Soul Flower leader Nakagawa Takashi with solo project made partly in England. Some great new songs by Nakagawa and music spanning rock, jazz, chindon, Irish and Okinawan. Donal Lunny's band joins for two songs including perhaps the best version yet of 'Mangetsu no Yube', while Ohkuma Wataru and Samm Bennett add even more variety. Maybe the best thing Nakagawa has done, certainly the best Japanese album I've heard this year. JP
Ohkuma Wataru Unit
Cicala-Mvta (Respect)
Clarinet player, chindon expert Ohkuma releases debut that builds on work with Soul Flower and Shisars. It's chindon/punk/jazz if you can imagine that, with originals by Ohkuma plus some old pieces from Japan, Nepal, Turkey. The clarinet blends with Sakamoto Hiromichi's electric cello, and with tuba, violin, guitar and drums like you've never heard before. You'll certainly want to hear it again though. Groundbreakingly wonderful. JP
Kansai Time Out, Apr. 1998. p. 29
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