Zainichi Funk-Scratch review by John M. Ellison IV

Konichiwa folks! As I was checking out my timeline on Twitter I got a link from wrestler/friend to the site, MVP to a funk band out of Japan! Yes, I said Japan. Honestly, I’m not surprised that Japan would have a funk scene though. I remember finding a YouTube video of this group called “the Low Lows” covering Stax duo Sam and Dave’s “Soul Man” and another deep funk band called “Timos” back in ‘07.

Is there anything the Japanese can’t do? I mean whether it’s animation, wrestling or …*ahem* other forms of entertainment…they seem to surpass us! I’m not mad though. I’m excited.

Kenta Hamano (Vo & Leader),
Keita Murakami (Ba),
Akira Ohgi eon (Gr),
Makoto Nagata, T. (Ds),
Yoshihiro rear seat (Sax),
Forest Kubota (Tb),
based on Murakami (Tp)

“Scratch” is a deep bass grooved, brass heavy, scratchy guitar throwback to the 60’s Stax sound but at a faster pace that although has contemporary edge it doesn’t stray too far from its American predecessors. After repeated listens, I noticed that they kind of reminded me of No Wave band James Chance and the Contortions.

In closing, if you’re a fan of bands like The Heavy, James Chance and the Contortions and Fitz and the Tantrums, you would probably enjoy Zainichi Funk.

Official label site
photo courtesy of Last.Fm