Marewrew (pronounced: Ma-leoo-leoo) is a female vocal group that sings traditional Ainu songs. The music of the long-suppressed people from northern Japan has been a particular focus of the Pingipung output in recent years. Following various re-releases by Umeko Ando, the late grande dame of traditional Ainu music, the spotlight is now on the a cappella music of Marewrew, which by the way means ‘butterfly’ in Ainu. Attentive listeners will recognise the voices, as some of the band have already performed as backing singers on recordings by Umeko Ando. Their a cappella versions of traditional Ainu music shed a whole new light on the fascinating songs that have been passed down through generations exclusively through song. 

'Ukouk' means 'round singing', which refers to the form in which Marewrew perform and record. Many of the songs are set as tightly interwoven canons: one starts, the others join in, but slightly out of phase: Almost like dub echoes, except that they are sung and not created in post-production. The short songs sometimes unfold into a wondrous trance ('Sikata Kuykuy', 'Honkaya') that seems to spin round and round - if singing can actually dance, then this is how. Nature sounds and woodpeckers can be heard ('Hawsa’)...

A1, A2, A3, A7, A8, A9 
B3, B4, B5, B7 
From the CD ‘Mottoite Hissori Ne’ 
Recorded by Takuji Takahashi at Geimori Studio, Sapporo 2012 and Chikar Studio, Toma 2023 
Produced by Oki Kano 

A4, A5, A6 
From the CD ‘Cikapuni’ 
Recorded at Chikar Studio Toma 2016 
Produced by Oki Kano and Mitsukazu Tanaka 

B1, B2, B6 
From the CD ‘Mike Mike Nociw’ 
Recorded at Shikerebe Farm and Chikar Studio 2020-2023 
Produced by Oki Kano and Takuji Takahashi 

Marewrew are: Rekpo, Hisae, and Mayunkiki 
Rim Rim was a member of the group 2012-2022 

Curated and compiled by Andi Otto 
Mastering and vinyl cut by Kassian Troyer at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin 2024 
Cover Design by TEOTH 
Pingipung 085