ROCKMAN UTOPIA

Fantastic Arrangement. Take a listen!

Huong Thanh & Nguyên Lê: Fragile Beauty

This is an album I picked up at the library in town and I was quite surprised at what I heard. Huong Thanh is one of the most prominent Vietnamese vocalists and started singing with her family at an early age in Vietnam. However, it was when her family moved to France when she was a teenager that Thanh started to discover and develop who she was an artist outside of her traditional training. Jazz had a huge influence on Thanh and she began a career fusing it with her traditional background. 

Musician and composer Nguyên Lê, coming from a similar background, helped Thanh develop this sound as a producer and with her third release, the two came together to create this album. While the album has a more New Age/World Music feeling, it's the jazzy accents that are added to each song that give the entire album a rich and unique sound. I highly recommend everyone to give this album a listen! Enjoy!


Fragile Beauty (2007)

1. Drifting On The Water
2. Weaving & Awaiting
3. Faithfulness
4. Plantation Song*
5. The Five Calls Of The Night
6. Fragile Beauty
7. Rowing The Sampan
8. The Pavillon Of Crystallized Azure
9. At Dusk, From The West Balcony
10. Go Cong Blues
11. The Swallow's Bridge*
12. Tales Of The Mountain

Keiko Matsui - Collection

While I haven't had much time for the blog as I would like, I couldn't turn down the chance to post this album! Strangely enough I found it at a library in town and was very happy to do so. Keiko Matsui is a fantastic Jazz/New Age pianist who has had a long career in both Japan and the States. Some of you may be familiar her work as "Keiko Doi" in the all female fusion group, "Cosmos". I love her work with Cosmos and thats all thanks to WAX MASK posting up 4 of their albums. This post consists of a best of album featuring songs from her solo efforts in the 80s and early 90s.  I strongly urge everyone to check out both her projects, and if I am lucky, I will be able to track down more albums from her!

As a side note, I will be receiving a much sought after album within a few weeks that I am sure many of you will be interested in as well! Look out for it and I will try to get back to posting once my life decides to cut me some slack haha!

Collection (1997)

1. Mountain Shakedown
2. The Wind And The Wolf
3. Under Northern Lights
4. Light In The Rain
5. The Morning Moon
6. Believer
7. Walls Of The Cave
8. Kappa (Water Elf)
9. Secret Forest
10. In The Mist
11. Souvenir
12. The Gate

Full album stream

Ken Muramatsu: カレンダ ～ぶどう畑のぶどう作り～

Here's a little something for JJ's crowd. Not quite what I was expecting after hearing "STILL LIFE DONUTS" & "Blue+" but this album does have a charm to it. The entire album is completely stripped, just Muramatsu and his Steinway, and features 12 jazzy/new age tracks with all but two featuring vocal accompaniment that harmonizes with the piano. The two without vocals are my personal favorites particularly track 12. Fans and those alike give it a listen but if you are expecting his jazz fusion sound you may be caught off guard a little like I was. Enjoy! By the way google....still hating the update!

カレンダー ～ぶどう畑のぶどう作り～ (1987)
 

1. ぶどう色のときめき～1月
2. 野こぶしの木～2月
3. れんげ草～3月
4. 花まつり～4月
5. 海につづく小径～5月
6. ジャコウアゲハの動揺～6月
7. 光のイリュージョン～7月
8. ひまわり～8月
9. 待宵草～9月
10. 柿の葉あつめ～10月
11. 大きなとちの木～11月
12. 喜びは悲しみとともに～12月

Cowboy Bebop Boxed Set (5CD)

Cowboy Bebop Boxed Set (2002)

~Aoi Tada, Ein, Emily Bindiger, Gabriela Robin, Mai Yamane, Masashi Ebara, Pierre Bensusan Raju Ramayya, The Seatbelts, Shinichiro Watanabe & Dai Sato, Soichiro Otsuka, Steve Conte, Sydeny Thiam, Tulivu Donna Cumberbatch, Valentin Coupeau & Yoko Kanno~

