Kila & Oki [2006]

Oki is a man on a mission. A Bob Marley-loving, forward-looking traditionalist from Hokkaido island (that of the indigenous Ainu people of Japan), he has taken to roaming the world, performing, collaborating, and educating. Singing in the Ainu language, using the emotive chords of the five-string tonkori as a foundation, he paints psychedelic patterns with samples, live vocals and other instruments including guitars, flute, drums and melodica. Dub Ainu Deluxe is a wonderfully indulgent stoner’s album, a mix of reggae-leaning rhythms and swirling, whirling sound effects that ebb and flow like ocean currents. On ‘Utari’, the sweet vocals of guest singer Fania become a foil for the guttural bass of Emi Toko, while the sound of children’s voices and the whimsy of the melodica give ‘Dub Arrow’ an upbeat, celebratory feel. Paradoxically, it’s ‘traditional’ tracks such as ‘Sannupista Dub’ that, deftly arranged, sound the most experimental; a shimmering portal into a parallel universe where things loop, double back and whiz through the air.

Oki and Kíla, a progressive/traditional Irish music outfit, forged an immediate connection when they met on stage during Kíla’s 2004 tour of Japan, where their unlikely pairing making for a fascinating mix. Featuring eight tracks written in Irish, Ainu and English, and recorded in just ten days, Kíla & Oki is proof of this rapport (particularly that of Oki and frontman Rónán Ó Snodaigh), and also of how apparently disparate musical cultures can relate to each other in ways both innovative and ancient. Depending on the track, Oki’s eastern rhythms and dub obsessions lend an earthy feel to the often flighty and furious playing of the Irish ensemble (on fiddle, banjo, mandolin and other traditional instruments), while the multitalented Kíla sprinkle their energy and humour throughout. Any musical tensions are embraced and resolved as new avenues are explored and established. A very fine meeting of musical minds.
Jane Cornwell

1. Topattumi
2. Gaire Na Bpaisti
3. Our Children Are Laughing
4. Kai Kai As To
5. Ni Liom Fein
6. Ororo Raha (Mokoro Mokoro)
7. Haon Do
8. Kent Hakka Tufse
9. Last Mile Home

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