Chiyomi Yamada and Baobab – Songs of my land (indigo road, 2024)
Songs of my Land by Chiyomi Yamada and Baobab, is an enchanting fusion of ancient Japanese folklore and modern European folk-pop, with tantalizing hints of alluring Celtic music.
At the helm of this project is Chiyomi Yamada, a gifted singer and boundary-pushing artist who started as a classical soprano. On Songs of my land, Chiyomi Yamada draws from the wellspring of traditional Japanese sounds, fusing them with Western aesthetics, with both reverence and innovation.
Songs of my Land is an homage to the venerable legacy of Japanese folk songs and the enigmatic depths of Shinto spirituality. It is a celebration of the timeless bond between music and the human spirit, echoing through the ages.
Chiyomi Yamada’s partner in this lovely recording is the band Baobab, led by the visionary siblings, Maika and Mirai Matsumoto. With their eclectic sounds, they infuse the traditional tunes with a contemporary flair, weaving a beautiful sound that is both evocative and exhilarating.
Behind the scenes, orchestrating this cultural convergence, is the masterful German producer, Jonas Niederstadt, who recorded the album in an ancient house in the Japanese countryside.
Musicians: Chiyomi Yamada on vocals; Maika Matsumoto on vocals, fiddles, viola, rebec; Mirai Matsumoto on guitars, kokle, citole, vocals; Naoya Wada on bass, flutes, cittern; Tsuyoshi Maeda on taiko, shinobue, suzu; and Yosuke Watanabe on drums, percussion.
Author: Lisa Miller
