I've been listening to a self-titled album by this Japanese group called Nabowa. It's not their only album, but the only one I know, and I doubt I'm the only one listening but I haven't really seen much coverage of them, just gave it a try after being impressed by clips on Juno.

Have seen them described as a jam band, but album sounds more produced/arranged than the 'live-in-the-studio' recording I associate with that genre --- and combined with elements of dub/reggae, hip-hop, jazz, rock, comes across more genre-less than anything.

Instrumentation includes prominent use of a violin player, capable of fast, show-y stuff but more often than not playing long, lonesome notes, often with a touch of delay and reverb, suited to the album's generally gentle mood, melancholy and joyful simultaneously. Other instruments include bass/percussion/guitar, but also melodica, occasional turntable, steel drums.

One of a couple vocal tracks on the album, not entirely representative of the whole, not necessarily my favorite, but nice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GSI4x85Z2k

some additional clips available in the player at the juno website:

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/406569-01.htm