{"product_id":"mkwaju","title":"MKWAJU","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe highly anticipated official reissue of holy grail album \u003cem\u003eMKWJU\u003c\/em\u003e by acclaimed Japanese percussionist \u003cstrong\u003eMidori Takada\u003c\/strong\u003e's \u003cem\u003eMKWJU\u003c\/em\u003e ensemble, sourced from the original masters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally recorded in February and March 1981 and released by fabled Japanese avant-garde label Better Days (home of \u003cstrong\u003eRyuichi Sakamato\u003c\/strong\u003e's debut album, \u003cem\u003eYasuaki Shimizu\u003c\/em\u003e's \u003cem\u003eKakashi\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eColored Music\u003c\/em\u003e self-titled LP and many more) \u003cem\u003eMKWJU\u003c\/em\u003e is the fruit of the collaboration between Takada's crew and world-famous composer \/ musical director \u003cstrong\u003eJoe Hisaishi\u003c\/strong\u003e, the man behind most of of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli anime soundtracks and over 100 other films scores, including \u003cem\u003eTakeshi Kitano\u003c\/em\u003e's \u003cem\u003eSonatine\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eHana-Bi\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eKikujiro\u003c\/em\u003e. The ensemble's transcendental wonder is, in fact, the first-ever Midori Takada album and the first-ever Joe Hisaishi-produced album. Historic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLed by Midori Takada on marimba, gong, vibraphone, and tom tom, \u003cem\u003eMKWJU\u003c\/em\u003e is an inventive and riveting take on Eastern and Western minimalist traditions, African rhythms, and early electronica. Drawing from its jazz-rooted polyrhythmic improvisations in the most inventive ways, the album covers a wide spectrum of sounds, from colorful dance floor-ready percussion pieces that stand somewhere between proto-techno and experimental synth-pop, to cinematic ambient landscapes and ethereal drone delicacies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe feverishly sought-after full-length is a stepping-stone in Midori Takada's career and an all-around pioneering album. Alongside Takada and Hisaishi (who not only produced the album but also played synthesizers), personnel on \u003cem\u003eMKWJU\u003c\/em\u003e includes famed Japanese musicians \u003cstrong\u003eYoji Sadanari\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eHideki Matsutake\u003c\/strong\u003e of \u003cem\u003eKI-Motion\u003c\/em\u003e fame, \u003cstrong\u003eJunko Arase\u003c\/strong\u003e (heard on \u003cem\u003eSatoshi Ashikawa\u003c\/em\u003e's legendary \u003cem\u003eStill Way - Wave Notation 2\u003c\/em\u003e), and \u003cstrong\u003ePecker\u003c\/strong\u003e (whose stacked resume boasts collaborations with \u003cstrong\u003eRyuichi Sakamoto\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eJun Fukamachi\u003c\/strong\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50471776584011,"sku":"1047594","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50471777567051,"sku":"1047593","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/WRWTFWW025_bf147cbf_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727411623","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/mkwaju","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}