We recently had the privilege of being able to get an advance preview (courtesy of our partnership with Hear Japan) of the tracks on the latest release from Japanese hybrid electronic music artist Omodaka. So, here is our review of the EP!

The title track, “Plum Song” is kind of “classic Omodaka,” rather chip-tuney, upbeat: a fresh combination of the gurgling electro chirps and nice enka singing of Japanese enka singer Akiko Kanazawa. [Omodaka definitely has a great knack for knowing how to mix and sync successfully the singer's voice with his synthesized undercurrents....]

The next song on the EP, “Tankou Bushi” starts off with a kickin chimey, bell-like sound, then layers in one-by-one a syncopated beat, chirpy telephone sound intermittently in the background, Indian tabla drums (and is that even a twinge of didgeridoo I hear in the background?! wow, interesting)… The song is nearly entirely an instrumental song, until the very end, when we again hear just a brief bit of Akiko’s vocals .

Hohai Bushi leads off with a mellow, loungey chiptune sequence, then a nice kick drum jumps in (the vocals of Akiko Kanazawa return not too soon afterwards, this time with some really – how can I say – “swooping” alternating pitch, what a talented singer!)

I think I probably prefer (personally) the final song on the EP, “Tawaratsumi Uta”. It has a cool, really up-tempo world lounge/club beat, along with the signature chiptunes Omodoka is known for blended in. (That combined with Kanazawa’s classic, enka vocal stylings make for a nice, refreshing musical adventure interweaving the cool world of Japan’s cultural past, present, and future all into one nice package ^__^.

Overall, I would say that this release will not by any stretch be for everyone (general jpop it is certainly not), and I will also even admit that I do prefer some of Omodaka’s other releases [my favorite Omodaka tracks are still 'fortunate 1 mark' (this song just KICKS man, I REALLY recommend it:), 'monkey turn' (love the song name and video), and 'kyoteizinc' (a feast for the ears and eyes)], but this is something sonically different that you might like if you get into electronic music in general, if you like Japanese games & pop culture, and have an open, new-spirited mind!

Happy listening everybody.

BUY THE EP HERE & LISTEN TO MUSIC SAMPLES on HearJapan.com! [or on iTunes by searching for "omodaka"]