A 1981 Midori Takada collaboration is set for a reissue.
We Release Whatever the Fuck We Want Records will release the remastered version of Mkwaju Ensemble’s 1981 LP Mkwaju on 9 November. The short-lived Japanese trio, made up of members Midori Takada, Junko Arase and Yoji Sadanari, released just two albums in 1981 – Ki-Motion and Mkwaju – before disbanding. Mkwaju is a collaboration with Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, and it’s the first LP on which he’s received a production credit. The record was originally issued on Better Days – a label that’s also helmed the releases of Ryuichi Sakamato’s 1978 album Thousand Knives of and Yasuaki Shimizu’s Kakashi.
Mkwaju continues WRWTFWW’s streak of Takada reissues from the 80s, including Ki-Motion in June, her solo debut Through the Looking Glass and Lunar Cruise. Recently, Takada released her first new music in nearly two decades. Entitled Le Renard Bleu, the single-track EP features Lafawndah.
Pre-order the LP here, and read Crack’s list on 7 essential Japanese Ambient and New Age Records.
