Ginger Root Creates a Timeless, Groovy World in 'SHINBANGUMI'
Photo: Cameron Lew
Ginger Root, who seemingly has mastered every kind of craft, officially releases his long-awaited third LP SHINBANGUMI. Timeless, groovy, and abstract, Ginger Root continues to carve a lane entirely his own.
Under the guise of Ginger Root, multi-instrumentalist and visual artist Cameron Lew is able to build immersive worlds and weld play into fantasy. He’s not interested in the one-dimensional, utilizing his signature brand of aggressive elevator soul to craft storylines and characters that breathe more life into the music.
The concept album follows the premise of “The year is 1987 and Ginger Root has been on contract as a music supervisor for newly founded television network, Juban TV. That is, until he’s fired. Blindsided by such an event, Cameron takes matters into his own hands and starts his own media conglomerate: Ginger Root Productions. The question now is, what will they make?”
Lead single “No Problems” ushers in the 12-track project, a cinematic synth-pop that’s garnered nearly two million streams alone. New tracks like “Giddy Up” and “Show 10” are polished and upbeat, while “Kaze” stands out with its Latin jazz pulse. With notes of Toro y Moi and Tahiti80, we travel through Ginger Root’s undoing as he alchemizes loss into bravery.
Fully instrumental intermissions like the ‘80s-esque “Welcome” and sax-led “Think Cool” only feed deeper into the album's premise, placing you directly in the middle of a buzzing studio set. “CM” mimics an old-school commercial, connecting the dots as we follow Ginger Root’s character through his own madness.
From bossa nova to alt-disco to soul, SHINBANGUMI is technicolor. Sharing with fans “The story is not over yet,” it’s clear Ginger Root has planned his art a few lightyears ahead.
Listen to SHINBANGUMI below:
