Random Listening

I spent some time over the weekend to organize my vinyl records and stumbled on Santana's 1977 album, Festival, which I haven't listened to for many years. Although this is not one of the greatest and most creative albums that Santana ever recorded, it has some songs that remain to be my favorite. One of them is "Give Me Love" on Side 1. It is just one of those songs that has the groove that flows so well that you can listen to again, again and again.

Music to Two Si-Fi Cult Classic

Tonight feel like listening to ambient music with some context, ah yes soundtrack. No, not just any regular soundtrack to movies or TV shows but to two specific Si-Fi cult classic, both came out in 1982: Blade Runner and Cat People.

People who have seen Blade Runner would recall the futuristic setting in the film and the dull acting by Harrison Ford. But what stikes me is the film's dark atmospheric mood (90% of the shots are dark and damp), portrait of orientalism (the Japanese characters, widescreen TV showing Geisha), and conflicts between the real human and the "replicant" or humanoid if you will. Last but not least, it is the soundtrack by Vangelis which mixes all the elements of the film into a bowl of wax, a pretty darn good wax I would say. I am neither a film critics nor a journalist so I will spare all the glory details of this film. It is the soundtrack that I am most interested in. It is ambient, electronically epic, and to a certain extent soothing. Vangelis' electronic composition needs no introduction here but I cannot recommend highly enough of this soundtrack. Why the soundtrack was only made available in 1994, 10 years after the opening of the film is beyond my understanding. I really resent it when commercial and legal terms get between music and the listeners. It is a lose-lose situation for everyone.

In 2007, a 3-cd set celebrating the movie 25th anniversary was issued. The set contains the original soundtrack (same as that from 1994), previously unreleased materials, and new compositions by Vangelis that were inspired by the film.

Rachel's Song


Blush Response


Another Si-Fi film from the same year is Cat People. It is as dark as Blade Runner, or may be even darker. A neo-noir Si-Fi classic. This film stars Nastassja Kinski, who is considered as a sex symbol at that time due to the erotic nature of the film. Never mind about the plot, it is simply bizarre. A human would turn into a werecat after having sex and would turn back into human after killing another human? Forget that. I am here to share music. The soundtrack was by Giorgio Moroder, who needs no introduction again. The theme song was sung by David Bowie but what I really like is one of the songs called "The Myth". David Bowie just hummed the melody on this song and it is sexy enough.

The Myth

A Night Out with Global Underground

Feel like chill out with some house beats and ambient effects tonight. Drill deep into the underground by cranking up the volume....wait..is it my heartbeat or the music? Never mind, it doesn't really matter. The guy behind the deck is DJ Dave Seaman and his session in Melbourne. A 3-LP, very nicely mixed set. I like something that starts slow and ambient to something trancy at the end. It is just my kind of electronica. Never like boom boom boom boom from the start to the end.

Tracks Listing:

Side #1: Our House. Soliton Wave.

Side #2: James Holden. One For You.
Side #3: Flash Brothers. Sarcasm.
Side #4: Infusion. Legacy.
Side #5: Hamel. Close.
Side #6: Frakkar. Slide

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto 山本剛 Trio

It has been awhile since I last listened to this LP. Once again, the recording of TBM (Three Bland Mice tbm-2523) thrills me. The recording is so amazingly done that the trio is like playing in front of you. All the piano notes, double bass notes, and drum strokes can be clearly heard from the album. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto on piano, Isoo Fukui on bass, and Tetsujiro Obara on drums. Recorded on March 01, 1974.

Trackings listing:

Side A:
1. Midnight Sugar

2. I'm A Fool to Want You

Side B:
1. The Nearness of You
2. It Could Happen to You

3. Sweet Georgia Blues

Summer Is Over? Not Yet!!

Summer may have been gone but the heat remains in heart. Recently found a mint copy of Marcos Valle's Braziliance! Original Warner gold label. Pretty rare. However, its rarity is not as important as the music itself. The music demonstrates Valle's composing power. The music swings with passions. Bossa Nova in its best form.

Tracks listing:

Side A
1. Crickets Sing for Anamaria
2. If You Went Away
3. Batuque
4. The Face I Love
5. So Nice
6. Surfin' in Rio

Side B
1. Tanto Ande
2. Dorme Profundo
3. Brasileiro
4. Little Patricia
5. Passa Por Mim
6. Brazilian Duck

I am back!!

After disappearing for more than one year due to various reasons. I have managed to come back! This time with more music and interesting things to share so stay tuned!!

On My Wish List

German Design
Japanese Components
Aerospace grade control
HDTV
Super sound system
60 games pre-installed

It is fairly hard to resist......

I like the white one...

Wanna live here, with me??

I WANT THEM!!!!!!!!

All of them.....

Daiwai Lounge Radio Program (Program no. 7) - 情人節

情人節 playlist:
1) Tell her she's lovely (El Chicano, 1973)
2) Love is Everything (Lupin the 3rd, 1979)
3) My one and only one (John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, 1963)
4) Medley: For Sentimental Reasons + Tenderly (Unforgettable with love Natalie Cole, 1991)

That's true...

Next Time You Know...

Lovely Design by Jonathan Calugi

Source

Daiwai Lounge Radio Program (Program no. 6) - Nosaj Thing

Nosaj Thing Tracks Info:

1) Coat of Arms
2) Fog
3) Caves
4) 2222

Only the Japanese...

amazing commercial promotion for a snack....

http://pocky.jp/index.html