Good Things Come in Threes (Presenting Morelenbaum2/Sakamoto Trio)

That statement right there was for my crew in London right now. You know who you are. Us three musketeers, although I going to presume only 'one' (only you will get it, 'one') of you read this blog so please let the other person know.

In other news, the Morelenbaum2/Sakamoto Trio comes in threes. I mean, it's in the damn name so if you could not guess that go cry in the corner. Kidding. I would never want to put anybody in the corner. I've been to the corner and trust me, it's not a pretty place. 

Back to what I was saying, to introduce, Jacques and Paula Morelenbaum are a Brazilian husband and wife duo. Jacques does many things like composing and producing, but in this context he is the cellist. Paula is the singer. Ryuichi Sakamoto is a Japanese pianist (Yes, I admit it, I have a weird musical fetish with Japanese musicians! Now please! Stop pointing fingers at me!) who is quite known around the world for his solo work, including composition and production as well, just like Jacques. All three of them are very accomplished professional artists. So this is quite the combo here. A dangerously fabulous chemical mix of three great musicians. The genre is like, jazz/contemporary classical. Anyways I'm wasting words. Music on please! 

So great. Paula's voice is perfect for the ambiance set by the music. Kind of makes me sit back and really enjoy this spaghetti I'm eating. I've been eating spaghetti for the past week. Why? Well these damn jars of sauce were on sale, and so were these spaghettis, so I bought a whole bundle. That's what you do when you're a student, and well goddamn I'm ready to try anything if something will make this spaghetti taste better. Fortunately I think the music is helping. 

If there was a purest form of mood, like, good mood, then this would be it. I don't even, let me just quietly eat my dinner in peace. Please. I just want to listen. I'm new to this as much as you are. 

Why is Paula's voice so perfect? Why is everything about this so refined, and just, pure beauty? Why? Why? WHYYYYYYYYYYY

Too bad though, the last time these guys released an album as an ensemble was 2003. So I'm going to assume that they don't tour anymore. I'd like to buy the album though, because this is just one of those rare bands that you need to have a physical copy of. 

Lastly, a shout out to my friend Kotaro, once again, whose deep taste in music has brought the sincerest pleasure of discovering this wonderful band. Yo KoKo, I know you're reading this. Arigato, and may you do whatever you dream to do. This is the dreaming jukebox after all. 

What's With Japanese Guitarists Being So Good?: Presenting Kotaro Oshio

Or what's with me being such an Orientophile when it comes to music? Hello, my name is Alex the menace and today we have Kotaro Oshio as the feature of this corner of the world wide web where you literally get random music (GOOD music, I tell you), selected by a random Asian guy.

In any case, let's get started. So I was talking to a friend, whose name is coincidentally Kotaro, and he literally just blurted this guy out. Like a typical music junkie who needs constant injections of syringes full of new music, I searched and came upon this:

Pretty nice and calm huh? There's no lack of technical dexterity with this guy though. I'm not going to go into explaining his bio because, honestly a musician speaks with his music, ergo, I justify my laziness again. But seriously though, I do enough don't you think?

Moving on, here's one that sounds more like Depapepe

What a nice smile. I can swim in that, like, swim in his mouth or something as he smiles. That sounded weird but I'm not going to edit that, since I never edit anything here. This blog is about honesty and showing my deepest fetishes. In any case, that piece just demonstrates his superior technical dominance on the guitar fabulously. He literally employs everything possible that comes with steel string acoustic guitar playing. Gives a nice pace and a hooky melody line too.

He's quite popular with Koreans too I think. So much that the title of this next song has been translated into Korean on Youtube. Well, anyone could have done that but yeah, Koreans are great, and I'm not speaking under any bias. Shoot me if you don't believe me.

Just in case you were curious that song was called, 'that summer's white clouds'.

A couple more because I'm a bit running out of steam trying to type.

Gosh, another reason for me to keep coming back to this blog with my earphones on. Yes, I primarily upload on this blog for my own pleasure, but that should be a good news for you too! That's basically a guarantee on quality control, since why would I love to throw shit into my own ears? That's why next post will be on Nicki Minaj.

Just kidding, if no one gets humour among you that is. Or maybe I'm just bad at telling jokes. This was Alex, and for those who are getting on the subway in time with the London Underground's strike, better hurry your ass up in the morning, like this guy.

Since Robocop got rebooted, I'm rebooting stuff too: 'Re'presenting Depapepe

Actually the real reason is, fucking Sony took down all the videos I had attached to the post about Depapepe before this one, and because I discovered some new stuff from the duo lately. Thanks Sony, as if your film company's rehashing films over and over again isn't enough. Fortunately, Depapepe never get's old though.

