Ibuki

Japanese taiko drumming has been Kodo's speciality since 1981, and this sixteen-strong, highly disciplined troupe is still its main ambassador to the world. The power of these drums, many several feet wide, rivals their African counterparts, especially in live performance. Ibuki features Kodo ("heartbeat") in ten ritualized compositions, augmented with occasional flutes and handclapping. The focal point is the drums however, rising with great precision from whisper-quiet to a thunderous roar, with band members' shouted encouragements ("kakegoe") helping to recreate the theatrical presentation of what is also a very visual, very Japanese art form. Bill Laswell provides an unusually straightforward production, but when dealing with such a primal and dramatic medium there is little point in adding anything to the mix; the drums speak their own language and need no outside help at all. --Derek Rath