Disc 1

1. Dialogue 1-1

2. Tank!(TV Edit)

3. Dialogue 1-2

4. Want it All Back (clavinet hater version)

5. Sax Quartet

6. Dialogue 1-3

7. Encore un verre

8. March for Koala

9. Dialogue 1-4

10. Felt Tip Pen

11. The Egg and You

12. Dialogue 1-5

13. Pot City II (Yab's Dub)

14. Dialogue 1-6

15. NY RUSH

16. Dialogue 1-7

17. Fe

18. PIANO BLACK

19. Dialogue 1-8

20. Spokey Dorkey (alternate take)

21. Forever Broke

22. Dialogue 1-9

23. Road to the West (with rhythm)

24. Dialogue 1-10

25. Meteor

26. Dialogue 1-11

27. DIGGING MY POTATO

28. Dialogue 1-12

29. Rain (demo version)

30. Dialogue 1-13

31. Green Bird

Disc 2

1. Dialogue 2-1

2. Cats on Mars

3. Doggy Dog II世

4. Doggy Dog III世

5. Dialogue 2-2

6. Piano Bar I

7. Give and Take

8. Dialogue 2-3

9. Cat Blues

10. Dialogue 2-4

11. The Singing Sea II

12. Dialogue 2-5

13.ELM

14. WALTZ for ZIZI

15. Dialogue 2-6

16. かわいそうなフェイ(ハイソックス)

17. Farewell Blues (alternate take)

18. Dialogue 2-7

19. Words That We Couldn't Say

20. Dialogue 2-8

21. Space Lion (orgel version)

22. Waste Land

23. Dialogue 2-9

24. Goodnight Julia

25. Space Lion

Disc 3

1. Dialogue 3-1

2. Go Go Cactus Man (guitar version)

3. Dialogue 3-2

4. Too Good Too Bad

5. Dialogue 3-3

6. Eyeball

7. Dialogue 3-4

8. 遊園地

9. On the Run

10. Dialogue 3-5

11. 23話

12. Dialogue 3-6

13. Don't Bother None (long version)

14. Dialogue 3-7

15. WO QUI NON COIN(しょんぼりショートver.)

16. かわいそうなフェイ(リップクリーム)

17. Call Me Call Me

18. Dialogue 3-8

19. Memory

20. Adieu (long version)

21. Dialogue 3-9

22. SEE YOU SPACE COWBOYS NOT FINAL MIX MOUTAIN ROOT

23. Dialogue 3-10

24. Blue

Disc 4

Tank! (live)

RUSH (live)

WHAT PLANET IS THIS (live)

Too Good Too Bad (live)

Bad Dog No Biscuit (live)

Call Me Call Me (live)

Mushroom Hunting (live)

The Real Folk Blues (live)

Piano Solo (live)

Ask DNA

SF GAME CENTER

ROUYA

OLD SCHOOL GAME

Disc 5

1. さすらいのカウボーイ<カウボーイビパップのテーマ>

2. 魅惑のホースライディング

3. さすらいのカウボーイ<カウボーイビパップのテーマ>犬と歌うカラオケ

Music from the films of Takeshi Kitano: Violent Cop (その男, 凶暴につき)

While I will continue to post various albums in addition, I thought I'd do a string of post dedicated to one of my favorite film directors, Takeshi Kitano. Kitano's the god of "Meta" yakuza films and his acute sensibilities regarding all aspects of his craft are usually unsurpassed, always controversial and at times mislead. Beginning his career as a stand up comedian, Kitano accidentally fell into film making when the director of Violent Cop (その男, 凶暴につき) had to drop out of the project. The film was supposed to be a comedy but Kitano, now at the reigns, decided to completely alter the project and thus began the first of many experimental Japanese mob movies. His films of course have taken on many different themes as the times have gone on, but this is the film that molded his career for the past 20+ years. This score, done by Daisuke Kume, compliments the film very well. Particularly the main theme standouts but so does Kume's variation of French composer Erik Saite's piece, Gnossiennes I

. The film is great and so to is the soundtrack and both come recommended. Enjoy!

