The sound of the drum is a direct link to the roots of sound itself.
Echoes of the heart? Resonance of the mind? Well, oddly enough, no. Those just aren't the right words to describe the beat of the drum. Exceeding all human nature such as rationality, intelligence, or even feeling, the beat of the drum reaches deeper and deeper within. The sound of the drum is totally mystical, even to Bonten leader Masataka Kobayashi. "Our ancient ancestors began to beat on things, instinctively, long before they even established the concept of sound. Why do we drum? Ha ha... no one has the answer to that question. There's no reason. It's just something that has to do with genesis of life and it's very energy", he says. Perhaps this is one of the keys to explain the unchaining factor in their music. Listeners are freed from all contemplations that bound the modern mind, and are urged to just stomp to the beat of the earth. It is not easy to sit through this music.
Bonten was formed as a male-female Japanese Taiko drum tag-team in August 2000. The group's name was taken from the name of the Buddhist God "Bonten" who is regarded as the personification of the fundamental universal principle. Pursuing the traditional Japanese Taiko drumming style, but never on the defensive, they have created a strong stage presence with their original tunes, and collaboration with other instruments and even orchestras. Their energy-filled performance is based on the concept "Joy of Powerful Living". Their female drummers add a tender, elegant touch to their act, which makes them an even more unique Japanese Taiko drum unit, attracting much attention. Over the years, they have successfully toured the seven continents of the world, namely Europe, America, Asia, Africa and others. This is their much-anticipated follow-up to their debut album "Bonten". The new album is a vivid snapshot of the present tense Bonten, showing how they've evolved through their live performances.
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