Midori Takada

The highly anticipated official reissue of holy grail album MKWAJU by acclaimed Japanese percussionist Midori Takada’s MKWAJU ensemble, sourced from the original masters. Originally recorded in February and March 1981 and released by fabled Japanese avant-garde label Better Days (home of Ryuichi Sakamato’s debut album, Yasuaki Shimizu’s Kakashi, Colored Music self-titled LP and many more) MKWAJU is the fruit of the collaboration between Takada’s crew and world-famous composer / musical director Joe Hisaishi, the man behind most of of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli anime soundtracks and over 100 other films scores, including Takeshi Kitano’s Sonatine, Hana-Bi, and Kikujiro. The ensemble’s transcendental wonder is, in fact, the first-ever Midori Takada album and the first-ever Joe Hisaishi-produced album. Historic.

PERSONNEL:

• Midori Takada - (vibes, gong, marimba)
• Yoji Sadanai - (bass)
• Junko Arase - (mitla marimba/gon)
• Pecker - (latin percussion)
• Hideki Matsutake - (computer programming)
• Joe Hisaishi - (keyboards)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Mkwaju
• A2. Shak Shak
• A3. Lemore

• SIDE B
• B1. Tira-Rin
• B2. Pulse In The Mind
• B3. Flash-Back