So for those who haven't seen the old post yet, they are an acoustic guitar duo from Japan. Their style usually goes: one guy plays the chords, and the other plays the melody. Then they alternate. Check it out for yourself, this one is called Ripple.

So smooth, and so crisp. I used to cover these guys with a friend and believe me, it was damn hard to coordinate two guitars, especially the way they did it.

Here's a live clip of them.

Aside from the melody and all that, the fullness of their sound really gets me. It rings, but just enough so that it fills up the sound space when you listen to it. They're just two guitars, but it sounds like an entire ensemble of instruments playing altogether. Like this one.

Just, great, stuff. I'm not even going to waste words on it anymore.

Well okay I think that's enough for today. I think you get the point, that these guys are damn amazing.  And Sony, if you're reading this, I dare you, I double dare you to block me again. Man I'll be beating you at rebooting so much that you'll have to hire me. Motherfuckers. 

As for you my listeners. Thank you for being patient through my vulgar language and lack of explanations, which is another way to spell my laziness. This was the Dreaming Jukebox, peace out. 

I'd Like One Order of Relaxing Sunday Please. (Presenting, Haruka Nakamura)

Just a relaxing Sunday, but then there's the Superbowl of course. Some made up American holiday called Superbowl Sunday, where there's copious amount of junk food, alcohol, loud shouting, getting angry at an inanimate object (the TV will never talk back at you no matter how much you scream at it), and somehow, just somehow, getting a dose of adrenaline out of watching people try to deliver a ball to the other side. I usually try to actively avoid this tradition as it actually goes against my ideals of what a Sunday should be. I'm not talking about church. I'm talking about just sitting and relaxing while feeling your thoughts floating out of their sockets.

So it was fortunate that I ran into Haruka Nakamura's music, since his tone and style totally matches the kind of Sunday I'm striving for. He seems to be a pianist and composer. His website is actually a very minimalist set up so I can't tell you much about him. Time for the music to speak instead!

Fantastic. Just what I could just melt into. Sunday music all the way. Dissolves all that enraged shouting of the football-crazed (mind you though most of them are probably a football fan for this one day) fanatics. I want another one.

In words of Thor: ANOTHER!

Getting a bit too comfortable in my chair here I think. The Japanese composer-producers do have something that others don't have. I mean, Nujabes, Uyama Hiroto, and probably the countless rest I haven't discovered, all have that special factor that European or North American counterparts don't have. That art of subtlety. Or maybe because Haruka Nakamura is under the same label as Uyama Hiroto, Hydeout Productions which was founded by Nujabes.

To listen to that hint of Nujabes influence, here's one.

Definitely hear it right? There's that Nujabes tone, which is also in Uyama Hiroto. Anyways there are also these hour long clips of these on Youtube, so feel free to turn one of them up for a good study session or something.

My name is Alex, and today was a Sunday. Just a Sunday, a good relaxing Sunday.

P.S. Here's one of those hour long clips for you (gets a bit too repetitive by the middle of it but gosh it's a cool tune):

Sick and in Love: Presenting Shing02

Recently I noticed that I was listening to the same things over and over again on my smartphone. That's usually a sign that life is getting dull. So I'm getting back on this blog. Put some new music up, and you know, actually search for tracks I haven't heard.

Now, Nujabes is someone I've heard of, not very new for me. He passed away in 2010 by a tragic car accident, but he was one of the biggest Japanese DJ/Producers, and get this, he pioneered the genre of nu-jazz in Japan.

Shing02, a Berkley graduate, is a Japanese rapper and producer and one of those few rappers who rap in two languages: English, Japanese. He was also a close friend of the late Nujabes, and this is a music series they collaborated on, called Luv(Sic). Here's pt. 1.

Got the nu-jazz feel in there? According to Shing02: '(sic)= The Latin adverb sic - meaning "intentionally so written" is used for misspelled words. In this case, Love = Luv, thus Lovesick = Luv(sic)''

You got that? Ring me when you do.  

Moving to Part 2: 

If you think this is a 2-part thing, you're mistaken as we move on to-

Pt 3:

How far will this go? Well, unfortunately this was the last part of this project that Nujabes worked on. Afterwards, Shing02, affected deeply by his friend's death, felt the need to continue this journey, which culminated in this next part that is particularly beautiful in lyrics.

