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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01. Hana
02. Preach
03. Kobana
04. Nigatsu
05. Goo-Gung-Gung
06. Kutsu #2
07. Jippun
08. Kokoni Sachiari
09. Tabla Bol (Catastrophe)
10. Radio-No-Youni (Comme a la Radio)
11. Kutsu |
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Review |
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With help from a traditional tabla player who goes by the name U-Zhaan and a programmer named Urayama Hidehiko, Asa-Chang, the founder and former percussionist for Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, has created some of the most out-of-this-world music ever recorded. That's definitely a dangerous statement though, as some listeners will naturally think that this album won't "be for them." But that's not the point. Jun Ray Song Chang demands to be heard, whether or not you wish to hear it.
Combining tabla drumming, electronic effects, spoken voice, and miscellaneous instruments ranging from horns to mandolins, Jun Ray Song Chang is essentially Asa-Chang's self-imposed challenge to create a new sound which still displays his love of traditional Indian music. The unforgettable album opener, "Hana," creates eccentric beats through layered tabla playing over mutated vocals and strings. Just one of the three songs over six minutes long on the album, at first it's incredibly challenging but ultimately rewarding.
The spoken word in the album is usually mixed with electronic effects to create voices that sound like a mixture between man and machine. "Kobana" features incredibly alien and uncomfortable vocals, but the song is oddly captivating. However, the instrumental and more melodic songs on Jun Ray Song Chang, such as "Preach" and "Goo-Gung-Gung," are able to successfully maintain an exotic and intriguing sound despite the lack of phonetic poetry.
Unfortunately, the album has its faults. Jun Ray Song Chang is best heard in small doses, since the ambitious album can feel somewhat tedious at 48 minutes long. Songs like "Jippun" go on for longer then they should, while others such as the brilliant and sporadic "Tabla Bol (Catastrophe)" seem to end too soon.
With Jun Ray Song Chang, Asa-Chang & Junray have created an experience more than anything else. Their unconventional approach to music draws you into their ominous, abstruse world and then proceeds to mentally drain your energy. Of course, the energy is then transferred to the album, which for better or for worse, only gets stronger and heavier with every invaluable listen. |
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