On Ensemble (pronounced “Ohn”) pulls traditional Japanese music up by its roots and replants it in rich soil, fertilized by modern style and sensibility.
The band’s latest album, Ume in the Middle, features a fresh synthesis of east and west and innovation and tradition, that provides the context for On Ensemble to create a sound that blends Japanese drumming and more with electronica, hip-hop, and rock.
The quartet of Masato Baba, Kristofer Bergstrom, Shoji Kameda, and Kelvin Underwood creates music that consists of lush aural textures that glimmer with beautiful, overlaid melodies. Taiko drumming, throat singing, and ambient vocals provide a solid, organic foundation for phrases of yokobue, shamisen, koto, and even turntables to sprout from.