British DJ, and Jon Taylor, an American world music know-it-all with a background of playing reggae. The duo met through the Ryukyu Islands' vibrant club scene, drawn together by their interest in the islands' rich musical tradition. Adding their own modern spin, Gordon and Taylor sampled material from local albums and prominently featured the odd, almost tuneless sanshin (a snake-skinned banjo). They mutate the local sounds using a club-ready mix of jungle (the electronic music variety), dub, ambient, soul, and jazz. The most intriguing combination is the dub-heavy mutations that highlight the sanshin on tracks like "Tinsagu Nu Hana Dub." Club kids, however, will most likely dig the driving beats of cuts like "Yanbaru Birdcall." Like the scene in Ibiza, Ryukyu Underground offers a bit of club culture on the beach; only here, it's in the Far East. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description
The largest of The Ryukyu Islands which dot the Pacific Ocean to the south of Japan, Okinawa's serene natural beauty works in harmony with the beats and bass lines of its thriving roots music scene, reflecting an independent spirit which has survived centuries of foreign interference. Ryukyu Underground takes this spirit one step further, transporting original recordings sampled from local labels into uncharted territory, and creating dance music in what is still a distinctly Okinawan framework. Ambient, dub, electronica, jungle, soul, jazz and hip-hop swim in the mix with elements of Indian, Afrobeat and Japanese traditional music, to create a uniquely global sound direct from the Ryukyu Underground.

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Average customer rating: Attention naysayers FANTASTIC! Okinawan music goes drum'n'bass If you liked Talvin Singh's "Anohka" collection...

Ryukyu Underground Ryukyu Underground Manufacturer: Riverboat ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Africa | International | Styles | Music India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ryukyu Remixed Shimadelica Rough Guide to Okinawa ASIN: B0000682XD Release Date: 2003-04-24

Tracks:

1. Soi Soi
2. Shimajima
3. Ashibi Shongane
4. Shinkaichi
5. Tinsagu Nu Hana Dub
6. Kokusai Dori Dub
7. Yanbaru Birdcall
8. Koza Riot
9. Agarijo
10. Snow In Okinawa (Remix)

Amazon.com

While Ryukyu Underground takes its name from the tropical Ryukyu Islands at the southern end of Japan, the duo is actually composed of Keith Gordon, a British DJ, and Jon Taylor, an American world music know-it-all with a background of playing reggae. The duo met through the Ryukyu Islands' vibrant club scene, drawn together by their interest in the islands' rich musical tradition. Adding their own modern spin, Gordon and Taylor sampled material from local albums and prominently featured the odd, almost tuneless sanshin (a snake-skinned banjo). They mutate the local sounds using a club-ready mix of jungle (the electronic music variety), dub, ambient, soul, and jazz. The most intriguing combination is the dub-heavy mutations that highlight the sanshin on tracks like "Tinsagu Nu Hana Dub." Club kids, however, will most likely dig the driving beats of cuts like "Yanbaru Birdcall." Like the scene in Ibiza, Ryukyu Underground offers a bit of club culture on the beach; only here, it's in the Far East. --Tad Hendrickson

Album Description

The largest of The Ryukyu Islands which dot the Pacific Ocean to the south of Japan, Okinawa's serene natural beauty works in harmony with the beats and bass lines of its thriving roots music scene, reflecting an independent spirit which has survived centuries of foreign interference. Ryukyu Underground takes this spirit one step further, transporting original recordings sampled from local labels into uncharted territory, and creating dance music in what is still a distinctly Okinawan framework. Ambient, dub, electronica, jungle, soul, jazz and hip-hop swim in the mix with elements of Indian, Afrobeat and Japanese traditional music, to create a uniquely global sound direct from the Ryukyu Underground.

Customer Reviews:

Attention naysayers.......2004-04-19

There seems to be an unfortunate bias among many individuals against quote "world" music. There is this preconceived notion that anything that combines multiple cultural influences in a clearly audible manner is somehow lame. Granted yes, there is some thoroughly lame and hackneyed world music out there, but certainly no more than in any other genre or market.

But on to this CD. This is a solid, multiply-relistenable disc. Chill to it, drive to it, fall asleep to it. It has a decidedly positive sound to it and deftly mixes traditional and contemporary Japanse sounds with dub and Afropop and a number of other disciplines in such a way that ultimately you find yourself listening to something that is excellently produced, highly accessable, eclectic, multifaceted and generally kickass. And to those of you out there who labor under the delusion that world music is wholly and undeniably lame, I hold up this album as an example of exactly why you are dead effin' wrong.

FANTASTIC!.......2003-09-13

I love this CD and their newest one too, It puts me back in Okinawa. I can listen to it over and over. Many Okinawa sounds mixed with a modern bass beat.

Okinawan music goes drum'n'bass.......2003-08-03

This album creates a unique sound by taking samples of music from the Okinawa area of Japan and mixing them with dance beats...of sorts. I think it's known as "drum and bass" beats--a lot of activity, but not exactly something I can dance to. At any rate, it's cool to hear this mixture of Okinawan island sounds with western beat.

