Suzumeno Tears is back with another folk tune, “Itokuri Bushi,” a traditional Japanese work song from Amami Island. Combining the song are traditional melodies with a jazzy and psychedelic touch, that make the song contemporary and relaxing to listen to.
“Itokuri Bushi” opens with a gentle guitar strumming soothingly on your ears with percussion. As the song progresses, it blends the music with organic traditional drums steadily and rhythmically pulsing the song. The glinting solo of the vibraphone sets a jazzy undercurrent and gives you a calm but whimsy get-go. This nostalgic atmosphere is all you need to get to the heart of Amami Island’s cultural landscape.
At the forefront of the music are the psychedelic and rich vocals of Miyuki Sato and Agatha. Together, their voices intertwine in a polyphony that trails and lingers with unrelinquishable longing. The lyrics, translated and edited by Agatha, poetically convey the theme that a broken relationship, unlike broken threads, cannot easily be mended.
Behind the instrumental arrangement, helmed by Agatha, are the brilliant Masatsugu Hattori on drums and percussion, Masanori Hattori on contrabass, and Tomoko Kageyama on vibraphone.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Kohsuke Nakamura at Kangaroo Paw, “Itokuri Bushi” evokes the classical and traditional heritage of Japan with this whimsical rendition.
Listen to the top-notch production of “Itokuri Bushi” by Suzumeno Tears breathing in the organic music with clarity and precision.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
Review By: Naomi Joan
