Get Joujouka!!!!

[molotov889]

Ok, people, I know I've expounded on the virtues of Joujouka before, but by now, I'm really of the impression that your music collection cannot be complete without at least one of their albums. In case you have no clue who I'm talking about, Joujouka is a three-man progressive group. They did one of the remixes on Fast Forward, the World's End ~Rebirth~ remix, to be exact. They caught my attention with that track, and I went ahead and bought their latest original album, Are You Elovetric? I loved that album, as I prolly mentioned in a review somewhere. Then i went ahead and picked up a copy of their remix album, re-model. My initial review of that was a little dissapointed, but mostly because the remix album turned out more instrumental than I expected. (One track in particular- the remix of the song Are You Elovetric was prolly what fueled much of that dissapointment, since the vocals are what I really love about that song, and they were completely taken out of the remix). However, once I got over it, I relized the remix album was also very good. Lots of nice d'n'b style tracks. Plus, the first two "new" tracks are just awesome. Now, I've picked up what was their 2nd release, New Asians, which came out 1 year before Are You Elovetric? This album really is just as amazing as Are You Elovetric? It's got a slightly more rock/funk emphasis and slightly less trance emphasis, but it's still pretty much the same style as the later album. One of the really nice surprises on this album is Let The Wave Flow (Instrumental Version). I had the non-instrumental version on Are You Elovetric?, and was expecting the "instrumental" version to be the same thing, just without the vocals. But this was not the case at all. Completely new instruments and even new basslines and rhythms were put into the instrumental version. In this case, the instrumental version may be better than the non-instrumental (something I rarely find myself saying). Anyway, Joujouka produces quality music that you will enjoy immensely not only as you listen to it, but later when you realize you've gotten their melodies and rhythms stuck into your head. They're so much more than just a random remixer. So, in my opinion, if you have enough spare cash lying around for a Joujouka CD, pick one up. I'll personally be tracking down their live album re-Sei in a couple of months (bought too much other J-pop recently to afford getting it right now, too =P).

So, in short, Joujouka: progressive/trance, sometimes a bit rockish, sometimes a bit funk, sometimes even slightly remeniscent of other big names like BT, but always fun and memorable. More than worth the time and money it takes to get a hold of one of their albums.

P.S: Yesasia has Are You Elovetric? and Re-Model in stock. I found New Asians over at Amazon.com. Buying from Amazon will cost you something like $38, but there's a seller listing there for like $27 (after shipping). Both prices are for a new copy. I bought from him, and he's quick but he just refuses to answer email. I can't seem to find Re-Sei being sold by anyone who I would be comfortable ordering from online. Will prolly have my Japan contact search for it... eventually. Right now, she's still trying to find M-Flo's Inside Astro Alliance for me. (Which, if anyone has any info on how to obtain a copy, it would be GREATLY appreciated.)