Wasabi ¡°Wasabi 2¡± (Japan Traditional Cultures Foundation)

Wasabi refines its take on traditional Japanese music for sophomore album ¡°Wasabi 2.¡± Ryoichiro Yoshida, the elder of well-known shamisen duo the Yoshida Brothers, started Wasabi in 2008 with shakuhachi player Hiromu Motonaga and taiko drummer Naosaburou Bihou. They were later joined by Shin Ichikawa on a 17-string koto-style instrument called a ²õ¨­.

The band approach isn¡¯t usual for traditional musicians, but Wasabi says what sets it apart are the combination of these instruments and the ³¾¾±²Ô²â¨­ and koten folk backgrounds of the artists creates a distinct style. The members¡¯ roots were evident on its eponymous 2012 debut, and ¡°Wasabi 2¡± is a chance to build on that vibe further.

The first thing the listener may notice is the lack of digital processing on the album. Wasabi¡¯s take on Japanese music insists that the sound stay as raw as possible and the producer doesn¡¯t use echo or ambient effects. Sound isn¡¯t a constant, either, and the use of silence on the album, especially on mellower songs such as ¡°Aoi¡± (¡°Blue¡°) and ¡°Kokuhaku¡± (¡°Declaration of Love¡°) is particularly striking.

Wasabi¡¯s signature style of jaunty rhythms that feature the shamisen almost galloping forward hasn¡¯t changed from its inception. The upbeat sound is best exemplified on a pair of tracks: ¡°Bright¡± and ¡°Mirai Kanata¡± (¡°Far in the Future¡°).

For newcomers, traditional music tends to be something you want to dip your toe into, but it¡¯s hard to figure out where to start. Yoshida¡¯s repertoire as a shamisen player pretty much guarantees that his involvement in something will be good quality, and ¡°Wasabi 2¡± is no exception. (Daisuke Kikuchi)