The UK’s number one Tsugaru shamisen player Hibiki Ichikawa is back with a sensational new album, aptly called ‘Shami-sensational’. This fantastic album contains 8 new tracks, featuring the shamisen player himself, as well as guest vocals from Akari Mochizuki and instruments from a number of other contributors. Check out some samples from the album in … Continue reading
I’m afraid I’m a bit behind with my blog posts at the moment, and I’ve been meaning to review this CD since June! Apologies for the delay, but I figured better late than never! Another reason for my delay is that I’ve been waiting and hoping the right words would come to me. When I … Continue reading
Japan’s notorious boiler suited techno-new-wave hooligans POLYSICS return with Weeeeeeeeee!!!, their latest high-energy album, scheduled to shatter the eardrums of the UK and Europe from 10th June courtesy of JPU Records. Following in the footsteps of their 15th anniversary release – which featured collaborations with a number of music legends, including the band’s personal hero, … Continue reading
My knowledge of current Japanese pop music is not all it could be, but I became quite excited when I first heard RAYCHELL’s new album, which will be released on 24th April. RAYCHELL’s debut album, L>R, is a delightful mix of rock, pop and dance, with a couple of sway-inducing ballads thrown in for good … Continue reading
I used to be a bit of a rocker in my teenage years, listening to everything from Marilyn Manson to Silverchair, Alice in Chains to Pearl Jam, Metallica to Coal Chamber, and I dressed to match the bands I was listening to at the time. As I got older, my tastes mellowed, as did my dress … Continue reading
Akari Mochizuki (望月あかり), formerly known as Alika Mochida, is without a doubt the most active female Japanese enka (演歌) singer in the UK. She seems to crop up at pretty much every Japanese event, often with the ‘shamazing’ Hibiki Ichikawa, and never fails to entertain. Her brand new CD contains two songs, plus the karaoke versions … Continue reading
If you’re a regular reader of Haikugirl’s Japan you might recognise the name Hibiki Ichikawa. Hibiki Ichikawa (一川 響) is an incredibly talented London-based shamisen (traditional Japanese stringed instrument) player who seems to crop up at just about every Japanese event I attend in the UK. Born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Hibiki started playing the … Continue reading
I know you should never pick a book by its cover, but how about CDs? In the past, this has proven to be quite a successful way for me to find new music. Well, today I was escaping the rain in Tower Records, when I realised I had some points I could spend. So I … Continue reading
Polysics have a new album out! Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while will know that I really like Polysics and have seen them live a couple of times in the UK. Their new album, We Ate The Machine, was released in Japan on 23rd April. I didn’t realise it … Continue reading
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