Violent Cop (その男, 凶暴につき) (1989) Daisaku Kume, Marc A Cesti

1. 我妻のテーマ(グノシェンヌ1)

2. その男,凶暴につき(エンドタイトル)

3. 清弘のテーマ

4. 我妻のテーマ2

5. その男,凶暴につき(メインテーマ)

6. フェアー(グノシェンヌ1)

7. Intorno Al Idol Mio

8. その男, 凶暴につき (Sax Version)

BONUS

Satie: Gnossiennes - 1. Lent

Satie: Gnossiennes - 2. Avec Étonnement

Satie: Gnossiennes - 3. Lent

Satie: Gnossiennes - 4. Lent

Satie: Gnossiennes - 5. Modéré

Satie: Gnossiennes - 6. Avec Conviction Et Avec Une Tristesse Rigoureuse

Khaled: Sahra

Khaled, the unofficially dubbed "King of Raï" is an influential Algerian pop singer-songwriter and instrumentalist who specializes in raï music. Raï originated in Algeria and holds its roots in folk music but incorporates many other genres. Its comparable to the Enka or Trot music of Asia, except with an Arab vibe. Also due to Algeria's history and its proximity to many varying nations, raï singers typically incorporate different languages into their songs and many songs are politically charged. However, what I find remarkable is how upbeat and danceable the music typically is, contrasting with most other protest songs. This album was named after Khaled's daughter and the album is dedicated to her. The track "Aïcha" was a popular international pop hit, particularly because it was sung in both Arabic and French. Funny enough I first found out Khaled through the infamous internet video, Gellieman, back in the early 2000's. While I'm assuming this isn't for everyone, I always like posting varying music options. With around 40,000 songs currently in my computer, I'm hardly covering the large variance of genres I listen to. Check it out, enjoy and "Pfffffffffffffff..."!

Sahra (1996)

1. Sahra

2. Oran Marseille (Oran Mix)

3. Aïcha

4. Lillah

5. Ouelli El Darek (with the I Threes)

6. Detni Essekra

7. Wallou Wallou

8. Ki Kounti (with Saúl Hernández)

9. Wahrane Wahrane

10. Haya Haya

11. Mektoubi

12. Hey Ouedi

13. Oran Marseille (with Akhenaton and Shurik'n of IAM)

14. Sratli

15. Le jour viendra

Hideo Shiraki: In Fiesta (祭りの幻想) & さくら さくら

Fantastic Jazz albums from the legendary drummer, Hideo Shiraki. Brought to you by the now defunct "The Vault", these two works are both phenomenal and a great treat for fans of jazz, japanese classical and those who love it all. His early death robbed the genre of a great talent but that's what makes the internet great, his memory can live on. Highly recommended. Enjoy!

In Fiesta (祭りの幻想) (1961)

1. In Fiesta (祭りの幻想)

2. Five Spot After Dark

3. Just One Or Eight

4. Cherokee

5. Blue Romeo

6. Etude No.1

7. You Dont Know What Love Is

さくら さくら (1965)

1. さくら さくら

2. よさこい節

3. 山中節

4. 祭りの幻想

5. アローン、アローン・アンド・アローン

6. 諏訪

Chikuzen Satou: Cornerstones

Sing Like Talking frontman solo effort. Great listen, great cover tracks, highly recommended! Thanks to the seemingly defunct ongaku-poland blog! Enjoy!

Cornerstones (1995)

1. No One There

2. Whatcha' Gonna Do For Me

3. What You Won't Do For Love

4. I. O. U. Me

5. Promises Promises

6. Something Sad

7. You Need A Hero

8. O. C. O. E. (Official Cat Of The Eighties)

9. Desperado

10. Stardust

11. Something Sad (Japanese Version)

Great Version of a Chaka Khan classic

Toshiyuki Honda: 「マルサの女」オリジナル・サウンドトラック

Here is Honda's score for the 1987 crime comedy, マルサの女. Enjoy!

「マルサの女」オリジナル・サウンドトラック (1987)

1. マルサの女

2. ラブ・テーマ#1

3. リフラクテッド・ビート

4. 金に群がる男達

5. マルサの女 (ハードバージョン)