If you liked Talvin Singh's "Anohka" collection..........2002-12-24

Check out this beautiful ambient-dance electronica from the island of Okinawa, south of Japan. The mixing is skillful and the specifically Asian elements are both intact and integral to the music. The opening tracks feature Japanese vocals and koto strings mixed in with standard-issue beats; later the album shifts into mellower material, with spacy songs such as "Shinkaichi" and the alluring "Tinsagu Na Hana Dub." Nice stuff... definitely worth tracking down!

Average customer rating:

Ryukyu Remixed Ryukyu Underground Manufacturer: Avex Trax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ryukyu Underground ASIN: B000219QMA Release Date: 2004-07-05

Tracks:

1. Akata Sundunchi (Kid Loco's 'Riding The Indian Ghost Pony' Mix)
2. Shinkaichi (Saru's Meditation Dub)
3. Kuijin Nu Hana (Da Lata Remix)
4. Soi Soi 2004 (Ryukyu Underground)
5. Mo Ashibi (Jason Bentley Remix)
6. Seragaki (Junkie Xl Remix)
7. Sefa Utaki (Lelonek Mix)
8. East Is East (Chaos Luda 'Coral' Mix)
9. Koi No Michikusa (Bill Laswell Remix)
10. Yanbaru Birdcall (Rohan Remix)
11. Kanasando (Brown Sounds Remix)
12. Ashibi Shongane (Richard Kirk Scientific Dancehall Mix)
13. Agarijo (Sharaab Remix)
14. Hana (Progressive Breaks Mix) - Ryukyu Underground
15. Seragaki (Karsh Kale Remix)
16. Mo Ashibi Breaks (Ryukyu Underground)
17. Koza Riot (Depth Charge Mix)
18. Soi Soi (Dubfarm Mix)
19. Akata Sundunchi (Minyo Mix) - Ryukyu Underground

Album Details

Double CD Set of Tracks Remixed by Kid Loco, Jason Bentley, Junkie Xl, Lelonek, Chaos Luda, Bill Laswell, Rohan, Brown Sounds, and More.

Average customer rating:

Shimadelica Ryukyu Underground Manufacturer: Avex Trax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ryukyu Underground ASIN: B000EIF6FW Release Date: 2006-05-08

Tracks:

1. Suminashi
2. Shimadelic Sound System
3. Kogana No Hana
4. Udui
5. Sesoko
6. Thirteenth Moon
7. Ashimiji Bushi
8. Uprising
9. Erabu No Komoriuta

Average customer rating:

An Evening with Ryukyu Underground Various Artists Manufacturer: Avex Trax ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music ASIN: B0007G8D4W Release Date: 2005-03-14

Tracks:

1. Spaces In Between
2. Alone
3. Speech
4. Mirrors And Windows
5. When You Smile
6. An Indian Summer
7. Letting Go
8. Prayer
9. Ebae
10. Valiente
11. Night
12. Odyssea
13. Melou Melou
14. Secret Place
15. Entheogen

Average customer rating:

Ryukyu Underground Ryukyu Underground Manufacturer: Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Africa | International | Styles | Music India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music R&B | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005YX0E Release Date: 2002-03-27

Tracks:

1. Soi Soi
2. Shimajima
3. Ashibi Shongane
4. Shinkaichi
5. Tinsagu Nu Hana Dub
6. Kokusai Dori Dub
7. Yanbaru Birdcall
8. Koza Rio
9. Agarijo
10. Snow in Okinawa [Remix]

Amazon.com

While Ryukyu Underground takes its name from the tropical Ryukyu Islands at the southern end of Japan, the duo is actually composed of Keith Gordon, a British DJ, and Jon Taylor, an American world music know-it-all with a background of playing reggae. The duo met through the Ryukyu Islands' vibrant club scene, drawn together by their interest in the islands' rich musical tradition. Adding their own modern spin, Gordon and Taylor sampled material from local albums and prominently featured the odd, almost tuneless sanshin (a snake-skinned banjo). They mutate the local sounds using a club-ready mix of jungle (the electronic music variety), dub, ambient, soul, and jazz. The most intriguing combination is the dub-heavy mutations that highlight the sanshin on tracks like "Tinsagu Nu Hana Dub." Club kids, however, will most likely dig the driving beats of cuts like "Yanbaru Birdcall." Like the scene in Ibiza, Ryukyu Underground offers a bit of club culture on the beach; only here, it's in the Far East. --Tad Hendrickson

Average customer rating: I really enjoyed this

R.U. Lounge Ryukyu Underground Manufacturer: Avex Japan ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0001U1LNE Release Date: 2004-05-24

Tracks:

1. Kuijin Nu Hana [De Lata Mix]
2. Kanasando [Buddha Mix]
3. Akata Sundunchi [Kid Loco Mix]
4. Akata Sundunchi [Kid Loco Instrumental]

Customer Reviews:

I really enjoyed this.......2005-04-05

I bought a copy of this after only listening to a few mins of the first track in a store. There are only 4 tracks on the album, but there is about 20 mins of music on the album. The vocals are great, even if you can't understand the language. The music really captures the sounds of Okinawa or the Ryukus. I highly recommend this CD for anyone who wants to listen to something with a great beat that can be either relaxing or that makes you want to bob your head. Great music for driving down the coast!

Average customer rating:

R.U. Lounge Ep Ryukyu Underground Manufacturer: Avex Trax Japan ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0002IQ9NC Release Date: 2004-06-29

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