Silk Road Secret Agents is Discotchari’s monthly debriefing of music that highlights the fusion of musical movements around the world and throughout the ages with ethnic identities rooted in the diverse Silk Road region. We also dive deep into the history of artists whose life stories and music evoke dramatic cinema fit for Tarantino, Kiarostami, Wong Kar-Wai, Youssef Chahine and other legendary directors. These artists often times relied on their musical talent to navigate complex social structures, unite people from different backgrounds, and preserve their ethnic roots by reimagining them in new forms: inspiring the name “Silk Road Secret Agents.”

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We have a very special episode for you today: environmental, experimental, and electronic Japanese imports – with the obi sleeves! Speaking of obi sleeves, the commercial head-rush of city pop music in Japan was naturally followed by a musical movement emphasizing balance and harmony with natural surroundings; guided by the ancient Japanese principle of “nagomi”. This show highlights the influences of 80s environmental music on the full scope of electronic genres that emerged in Japan throughout the 90s; produced by industry legends, political activists, and future stars from the underground. Listen in for a tour through all of Japan’s unique soundscapes, from lush forests and crashing waves to imposing skyscrapers and rhythmic metro lines.