Nippon:Horic [CD] (Japanese Import)

U:Kahoric - Nippon:Horic [CD] (Japanese Import)

"Beyond tradition, toward universality. Japanese songs resonate with the world." NIPPON:horic is an ambitious album that reinterprets familiar Japanese melodies, such as children's songs and school songs, over a variety of rhythms, including jazz, Latin, and bossa nova. This sound, which resonates with both nostalgia and freshness, is the work of U:kahoric, a four-piece female unit formed in 2012. Led by saxophonist UkoSaxy, the four members have combined their musical backgrounds to elevate Japanese melodies into a contemporary, international sound. At the heart of their work is a clear vision: "Making Japanese songs resonate with the world." Rather than simply recreating traditional melodies, they breathe new life into time-honored compositions by freely combining the improvisational qualities of jazz, the passion of Latin music, and the soft, swaying sounds of bossa nova. In the opening track, "Anatagata Dokosa," a simple melody resonates in three dimensions with modal harmonies and rhythms, elevating prayerful sentiments into a universal spiritual song. In "Yagibushi," a powerful groove takes center stage, intersecting the dynamics of folk music with Latin-inspired fervor. U:kahoric's unique sensibility, bridging indigenous energy with urban dance music, is evident. Lyrical tracks like "Natsu wa Konu" (Summer Will Not Come) and "Akatonbo" (Red Dragonfly) showcase the crystalline ensemble and soft vocals, re-presenting the lyricism of the originals with a more refined sound. The nuances inherent in each sound transport listeners to nostalgic scenes while also reflecting the mental landscapes of our present-day selves. Formed more than a decade ago, U:kahoric continues to serve as a bridge connecting Japanese melodies with global rhythms. This album, "NIPPON:horic," is both the culmination of their journey and a new starting point. The music, born from a journey that goes back and forth between tradition and innovation, is not simply nostalgia or imitation, but a clear message that connects the universal beauty of Japanese songs to the future. "NIPPON:horic" is an album that powerfully resonates with the world the "original landscape of the Japanese heart" depicted by the unit U:kahoric. Music critic Taya Gakuto

Tracks

1. Where are you? Composition / Children's song
2. Hazy Moonlit Night Composer: Teiichi Okano
3. Takeda Lullaby Composition / Kyoto Prefecture Folk Song
4. Song of the Beach Composed by Narita Tamezo
5. Summer Has Not Come (Composed by Sakunosuke Koyama)
6. Yagibushi Composition / Gunma Prefecture Folk Song
7. Red Dragonfly (Composition: Kosaku Yamada)
8. January 1st Composition / Masayuki Kami
9. Early Spring Composition / Akira Nakata