MANCHO KANCHO

Fukuoka-based illustrator/musician NONCHELEEE returns with a long-awaited new recording-his first fresh release in quite some time. "Newly recorded" may be true, but the tune itself has been sung around Hakata Bay for over twelve years as a beloved local anthem, a staple at NONCHELEEE's live shows. Are more of his long-running originals about to be turned into official recordings? This one may very well be the first smoke signal of what's coming. A release of major proportions-no exaggeration.

At first listen, it's a bold and worryingly slack Dancehall-style tune-the kind that makes you wonder, "Wait... are we really allowed to release something like this!?"But then again, (((MANCHO KANCHO))) can also be read as Yin & Yang, Night & Day, upper body / lower body, front / backside, positive / negative, push / pull, addition / subtraction, YOU & I-no, I & I...It might be a spiritual tune about something grand and universal. Or maybe it's just a gloriously low-brow Dancehall shit-talker saying absolutely nothing at all.

A successor to the fun & stylish energy of Lee Perry & The Upsetters, early Dancehall, and the playful touch of Mad Professor, NONCHELEEE's DIY "play-everything-himself" approach-instrumentation, riddim-making, toasting, and dub mixing-resonates with old allies like YOONKEE, early KEN2D SPECIAL, and, more recently, Pachyman. The result: a junky, strange, colorful, and peace-soaked original DIY DUB sound exploding in every direction.

Rumor has it that SISTER MANCHO, the female DeeJay often compared to a certain "too-mellow-to-be-true" Lovers Rock singer, phones in over the sea breeze whispering "mancho mancho mancho~,"as melodica lines soaked in fishing-port flavor wrap themselves around the A2 version. Completely unhinged.

Side B opens with an introduction of "Reggae Recitation"(nothing like the LKJ-style Dub Poet tradition). In this Another Version, NONCHELEEE's various aliases-selector Takashi Shimura, DREAD Hikaru, and more-gather to deliver thick, sweet choruses of "shubidubiduuu," forming a psychedelic, winey dub swirl.Coming from the far leftfield of reggae yet hitting the exact sweet spot of reggae / dancehall / dub's core essences-the Wicked Versions are nothing short of deadly.

Then there's B-2, "Tsuppari Donca Matic Mini-Pops Senior," also the title of his 2023 solo exhibition at SORTone. It's an acid-bent, mellow instrumental dancehall dub reminiscent of early TAPES productions. The perfect example of a "hidden killer as the second cut on the B-side of a 12-inch."

Pressed and sold on-site during Toyo Kasei's Open Factory 2025, this special picture-disc edition is strictly limited.A must-grab-and a must-not-hum (seriously!)-collector's item.

Text by NOOLIO (ARRROUND Wicked Sound Maker).