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Start Date: January 8, 2024
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“Upopo Sanke“ means “Let's sing a song" in the Ainu language. Umeko Ando (1932-2004) was one of the best-known artists of the Ainu, an indigenous, long-suppressed community in northern Japan. She sings their traditional songs together with Oki Kano on the Tonkori harp, who also recorded the album. The two are supported by members of the female vocal group Marewrew as well as Ainu percussionists, a string player and a male singer who provides rhythmic shouts and also throat singing. The call-and-response structure of many of the songs is performed with a mantric quality in a vocal style that is perhaps best described as elastic and breathing. There seems to be a gentle smile in every note and syllable. This music softly hits the heart.

Upopo Sanke was recorded on a farm in Tokachi in the summer of 2003. We hear dogs barking, a distant thunderstorm and voices imitating animals. The liner notes that accompany the 2LP release gather the anecdotal memories of Umeko Ando and Oki Kano about the stories of the 14 songs. Oki Kano is a musical ambassador of the Ainu culture who tours worldwide with his Oki Dub Ainu Band and also gives solo concerts, always playing the Tonkori, the five-stringed Ainu harp.

The Ainu have suffered from the oppression of their culture and language by Japan, especially since the 18th and 19th centuries. Only recently, in 2008, were the Ainu officially recognized again as an indigenous people culturally independent of Japan. As a result of the marginalization, there are now only a few hundred native speakers of the Ainu language left, making it a particularly worthy object of preservation.

"Upopo Sanke" was mixed again in part by Oki Kano, before being mastered and cut to vinyl by Kassian Troyer. The 2LP plays on 45rpm and it sounds fantastic. This album was the second album by Umeko Ando, the follow-up to „Ihunke" and also re-released in 2018 by Pingipung together with Oki Kano.

Trackliste

A1 Chorakkun By Umeko Ando
A2 Eri Rimse By Umeko Ando
A3 Saranpe By Umeko Ando
A4 Iuta Upopo By Umeko Ando
A5 Suchochoy By Umeko Ando
A6 Chup Kamuy Ho By Umeko Ando
A7 Sarukiusinay Kotan By Umeko Ando
A8 Utari Opun Parewa By Umeko Ando
A9 Mukkuri Hawehe By Umeko Ando
A10 Emusi Rimse By Umeko Ando
A11 Ku Rimse By Umeko Ando
A12 Herekan Ho By Umeko Ando
A13 Rera Suye By Umeko Ando
A14 Aruo By Umeko Ando