Omodaka’s Plum Song EP is a blend of old and new, placing traditional-style Japanese vocals from Akiko Kanazawa alongside chiptune synths. Kanazawa’s vocals might not be for everyone, but if you’re at all sonicly adventurous, Plum Song is worth the listen.
Omodaka’s violet brew of Japanese traditions (traditional music, of course, and another famous Japanese tradition – videogames) says a great deal about Japanese culture. As I settle into my new apartment in suburban Japan, I’m become more accustomed to the mixture of modern and traditional lifestyles. Many Japanese balance shrine visits and holidays like Setsubun – where family members throw roasted soybeans at the head of their household, who dresses as a Demon – with an addiction to mobile phones and playstations. Old houses with clay-tiled roofs exist alongside concrete apartment buildings. Plum Song expresses this quintessentially Japanese union of old and new with a casual offhandedness.
Of course, most important is the quality of the music, and Omodaka delivers. Soichi Terada, the man behind the Omodaka mask, has been making music since 1989, and has picked up a few tricks during his twenty year career. While chiptune synths lack the dynamix flexibility of live instruments or even modern synthesizers, Omodaka is an expert in his field. Each blip, bloop and beat is well placed, and the bit-crushed synths never sound like a novelty (I’d argue that getting music inspired by Nintendo games to be more than a novelty is something of a feat unto itself).
Ultimately, if you like electronic pop, Plum Song is well worth a purchase.
Omodaka will be playing various USA dates this march as part of Japan Nite 2010 – check out the dates at SXSW Asia website.
Buy Plum Song at HearJapan.
Omodaka MySpace.