Pt.4

Try to pay attention to the lyrics here:

Snow flakes in January
Heart warm like February,
I wouldn't ordinarily
March to the drum, play a fool like April
May the best dance in a Juno bridal
Power of the will, Julius and Augustus
Aw you know, it's just us
In a new semester, back in September
boy, I wonder if you still remember

Meet me half way from mars to venus
beep beep, the chase is on between us
Retweet the sweetest piece of confection
hand made device for remote connection
ask a question,
wait for an answer and make a suggestion
a time and a place for a first impression
second and third to a fourth dimension

All of mainstream hip hop on the radio can't come up with this.

Now we're almost there, just think of this as a 5 act operetta.

Pt. 4 (I like this remix better so I put it up instead of the original)

Did I say it was a 5 act opera? I'm sorry, it's actually 6. But ladies and gentlemen, I give you Shing02 in video, in real time, rapping his heart out with Uyama Hiroto, Nujabes' protege.

Pt. 6

There you have it. From part 1 to 6. I don't usually listen to rap, but when I do, I make sure it's a chill Asian dude with sick rhymes.

Kidding, I do listen to rap and hip hop from time to time, but only when I like it. This is one of those cases. Henceforth why I'm turning the jukebox back on with Shing02. By the way if you're wondering about the title, yes I am sick. Of course I am also in love. Love you too Sarah. Peace.

Adults yesterday, Children tomorrow.

Sometimes, I wish that I could have stayed as a kid for all my life. When you're little, all you need to do is just run around, laugh aloud, eat well, play with your friends, do your homework, and be a kid, unless you're Asian. Fortunately, my childhood was less oppressive than the typical Oriental household. I'm kidding, obviously. It's not that bad.

What's really not that bad, is today's band. Actually saying 'not that bad' would be an understatement. They're a great band. I give you, Mr. Children. 

Mr. Children is a Japanese rock band that was formed back in 1988 by Kazutoki Sakurai, Kenichi Tahara, Keisuke Nakagawa, and Hideya Suzuki. With over 50 million album sales, they are one of the most successful Japanese rock artists.

At a first glance, I can see why Mr. Children is such a successful band. Their songs are simply very likable. It's comfortable to listen to, and enjoyable by almost everyone.

Like this song, Hanabi. 

This next song is another staple Mr. Children, called Replay.

 
Again, I have no idea what they're saying. Actually I do have and idea here an there. One word understandings mostly. So I won't say anything about the lyrics for the fear of butchering their original meaning.

However, what I can say about the band, is that they're an all-around solid band, that one can listen to on many occasions. It's like one of those bands that you always keep in your iPod or mp3 player, because you know you will go back to them again and again.

Here's several more good songs to fill your playlist. Hero, Crossroad, and Youthful Days.

In continuation of Remioromen, their vocalist is plain sounding, yet very unique in a particular way. I feel as if Japanese vocalists have a way to really convey their honest feelings in their songs, and make their voice truly represent their souls. That's what I feel about Mr. Children's vocalist, Kazutoshi Sakurai at least.

So I leave you today with this one last song, that has a very special video with a great message. Can you guess it? I'll let you decide. Cheers!

This Band Makes Me Crave Ramen

Although infinitely infused with salt and calories, no one can deny the overwhelming savoriness of ramen. Even though they may be a simple meal replacement packaged in plastic wrapping, if done right, ramen could be a nutritious, and delicious dish. So says my friend. Anyways, I do like ramen, and I always try to twist it around by adding various external ingredients into the pot. 

Aside from all that, here's a great band from Japan. Their name, is Remioromen.

Remioromen is a Japanese rock band formed by Ryota Fujimaki, Keisuke Maeda and Osamu Jinguji back in 2000. Since then they've released 5 studio albums, along with a compilation album and a live album.

The band's melody is one of the simpler ones out there, and my not understanding the lyrics is not helping me appreciate this band better. However, there's something captivating about their songs, albeit they are relatively plain.

Here's a famous song from them, called March 9th.

According to my friend, apparently March 9th is the graduation day for high schools in Japan, and this song is played commonly on the day.

For me, the best part of this band is the vocal. His voice is of no particular rarity, but the way he conveys his lyrics, is of much genuine emotion. To me, he's one of those people, that really mean what they say. Whatever he sings, although I can't understand a syllable, I can see that he truly feels that way.

To introduce you more to the band, this next song, is called Sakura. The ones after that is beyond my scope of knowledge. If someone who knows the language would translate the title, you have my gratitude.

I am currently attempting to dive into the language, to decipher this artful tongue and understand what these lyrics are conveying. I've in fact started with learning Yamazaki Masayoshi's One More Time, One More Chance, and certainly Remioromen's songs will be my next covers.

