Oki Dub Ainu Bband’s Utarhythm
Written by Shinya Matsuyama
Rhythm that connects fellowship
So it’s already been a little less than six years. I still clearly remember the first time I listened to Sakhalin Rock by Oki Dub Ainu Band and the sensation of excitement that surged through my veins. Now the band is back with an album that is even better. I already had high hopes because their pre-online release from summer two years ago, “Suma Mukar” (also recorded on this album) was truly magnificent, and it looks like Oki has done even better, – this album that was definitely worth the wait. Their sound is massive and thick with swift beats that sways in delicate angles, combined with great sound clarity and lightness as though the sound dances in the air. Listening to Utarhythm for the first time, you will hear how carefully they carved and polished their sound production, and how much the members worked on their individual arrangements. Their workmanship has definitely made one big step forward.
The title Utarhythm comes from ‘utari’ which means fellows or family in Ainu (indigenous people of Japan) combined with ‘rhythm.’ This original word made by Oki should represent the band’s wish to inherit the music of Ainu – to express traditional music with their rhythm – and share these rhythms with their fellows. The members include Oki (tonkori, guitar and vocals) and the same members from their previous album, Futoshi Ikabe (tonkori and chorus), Takashi Numazawa (drums), Takashi Nakajo (bass) and Naoyuki Uchida (engineer), as well as the genius of the pandeiro, Marcos Suzano as guest musician. A new addition to the band is the man on keyboards, Hakase-Sun (known for his works with bands like Fishmans, Little Tempo, and Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Moodmakers) from Emerson Kitamura. The sound of his keyboards and organs is vital in making this album sound warm and somehow futuristic, creating a harmony of organic ease and solid steel, in my opinion. Hakase-Sun deserves a medal for outstanding performance. Another thing worth mentioning is their awesome album cover design, as always. Oki knows perfection in many ways including visual artwork.
