HOT POT TOTTO (RED / TRANSPARENT MARBLE VINYL)

TRACKLIST A1 Hakke Yoi A2 Shogyu Mujo A3 The Tower A4 Religion Surfer A5 Eye Candy Man B1 Buri Buri [feat. Catu Diosis] B2 Okame & Hyottoko B3 RIP My Ego B4 Bad For My Soul Good For My Ego B5 Dopamine Dance B6 Hashtag Smile INFO šTwo words are conjoined: hot pot and ottotto,› vocalist Kiki Hitomi tells us. šOttotto is the Japanese equivalent of šoops›, or said when someone nearly falls over but manages to get their balance back: šit was dangerous but now we are safe!› Combined with the heady brew of their musical styles (šlike a psychedelic Nabe hot pot: melting traditional Japanese Minyo with Jamaican dancehall, footwork, dub, techno, tribal polyrhythms and Super Nintendo soundtracks›), producer Shige Ishihara™s time in East Africa working with local musicians, and the dayglo hallucinogen of the duo™s visual aesthetic, WaqWaq Kingdom™s thumping, thrilling, irresistible third release is a unique ride. Thematically - despite its ostensibly celebratory impact - Hot Pot Totto addresses the world™s grave ecological state. šNow our earth is on the way to catastrophe, as global warming becomes a serious problem through humanity™s fault. We are on the edge,› Hitomi writes. šWe need to get back on the right track.› The ottotto of the album title refers to this experience - the need to get back on track. However, this is not lamenting music: it is fiercely defiant, full of colour and rapture, maintaining an optimism that we can. Opening single šHakke Yoi› ties treated voice, a floor-shaking beat, and a dizzying, transforming colour palette to a heart-quickening BPM. The track is named after the traditional cry of a sumo wrestling match, shouted by the referee to maintain tempo, commonly translated as šput some spirit into it!› The lyrics refer to humanity™s sacrifice of our planet for our own material gains. Later, key track šBuri Buri› features Ugandan experimental dance producer Catu Diosis and centres around the lyric šTurn disaster to our advantage / good fortune and happiness will come to those who smile,› offering not regret but encouragement and empowerment with its neon alien sonics and relentless vibrancy. Kiki Hitomi was formerly a member of Ninja Tune / Hyperdub™s King Midas Sound (along with The Bug and Roger Robinson), and co-founded iconic Japanese dubstep-noise duo Dokkebi Q. She is also a celebrated illustrator and designer, having created artwork for countless record sleeves (including this one) and brands. Shigeru Ishihara - aka DJ Scotch Egg - has been orbiting the dance music galaxy for over a decade, releasing radiantly unpredictable solo records through Lightning Bolt™s Load Records, as a member of Warp Records™ legendary Seefeel, and performing with both projects across the world. He recently undertook a residency at the Nyege Nyege Villa in Uganda, working with Phantom Limb alumnus MC Yallah. More recently, Ishihara has been releasing music under the guise of Scotch Rolex, collaborating with the likes of Shackleton, Swordman Kitala, Lord Spikeheart and more. Hot Pot Totto is WaqWaq Kingdom™s third release for Phantom Limb, following the rapturously received album Essaka Hoisa in 2019 and follow-up EP Dokkoisho in 2020. The band recently performed at the label™s sold out 5th anniversary event in London, setting an ecstatic venue alight with energy.