I'll sign off for now, since schoolwork is calling to me. So here's me leaving you with my favorite from Remioromen, Kona Yuki. 

 

Falling in Love at 5 Centimeters Per Second

So today I'm not going to introduce you to an artist, but an original soundtrack of a movie. The movie itself was heart-wrenching, and a big part of it was due to the soundtrack. Many times, the original score of the movie can significantly alter the audience's reception of the movie, like what Hanz Zimmer did with The Dark Knight.

The name of the movie, is 5 Centimeters Per Second: an animation movie directed by Shinkai Makoto. It chronicles the story of a boy and a girl, whom are best friends, and also are in love, ever since from elementary school. Throughout the movie, they drift apart, entering a long distance relationship where their feelings for each other are tested. To avoid spoiling the movie, I shall now shift my focus onto the music.

The movie's title comes from the speed of a cherry blossom falling, and Tenmon, the composer of the soundtrack, certainly had captured the image of cherry blossoms gently floating in subtle breeze. This one, is called Cherry Blossom Extract. 

The piano melody, is simple and subtle, yet searingly poignant, and penetrates deep into the emotions. It makes one remember certain things, tugs at their soul to bring certain moments back, and quietly contemplate them to the point where it begins to hurt, like someone is gripping one's heart.  

That's the kind of soundtrack this movie has, and it makes the atmosphere of the movie so much more touching. This next one, is called The Feeling That Doesn't Reach. 

This one somehow always reminds me of my first love. That first time, when I truly looked at someone, and said to myself, 'I would give anything to be with that person.' It's a rare feeling, and it has visited me very few times after the first, that I can count the moments of its coming in my one hand. What really makes my appreciation for this piece truly heartfelt, is that my first love never came out to be anything. It comes back time to time to haunt me, to remind me of how happy I would've been, had I been something else than what I was back then, and was able to be with her. That's the sort of feeling I get, when I listen to this.

This piece, is another gem in the soundtrack as well, if not the best one out of all the gems in the score. It's the one that gives me the shivers every time. The melody is very uncomplicated, yet it's deeper than how most piano compositions can be, and combined with the visual experience of the movie, the sense of longing the characters harbor in their chests, their desperate hope to see each other, can be felt through the screen.

So before I further shove myself into the well of depression and sadness, I'm going to call it a day, with this one last song. It's called, One More Time, One More Chance, by Yamazaki Masayoshi. He is a Japanese singer-song writer, and this song was written for his girlfriend, who passed away in an earthquake of 1995. The lyrics depict how he constantly searches for her, even though he knows he will never find her.

Meanwhile, I strongly recommend this movie if you haven't watched it yet. It is by far one of the best anime movies out there, and among the non-Miyazaki films, possibly the best. No matter how strong, how sturdy your heart is, this movie is certain to move you from the base of your soul, and make you think about it for days after it, bringing out your memories of past moments, when you fell in love at 5 centimeters per second.

Sanding out the roughness of my mind with some good tunes.

Here we are ladies and gents! Holidays have arrived and the great cheer is in full effect. Finally, my head can now rest, and there isn't a better way to do it than to read a fine book with some smooth melody playing in my ears. A Murakami Haruki sure is a safe bet for a fine book, and for some smooth melody none other than Uyama Hiroto comes quicker to my mind.

Mr. Hiroto is a Japanese DJ and hip hop music producer whose style reflects a heavy influence from jazz. If there was a genre that would define his style in one word, it'd be Nu Jazz. Now I don't know anything about Nu Jazz, yet, so I'll stop my commentary on the genre right here before I say something hysterically illogical. On with Uyama Hiroto.

I don't listen to hip hop. At all. But this one's a definite keeper even for me. Hiroto's melodies, flying freely above, have a distinct form and style to them that you can only glean by listening to them. Here's 81 Summer. 

and Stratus 

Unlike many so called DJs and hip hop producers, the ingredients that Hiroto puts into his music are all critical elements that make up the overall sound. Nothing goes to waste. Hiroto structures his songs so that if even the most unnoticeable section of the song is missing, it would bring down the balance of
the music.

However, what really draws me to this artist like a moth to flames is his jazz influence, evidently expressed in this song, Waltz for Life Will Born. 

The best of all is that Uyama Hiroto's ability to fuse various styles together into a unique piece of music is just uncanny. Like this next one, Ribbon in the Sea. 

This sort of music I really enjoy listening to, because you can't categorize something like this. This piece can stand by its own, and not called as something definitive so easily. I like that. A song that has character, a personality. It's really hard to find something like that these days, but Uyama Hiroto has gifted us generously with his own cache of rare genius.

