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Releases
Kode9, Ninja Tune and more contribute to compilation for Japan
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 18 March 2011
A new compilation featuring over 40 electronic artists from seven countries is due to be released today to raise money for the relief effort in Japan, following the earthquake and tsunami which hit the country a week ago.
Amongst the producers who have contributed tracks for the album, entitled ‘Nihon Kizuna’, are Kode9, Fink, Emika, Daisuke Tanabe, Nightwave (formerly known as 8Bitch) and Rudi Zygadlo. Many tracks are previously unreleased, and some have been created especially for this compilation. The title roughly translates as “a bond of friendship with Japan”.
The project was put together in just five days by London-based writer and radio presenter Laurent Fintoni, who had travelled to Japan shortly before the earthquake hit. He told CMU: “I landed back in Tokyo on Thursday 10th after three years. I used to live here in 07/08. I love this country, I love its people and I’ve always felt spiritually connected to it. I also have many friends here. Within 24 hours it suffered its greatest natural disaster in recorded history (I believe) and within 48 hours it became clear that while we were all here, there was a growing feeling of helplessness among us – we can donate money, and some of us blood, but that’s about it at this point”.
He continued: “On Monday, we started to talk about various music-related ways to generate money and interest, and that’s when this idea came up. Four days later we have the most heartening tracklist we could have ever hoped for to try to raise awareness and money for those who need it most – the nearly half a million displaced Japanese who live in the northern prefectures hit by the tsunami/earthquake combo”.
On putting the project together, he explained: “The comp was put together by myself and three friends who live here – Keisuke Ito aka Broken Haze (producer), XLII (producer, Ukrainian), and Audace (producer, French). I guess I’m a journalist of sorts. As I said, it’s our way to do our bit. Hell, most of the people/labels on this comp have a direct link to Japan, many of the tracks were made in or inspired by the country and its culture, so it only feels right. I would personally like to thank all those who contributed so willingly. It means a lot. Let’s hope we can raise a memorable amount of money for those who need it. I mean when was the last time you could buy this much good music for so little, right?”
Turning to the situation in Japan in the wake of the disaster, Fintoni told us: “Tokyo is quite honestly fine. We have some power cuts in the nearing prefectures/outer suburbs, there’s limited trains and people are doing their best to save energy by working less(!) and by turning off any unneeded appliances – including shops normally open 24 hours a day shutting early. I’ve also seen bars turn our lights at tables they don’t need, etc… The Japanese resilience is amazing and heartening. I won’t even bother to mention the hysteria that has seeped in here via foreign media, suffice to say this compilation is also partly an answer to it”.
To view the full tracklist, listen to a teaser mix and to purchase ‘Nihon Kizuna’ head over to www.nihonkizuna.com.
