{"product_id":"mkwaju-ensemble-midori-takada-mkwaju","title":"MKWAJU ENSEMBLE (MIDORI TAKADA) - MKWAJU","description":"\u003cp\u003eLabel: WRWTFWW Records (Switzerland)\u003cbr\u003eCatalog: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWRWTFWW 025LP\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2023 repress; LP version. 140 gram vinyl; 350 gram sleeve, with sticker. WRWTFWW Records announces the highly anticipated official reissue of holy grail album \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMKWAJU\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e by acclaimed Japanese percussionist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMidori Takada\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMKWAJU Ensemble\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e, sourced from the original masters and available in two versions: a vinyl LP cut at Emil Berliner Studios (formerly the in-house recording department of Deutsche Grammophon) and a digipack CD. Originally recorded in February and March 1981 and released by fabled Japanese avant-garde label Better Days (home of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRyuichi Sakamato\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e's debut album, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eYasuaki Shimizu\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e's Kakashi (1982), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eColored Music\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e's self-titled LP (WRWTFWW 024CD\/LP, 2018) and many more) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMKWAJU\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e is the fruit of the collaboration between Takada's crew and world-famous composer\/musical director \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJoe Hisaishi\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e, the man behind most of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHayao Miyazaki\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e's Studio Ghibli anime soundtracks and over 100 other films scores, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTakeshi Kitano\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSonatine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e (1993), \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHana-Bi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e (1997), and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eKikujiro\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e (1999). The ensemble's transcendental wonder is, in fact, the first-ever Midori Takada album and the first-ever Joe Hisaishi-produced album: historic. Led by Midori Takada on marimba, gong, vibraphone, and tom tom, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMKWAJU\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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. The 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 MKWAJU includes famed Japanese musicians \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eYoji Sadanari\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHideki Matsutake\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eKI-Motion\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e (WRWTFWW 026CD\/LP, 2018) fame, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJunko Arase\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e (heard on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSatoshi Ashikawa\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e's legendary \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStill Way - Wave Notation 2\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e(1982)), and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePecker\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e (whose stacked resume boasts collaborations with Ryuichi Sakamoto and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJun Fukamachi\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" height=\"352\" width=\"100%\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/5cYRj7HDkoiwEz0zFY9tcK?utm_source=generator\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"Forced Exposure","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67911646773408,"sku":"hqx1793051699308","price":18.89,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1045\/5833\/0016\/files\/mkwaju-ensemble-midori-takada---mkwaju_1.jpg?v=1793051705","url":"https:\/\/boardroomwear.shop\/products\/mkwaju-ensemble-midori-takada-mkwaju","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}