Name: Longing for the Shadow: Ryūkōka Recordings, 1921-1939
Brand: Various Artists

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

DEATH043CD

Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-12-16

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Kudos

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5050580772953

Total Cap

1 / CD

DEATH043LP

Black

5050580793668

1 / Black / LP

Artist

Various Artists

Genre GB

Rest of World

Label GB

Death Is Not The End

Death Is Not The End is a record label and radio show that specializes in gospel, blues, global folk music, soundsystems, pirate radio, and various wormholes. With a diverse range of genres and styles, the label offers an eclectic mix of music for all tastes.

Founded by passionate music enthusiasts, Death Is Not The End has established itself as a leading authority in the industry. Their commitment to preserving and promoting lesser-known artists and performers sets them apart from other labels. Through their carefully curated releases and radio shows, they bring to light hidden gems that deserve recognition.

Whether you're a fan of traditional gospel hymns or searching for unique sounds from around the world, Death Is Not The End has something for everyone. Their dedication to quality music ensures that each release is meticulously crafted with attention to detail.

Back In Stock

Emerging during the early stages of the recording industry in Japan, the ryūkōka style adopted western classical, blues &amp; jazz elements into traditional and classical Japanese music.

This collection of 1920s &amp; 30s ryūkōka recordings follows on from the Kouta Katsutaro tape we put out a couple of years back, and further captures the hauntingly unique sound of a cultural merging that was starting to reflect itself via popular song, ahead of the widespread influence of western pop music during post-war US occupation.

"Death Is Not The End are on a mission to expand the musical archive, with compilations of everything from Jamaican doo wop to pirate radio idents and adverts weaving new threads into the history of music. Longing For The Shadow: Ryūkōka Recordings, 1921-1939 goes back to the beginnings of the recording industry in Japan, and a style merging traditional Japanese forms with western pop and classical. Swooning orchestrations and prominent vocals capture some of the melodrama and bombast found in US and European music of the time, but beds of plucked and strummed instruments give an ordered elegance, tying it firmly to Hogaku tradition. Not much has been written about Ryūkōka, and a 2017 book by Hiromu Nagahara gives some clue as to why, arguing that although popular with the public, it was dismissed by critics both for its adoption of western sounds and its dwelling on Japanese traditional styles. Close to a century later, those are some of the qualities that make this compilation so fascinating." - The Quietus

Longing for the Shadow: Ryūkōka Recordings, 1921-1939

Music GB