Search - Otomo Yoshihide, New Jazz Ensemble :: Dreams

A bizarre jazz-rock tribute to alternative J-pop...

J. P. DuQuette | Shizuoka, Japan | 07/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Otomo Yoshihide has really outdone himself with this one. Who would have thought anyone could get Togawa Jun to sing an Asa-Chang composition originally done by Kaz(u)mi with Rickies? Who would have thought Phew (who sings on most tracks) would cover Togawa's famous "Teinen Pushiganga"? Or sing on compositions by Jim O'Rourke and the Boredoms' Yamamoto Seiichi? If you have no idea who the heck I'm talking about, don't worry about it. This album is an inspired mix of jazz freak-outs, rock and dark folk, and will appeal to anyone with an adventurous musical spirit (whether or not they know the songs, artists or Japanese). And for those (very few) who have been into Japanese alternative music since the early 80's, there will be more than a few gasps of recognition as some old songs are given new treatments and old singers are given some intense new arrangements to work with. If you like this, you've also definitely gotta check out Togawa Jun's recent solo album (where she covers Patti Smith and Phew, just to name a 'phew'), as well as her work in Guernica and later Yapoos...And those who were turned off by Sachiko M's ear-piercing sine-waves on Flutter can rest assured that she has taken a slightly more peripheral role this time..."

Diverse and Exciting

Samuel J. Barone | USA | 01/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first release outside of Japan featuring two of Japan's quirkiest underground pop stars. From the high fragile sonorities of Togawa Jun to the velvet, sultry tones of Phew, Dreams runs the gamut from moody love songs, driving groove to screaming noise. Otomo's exciting New Jazz Ensemble and creative arrangements perfectly set up the diverse vocal stylings of these two legendary divas out of the Tokyo indies scene. ____________ Tzadik"