6. 黄昏のワルツ

7. 戦いの前兆

8. アクション

9. ラブテーマ#2

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J-Urban/Hip-Hop

Like many suburban White kids in the U.S., I have been fascinated by Hip-Hop and R&B from an early age. Growing up in the 90's, I was lucky enough to experience the genres at their peaks and enjoy a diverse and inspiring age before it became over-commercialized, mediocre and insulting. While trying to find solace within underground artists, I eventually became annoyed with the ideology that "good" music should not be meant for the ears of many. Through the recommendation of a classmate in college, I checked out a Korean Hip-Hop trio, Epik High, and my life was completely changed. I became obsessed and from that point, I have happily scoured the internet for Asian Hip-Hop and R&B. While Korea does hold most of my favorite artists, it's Japan that practically pioneered its introduction into Asia and allowed many of favorite artists to exist today. Unlike the states, many artists (not all) have stayed true to the origins of the genres and made their way into the mainstream. This post features five artists from over the last 20 years that I feel represent the growth and roots of the genres. DJ Krush, an ex-yakuza, who became inspired by hip-hop and put the J-urban scene on the map in the early 90's. Coma-Chi, one of the few female rappers/singers to establish herself in Japan. Shingo Suzuki and 45, labelmates who utilize genre blending and musicians from all over the world to highlight the beauty of universal hip-hop. Last and not least, JASMINE, a fantastic R&B singer bringing a mature, soulful flare to modern J-pop countering the stereotypical "cutesy image". There is a whole range of artist, past and present, who have brought their finesse to the genres but I hope everyone takes a listen to these artists and check out their other works. Shingo Suzuki's group, Ovall, is awesome! Enjoy!

DJ Krush - Krush (1994)

1. AM 300 Tag

2. Keeping The Motion

3. Mixed Nuts

4. Roll & Tumble

5. Murder of Soul

6. E.A.R.T.H.-SOS

7. On the Dub-ble

8. Another Day

9. Underneath the System

10. Edge of Blue

11. Big City Lover

12. Down The Drain

13. Into the Water

14. Ruff-Neck Jam

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Coma-Chi - DAY BEFORE BLUE (2006)

1. Intro

2. 放浪

3. skit-Cypher@丸子橋.

4.ミチバタ

5. 夢三夜 feat.ATOM,CRIMESIXXXL（STERUSS)

6. Bye bye my self

7. 夜間遊泳

8. Love music feat.TARO SOUL

9. skit

10. バイブレイション

11. 4seasons

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Shingo Suzuki - The Abstract Truth (2008)

1. Voice Of The World

2. Flyable (feat. Moka Only)

3. Night Lights With Thirdiq

4. Sunrise (feat. Marina P & Blanco Nice)

5. Hi(gh) Music (feat. Blu)

6. Echo From The Sky

7. M.O.G.

8. Livin' Up (feat. 20syl, DJ Green from Hocus Pocus & Ol' K)

9. Inside Your Love

10. A Kind Of Metaphor

11. Red Earth

12. 1000 Nights

13. Eternal Sunshine

14. Shayo (feat. Ol' K)

15. Universe For H

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45 a.k.a. SWING-O - Hello Friends

1. Hello Friends

2. Struttin'

3. Searchin' (feat. Tasita D'mour)

4. The Night Life (feat. Steph Pockets)

5. Underground Superstar (feat. Yuu Sakai)

6. Interlude Italiano

7. Tokyo Jazz Freak

8. Once Again

9. Wa

10. Can You Say Yes (feat. Marcellus Nealy)

11. P.Simon

12. Solitude

13. Hello Friends (Lark Chillout for A.Y.B.Force Remix)

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JASMINE - GOLD (2010)

1. PRIDE

2. sad to say

3. L.I.P.S.

4. Jealous

5. Bad Girl

6. dear my friend

7. stage ～interlude～

8. This Is Not A Game

8. CLUBBIN'

9. 恋

10. what you want?

11. No More

12. Dreamin'

13. Why

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Yuu Sakai: Yes!! & ONLY YU

Here is the rest of Yuu Sakai's amazing catalogue. Hope everyone enjoys!

Yes!! (2010)

1. N.A.M.E.

2. ストーリー ~album ver.~

3. おはようサンシャイン

4. ウシミツビト

5. ラビリンス

6. ↓

7. Yeeeeahs!! (feat.RUMI)

8. まなざし☆デイドリーム ~album ver.~

9. Room

10. 週末モーニン

11. ティーンエイジャー

12. train ~album ver.~

BONUS

from

ストーリー [SINGLE] (2009)

1. ストーリー

2. ララバイ

3. How Beautiful (with PIANO)

4. ストーリー (backing track)

from まなざし☆デイドリーム [SINGLE] (2010)

1. まなざし☆デイドリーム

2. sammy

3. みち

4. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

5. まなざし☆デイドリーム (backing track)

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ONLY YU (2011)

1. music

2. AHEAD

3. ケセラセLife

4. ソングライダー

5. It's YOU

6. 夏のラフマニノフ

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