Despite the constant flood of top quality music that's emanated from Japan over the last decade or so, there still seems to be a need for compilations to showcase the music.
This is largely because, while our awareness of Japanese wacky ideas on technology, clothing and endurance tests is pretty high, our knowledge of their music tends to be a little murkier.
Fortunately Bambola have come to the rescue with a compilation to shed some light on what our Japanese counterparts are up to in their, no-doubt, super high-tech studios.
Compiled by XFM's Nick Luscombe, and created as the finale to the yearlong cultural festival "Japan 2001", "Kinda Tek" showcases a groundbreaking and inspiring collection of 12 tracks from the Japanese underground.
Mainly electronica with heavy jazz influences it gathers momentum with nineties sounds similar to 808 State's 'Pacific State' in Organ Language's 'Kagura', or from more current Propellerhead's breaks in Intelligent Jazz's 'Clear' and abstract traditional Japanese influences with Takayuki Shiraishi's 'Depth'.
Current golden boy Susumu Yokota makes a welcome appearance too, with an excellent bass driven mix of Sonic Balloon's 'La Dolce Vita'.
It's an album guaranteed to quench the thirst of anyone hungry for an insight into the current Japanese music scene and will hopefully have new converts scouring the shelves for more.
