more from
180g
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Alo

by Ajate

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      €5 EUR  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 3 Ajate releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Alo, AJATE x NY.KO - Mammamelie / With Regularity, and Abrada. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      €9.75 EUR or more (25% OFF)

     

  • 180g heavy vinyl LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Alo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Transparent Green Bamboo 180g Heavy Vinyl LP - Limited Edition
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Alo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
Uka 04:04
2.
Galar 05:07
3.
Sowah 07:34
4.
De De 09:05
5.
Mammamelie 06:44
6.
Nchakara 04:36

about

"The joy, the depth, the originality: simply put, there’s nothing like Alo out there."
Bandcamp - This week's essential releases

"Afro groove and Ohayashi are woven together so seamlessly that Ajate has managed to capture a distinct fusion. Alo is a great example of the way sounds are able to migrate in contemporary music."
The Vinyl Factory - 10 favourite new vinyl releases

"A superb and unusual hybrid of African meets traditional Japanese music."
Mr. Bongo

"Delightful & grooving Japanese Afro-Funk album!"
Hard Wax

---

Three years after their critically acclaimed and sold out Abrada LP the great and joyful Japanese afro groovers Ajate are back with their much awaited brand new album Alo!

Ajate is a Japanese band who plays a unique blend of afro-groove dance music mixed with Japanese traditional festival music called "Ohayashi". Formed in 2011 by the band-leader John Imaeda, Ajate consists of 10 Japanese musicians.

Another unique feature of the band is the use of hand-made bamboo instruments as well as traditional Japanese percussion. The "Jahte" is a bamboo-made xylophone or balafon with a piezo pick-up mic attached to each key, connected to a pre-amplifier to obtain a loud sound and to add some touch of dirty distortion to its warm and natural acoustic sonority. The "Piechiku" is also a bamboo-made string instrument inspired by the west-African "Ngoni" or Moroccan "Guembri" instruments. The Piechiku uses strings of the Japanese traditional "Shamisen". This instrument is also played through a pre-amplifier and John sometimes adds some wah-wah effect to it. All these bamboo instruments are designed, made and named by John Imaeda himself.

On Alo you will also be amazed by the exceptional sound of the Japanese Shinofue flute, which was not on the previous Abrada LP.

Now, add to this unique sound some well-crafted Japanese female and male singing and you get a killer mix of Afro-Funk flavored grooves with traditional Japanese music!

Since the release in 2017 of their Abrada LP on the 180g label Ajate has toured Europe twice and has played a memorable concert at the world famous Trans Musicales festival in France in 2018, which has been followed by another great KEXP Live session.

Here is some music you will not be able to hear anywhere else, by one of the most joyful Japanese band to hear on record and to listen live!

---

180GLP04 - Manufactured and distributed by 180g.

180g.net

credits

released March 6, 2020

Recorded by Motoki “Moky” Tanizawa at Music Inn Yamanakako on 25th & 26th of May, 2019
Assisted by Emi Kaito
Mastered by Seiki Kitano (Bang On Studio)
LP mastering by Jeremy Henry at La Villa Mastering, Paris
Cover painting by Masamichi Kawamura
Design by Notarine Graphics

Alo players are:

- Junichiro "John" Imaeda: piechiku (bamboo guitar), vocal, chorus
- Yukio "Gen" Sato: vocal, chorus, take (bamboo cylinder)
- Takako Uchida "PEPPERMINT U" : vocal, chorus, tama-sudare (a prop for Japanese traditional busking performance)
- Kazuki "Cho-san" Chonan: shinofue (Japanese bamboo flute)
- Noriko "Nyori" Ota: jahte (bamboo xylophone)
- Tomohiko Kikuchi: bass
- Yugo Akamatsu: kane (Japanese traditional metal percussion)
- Keigo "Shin-san" Yamada : shime-taiko (Japanese traditional high-pitched drum)
- Yusuke "Su-san" Suzuki : ohdo (Japanese traditional low-pitched drum)
- Bunpei Shibuya: guitar

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ajate Tokyo, Japan

For Ajate live bookings, please contact live@180g.net.

Formed in 2011 by band leader Junichiro "John" Imaeda, Ajate consists of 10 Japanese musicians who play a unique blend of afro-groove dance music mixed with Japanese traditional festival music called "Ohayashi".

Subscribe to the 180g newsletter at eepurl.com/c9FAF5 .
... more

contact / help

Contact Ajate

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Ajate recommends:

If you like Ajate, you may also like: