Tsugaru Shamisen

A “best of” album featuring the wildly popular Japanese brothers and their Tsugaru Shamisens (a 3-foot long, 3-stringed instrument played with a pick). They blend traditional Japanese with western influences and create a very cool sound. Variously backed by strings, perc, and other instruments. Instrumentals.

*1. Slow female wailing then fast shamisen electronica. Tres hip. 4:22
*2. Way cool, upbeat dueling shamisens. 3:18
*3. Cool country twang w/shamisens as banjos. Mid, great sound. 4:31
4. Slow & sweeping blend of old & new w/a lush sound. Picks up. 3:21
*5. Upbeat picking, a lively tour-de-force. 2:24
6. Taiko drums/flute a mid/upbeat modernization of a traditional sound. 6:37
*7. Cool blend of accordion/strings/perc. Sweeping w/varying tempos. 4:24
8. Keyboards/bass. Soft, lyrical, nostalgic, downtempo. 3:31
9. Fast picking with some great tradeoffs between the two. 3:46
10, Starts w/a trad-taiko sound. Add lush strings. Slow soundtrack. 4:41
*11. Remix of #2 w/electronica. Used in a Wii ad. 4:13
13. Tribute to Ennio Morricone. Various tempos, extra electrics. Kinda cool. 5:42