ASA – Live in Nagano

Following from the excellent Cafeteria’s Revenge mix which dropped last month, we’re now bringing you part 2 of our collabo mix series with Mondayjazz. This time the artist and mix was handpicked by our goodselves and is none other than ASA, a Japanese producer who is probably most famous as the founder and friendly face of Jar-Beat Records in Tokyo’s Kichi-Jyouji area. Jar-Beat, alongside others like We Nod, is one of the key indie record shops in Tokyo, acting not just as a purveyor of music but also a place where fans and artists can meet. More recently they’ve started hosting Ustream sessions from some of Tokyo’s leading underground artists, including our very own Raid System collective. I remember first going there with Ken One in 2007 and it’s definitely one of the most welcoming record shops I’ve ever visited. If you’re ever in Tokyo you must make time to go and check them out.

When it was decided with Mondayjazz that we would do a series of joint shows the MJ guys put forward the Cafeteria crew as their offering, repping their home country of Lithuania. At the same time ASA had got in touch after our first series of guest mixes from Raid System back in Jan and Feb this year. That’s when the idea came up to put his mix, an exclusive recording of a recent live show, forward as our offering, to rep our international outlook but also our close bond with Japan.

As mentioned ASA is the founder of Jar-Beat records but he’s also an accomplished and well respected producer in the Japanese breakbeat and hip hop scenes, having been releasing since 1998. In that time he’s collaborated with people like DJ Krush (he was featured on Krush’s ‘Kakusei’ LP), Baku, Tha Blue Herb and DJ Hide among others. He’s also released on various compilations, produced for Japanese rappers and has two EPs and two LPs to his name, the latest of which, ‘Fast Abstract Bass 2′, was released 2 year ago.

The live set he’s given us to air was recorded in Nagano last year and features ASA doing his thing live on a complete freestyle tip. Everything that you hear was done on the spot, incorporating elements of his own tracks, live recordings and off the cuff samples and instrumentation. It’s in many ways typical of his live shows, taking in everything from atmospheric and hip hop to breakbeat, jungle and harder electronic styles. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted, it’s quite a hectic ride but just how we like it.

As with our previous show, this mix goes out simultaneously on Rhythm Inc and Monday Jazz today. Many thanks to the MJ family for this series, as well as for hooking up the art on both occasions, ASA for the mix and Cafeteria for their offering. Look out for more guest mix series in the future.

For more on ASA check out the Jar-Beat website and the label site too.

Download ASA Live in Nagano (right click and save as)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Related content:

1. SE2 week 1 – Ichiro_ live @ Star Pines cafe
2. SE2 week 3 – XLII & Dolbee live @ Star Pines cafe
3. Fox Gut Daata Live at Ballers Social
4. SE2 week 2 – DJ Duct live @ Star Pines cafe
5. Om Unit x Tatsuki x Tayone – Live in Bologna 09 mix

Never miss a show

Subscribe via our iTunes channel, RSS feed or newsletter and never miss a show. Simply click below:

This entry was posted on Monday, June 7th, 2010 at 10:20 am. It is filed under Guest Mixes, Podcasts and tagged with ASA, FAB, Jar-Beat, Mondayjazz. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.