Essential Reggae Tracks from Japan
Reggae is one of Japan’s most passionately loved genres of music. At first glance, there is little cultural similarity between these islands – one floating in the Caribbean Sea, the other located in the Far East – but the music’s formidable power of attraction goes well beyond simple exoticism, transfixing Japanese musicians and audiences alike under its magical spell. Shizuo Ishii is extremely influential to the spread of reggae in Japan, as head of Overheat Music, editor of the free magazine Riddm, and as well as a director for the documentary film Ruffn’ Tuff: The Founders of Immortal Riddm. Here, Ishii selects his 10 tracks that best capture the special relationship between these two countries.
Mute Beat - Kiyev No Sora
\n\nAn instrumental track by legendary ’80s reggae/dub band Mute Beat, “Kiyev No Sora” is part of a post-Chernobyl release that declared an anti-nuclear stance. Kazufumi Kodama’s trumpet sounds fill the despairing night sky of Kiev, seeping deep into your soul. This was included on the 2011 best-of album The Best of Mute Beat.
Gladstone Anderson - Twinkling Star
\n\nGladstone “Gladdy” Anderson is one of the most successful yet unsung figures in Jamaican music. He played the piano from Treasure Isle to Studio One, and contributed to numerous classics. He has also been a member of Roots Radics and The Skatalites, and he’s a singer with hits such as “Just Like A River” under his belt. The Kanye West-produced Jay-Z track “Already Home” samples his tune “Mad Mad Ivy.” The track “Twinkling Star,” which I’ve chosen here, is something I produced in the Tuff Gong Studio, taken from a Japan-only release called Caribbean Breeze.
Lynn Taitt - Under the Hellshier Moon
\n\nWithout this virtuoso guitarist, who hailed from Trinidad and Tobago, rocksteady (a popular music style that came out of mid-’60s Jamaica) would not be thought of in the same way. I chose “Under the Hellshier Moon” as the closing theme for my documentary film Ruffn’ Tuff; the track was made in his Montreal studio, which was a renovated garage, and I named it after a beach near Kingston. Lynn spent his last years in Montreal, and unfortunately passed away in 2010.
Thriller U - Used by You
\n\nThriller U is known for his sweet-sounding voice, releasing numerous dancehall hits through labels like King Jammy’s and Penthouse. Later, under my management, he went on to sign with Victor and Avex and release five albums, collaborating with the likes of KRS-ONE, UB40, Salaam Remi, and Incognito on tracks released for the Japanese market. The self-produced track called “Used by You” perfectly showcases his beautiful voice.
Moomin - Don’t Make Me Over
\n\nMoomin, one of the godfathers of Japanese reggae, turned the Burt Bacharach classic “Don’t Make Me Over” into a reggae tune, featuring Jamaican vocalist Mr. Lexx. The track is produced by JA legends Steely & Clevie; there’s also a hip hop remix on this record featuring Rakaa and DJ Baku.
Determinations - Blockade
\n\nDeterminations were an Osaka-based ska band who had the power to make crying babies start dancing. This 11-member crew balanced high-quality entertainment, immense creativity, and true originality – evidenced by the high prices their records command even years after their split. “Blockade,” written by bassist Shigeru Matsui, is included on their third (and most representative) album, Full Of Determination.
Takayoshi Matsunaga - Two-Step
\n\nAfter departing from Mute Beat, Matsunaga excelled at various genres, including classical, rock, tango, and reggae. “Two-Step” is taken from The Main Man, the only album recorded under his real name. He sadly passed away in 2012, though his live album was released this year.
R. Alphonso & Mute Beat - After the Rain
\n\n“After the Rain” is a live take of Roland Alphonso, the sax player of The Skatalites, sharing the stage with Mute Beat at an opening show for Shibuya Quattro. This amazing session sounds like if The Skalaties and Mute Beat merged to form a new group, and it’s something people are still talking about.
Akira Tatsumi - Just As Much As Ever
\n\nTatsumi established himself as a solo artist before joining the Determinations as a sax player. Well-renowned Jamaican producer Computer Paul takes the helm on the lavish “Just As Much As Ever,” a reworking of a classic tune. This is a single taken from the 7-inch solo EP Keep on Blowin’.
Chaqura - Magic
\n\n“Magic” is from Japanese reggae’s most hotly-tipped next generation singer Chaqura. The song is a cover of melodic hardcore band Hawaiian 6, produced by Jamaican dancehall veteran Clevie (of Steely & Clevie), who also sings over this tough riddim.