My Kodo Discography Pick

Oct 21 (Thu), 2021 / Last updated : Oct 21 (Thu), 2021 melanie Posts by MembersDiscography, Eternity, Jun Jidai, My Kodo Discography Pick

My recommendation is… TA-DA!!!

“Eternity” on DVD/Blu-ray!

“Eternity” was released in 2014 and it’s one of our works that was directed by Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando.
This DVD is a memento of when I was young and headstrong (I’m still young at heart), with no idea what I was doing (lol).

The scenery depiction in this production is really beautiful.

“From the still of a starry night to the thunderous roar of a raging sea, an array of phenomena weave together to conjure an infinite realm.”

We used over fifty different types of instrument, mainly taiko, to express this grand theme.

This production is also a visual feast, with contemporary dancing, which is rare for Kodo. It’s a different side of Kodo.
A visual Kodo!!!

Available on both DVD and Blu-ray.
I hope this production brightens up your time at home!!!

DVD / Blu-ray | Eternity

↓Learn More and Watch Trailer
https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/od013014_en.html

↓Listen to Sample Tracks (Japanese)
https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/od015_ja.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store
Blu-ray: http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_78.html
DVD: http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_JPY_79.html

Nov 11 (Thu), 2021 / Last updated : Nov 11 (Thu), 2021 melanie Posts by MembersChieko Kojima, Discography, Kodo Online Store, Mondo Head, My Kodo Discography Pick, Sen no Mai

My Kodo Discography Pick 16 | Chieko Kojima: Mondo Head (Album) and Sen no Mai (DVD)

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Chieko Kojima

I never got to join in when everyone else was recording a new album. When they came back from the studio and told stories about how the recording sessions were going, and who they met, I felt sad that I was missing out.
But when we’re making a DVD, I can join in. When I danced in “Kodo,” filmed on Sado Island; “Live at the Acropolis,” filmed in Greece; and in “Sado E” filmed in Tokyo with Tamasaburo Bando; I was so happy because I finally felt like a member of Kodo.
If I had to pick just one Kodo album, I would pick “Mondo Head”!

Firstly, because you can dance to it!!! I love how Mickey Hart’s arrangements mix Kodo’s sound with music from around the world. It’s like fusion cooking, but he’s making borderless dishes that use our sound as a sauce. Swirling, undulating, spiralling rhythms combine with Kodo’s tight beats and it’s wasabi-cool! Mickey works like a skilled chef to combine Japanese flavours into new, delicious dishes.
I love every song on this album, but if I have to select one, I’ll go with the first song, Berimbau Jam. It’s like all the spices from around the world bursting in your mouth! If you’re going to dance at home, this is the perfect track.

I also recommend “Sen no Mai,” even though it wasn’t released under the Kodo label. Kodo performed this full production as a one night-only special event. It was the first time Kodo has ever done that. I think this DVD shows a new direction for Kodo. Music reverberates through the air, dance turns to light, and they both fade into the universe. But we captured those reverberations and light in this DVD.
This is the DVD I always dreamed of making.

Album | Mondo Head

↓Listen to sample tracks (Japanese webpage)
https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/sicp1_ja.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store
http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_86.html

DVD | Sen no Mai

↓Trailer + Info
https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/od022_en.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store
https://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_JPY_135.html

Sep 11 (Fri), 2020 / Last updated : Sep 11 (Fri), 2020 神谷唯 Posts by MembersAlbum, My Kodo Discography Pick, prism rhythm, Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga

My Kodo Discography Pick 09 | Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga: prism rhythm (Album)

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Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga

I hardly knew anything about Kodo before I joined, and for me “prism rhythm” is an album that broadened my understanding about taiko.
In particular, Sayagi-uta and Kuyurage are pieces that still inspire me.

Taiko as music. This is taiko music that will stand the test of time 100 years from now.
This album feels like a guide that Kodo’s senior members left for my generation.

Album | prism rhythm

↓Listen to sample tracks
https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/sicl10003_en.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store

http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_7.html

Jul 16 (Thu), 2020 / Last updated : Jul 16 (Thu), 2020 神谷唯 Posts by MembersAlbum, Issei Kohira, Kaden, My Kodo Discography Pick

My Kodo Discography Pick 07 | Issei Kohira: Kaden (Album)

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Issei Kohira

Hi, everyone! How are you doing?
I’m Issei Kohira, a member of the Kodo ensemble.
Each member is introducing a Kodo CD or DVD they recommend, and I’ve chosen “Kaden,” an album released in late 2016.

It features pieces mainly from three Kodo One Earth Tour productions: Eternity, Chaos, and Evolution.

Eternity featured compositions that depicted vivid scenes, while the music in Chaos emerged from blending taiko and drum kits—East and West. Evolution showed Kodo’s journey to date lead to the creation of new Kodo music. This album combines the best of these three works.

When I became a junior member four years ago, Chaos was my first tour with Kodo. And I took part in the recording of Arrive, Toki no Ma, and Kukai—all three Chaos pieces on the Kaden album.
I was so new to the ensemble that I didn’t know which way was up, down, left, right, forward, back, or otherwise. So I mostly recall being in a hurry to keep up. (lol)
But I also remember feeling happy that I was going to appear on one of Kodo’s albums as a performer.

Personally, I recommend the track Toki no Ma!
Why, you ask?
Because I have a six-second solo on it! (lol)
Please have a listen and see if you can find my solo! (lol)

As you can see, for me, this CD packed with memories.
If you already own it, I hope you’ll listen to it again after reading this blog. And if you don’t, I hope you’ll add it to your collection so you can experience and enjoy a range of new sides to Kodo’s music.

I’d like to take this opportunity to say I truly appreciate your kind support and words of encouragement over the past few months. I’ll keep working hard, preparing for the day Kodo can tour again.
Thank you, everyone. I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Album | Kaden

↓Listen to sample tracks

https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/od018_en.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store

http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_82.html

Sep 11 (Fri), 2020 / Last updated : Sep 14 (Mon), 2020 神谷唯 Posts by MembersDVD, Mizuki Yoneyama, My Kodo Discography Pick, One Earth Tour Special

My Kodo Discography Pick 08 | Mizuki Yoneyama: One Earth Tour Special (DVD)

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Mizuki Yoneyama

The DVD I recommend is “Kodo One Earth Tour Special.”

Especially, the piece Furyu.

I went to see this performance live at Setagaya Public Theatre when I was an elementary school student. When I saw Tsubasa Hori—a female performer who has since left the Kodo—performing in Furyu, I remember seeing the look on her face, in her eyes, and her presence on stage and thinking, “I want to join Kodo and perform on stage with this woman.” I found that dream then and there.

For me, this is a production that greatly shifted the course of my life.