Before going back to my reading and relaxing time, I'd like to say that it's good to be back on the blog. Sorry if you guys missed me, I just couldn't muster the time to do it. You'll certainly see me more frequently now, so stay tuned! I'll be back tomorrow. On that note, I shall leave you with a couple more of my Uyama Hiroto favorites.

Monkeying around in my magical music swimming pool

Along with rediscovering Nell yesterday, I'm going to bring back another band I've been a fan of back in the day. Actually I only knew this one song until today.

Hailing from Japan, I give you, Monkey Majik. 

Wait, it's a Japanese band. So what are these two non-Japanese dudes doing in there? Answer is that they are Canadians who went over to Japan and started a band.

Just to clear any sort of riddling puzzles that might arise later on, a brief history lesson on Monkey Majik. Maynard Plant, fresh out of Queen's University, decides to go over to Japan to work as an Assistant Language Teacher. There he starts the band in 2000 with some friends; Thomas Pritchard, Chad Ivany, and Misao Urushizaka. Pritchard and Ivany quits, and in order to fill the gap Maynard invites his brother Blaise over, and Dick, another Japanese friend. Eventually Misao quits around their second indie album, and Tax is called over to fill the spot. That makes it two Canadians and two Japanese making the band.

Due to the hybrid nature of the band, they've been cross-promoted in Canada and Japan, as well as having been chosen as “Goodwill Ambassadors” for the 80th anniversary of Japanese-Canadian Relations. Their lyrics are often composed of English and Japanese. 

The song above, Fly, was their first hit single on their major debut, climbing as high as the 19th position on the Oricon charts. Here's another hit single that came after Fly: Around the World. 

This song went as high as the 4th position on the Oricon charts. With this song, you could say that Monkey Majik began to go around the world. 

Monkey Majik's style is most definitely pop-rock. Allow me to demonstrate. 

By the way, Negai means wish. 


So in my mind, Monkey Majik doesn't earn a lot of points for musical color, because sometimes it's too damn typical. Not that I'm trying to devalue their music in anyway. I do like their songs, but when I listen to them, I don't feel that vibe that tells me I'm tuned on to Monkey Majik's frequency, until that segment comes where Maynard begins to sing in Japanese.


But then again, it's a Japanese-Canadian band that your average day-to-day guys formed and succeeded with through six studio albums. For instance, Tax, the drummer, was a dental technician whose drum experience until joining the band was playing in junior high for two years. Just by that fact, this band instantly grabbed my heart, because here's a really extraordinary story. Average Joes who came together purely by the spirit of music and succeeded without money in their minds. For example, their first independent album was self-funded, and even until then they considered the band a hobby. 


Forget about those big idol bands being pumped out by major labels and sculptured pop stars. This here, Monkey Majik, is a true musical odyssey. This is how it should be done. There's no other way for it to be done. You start from the bottom, with nothing but music in hand, and doing it for nothing but music. 

Just for that I give them great respect, and that makes me like the band even more, along with their music.  

I just hope that Monkey Majik keeps there pop-rock nature and doesn't try to go into the current trends of dance-pop, like how Maroon 5 sold their souls to cash in on the mainstream scene. Not that they will do that. Japanese artists are pretty stern when it comes to keeping their musical characteristic in my opinion. 

So while I'm on that subject, I'll admit that I'm really getting interested in the Japanese music scene nowadays. There are many artists in Japan that would be considered rare gems in North America. Too many artists, so little time.

Here's some more Monkey Majik to keep you entertained until next time. 

 

Since I can't make a sentence with this next one, presenting: DEPAPEPE

If you haven't noticed, I like guitar sounds. In fact I play guitar quite a bit. So in my tiny shell of a universe, if a piece has a guitar, it's probably a sort of good music Now what's better than just a guitar? Come on now, it's too obvious. Two guitars.

That's exactly what is going on with this next guitar duo I'm going to present. DEPAPEPE. They are a Japanese acoustic guitar duo, composed of Miura Takuya and Tokuoka Yoshinari, who debuted in 2002. The name is a combination of the stage names of these two guys who form the duo, Takuya as Depa, and Yoshinari as Pepe. Also, Yoshinari's previous band name was Derupepe.

Before I say anything further, here's Summer Parade, to remind us of that sweet sensation of sun's rays wrapping out body in its undying hearth.

Now that you feel a bit warmed up, I'm going to throw you another one that will remind you of winter.  This one is called, Snow dance.

So here we are now, starting off with two season of that sweet guitar magic brought to you by Depapepe. One thing you would've noticed whether or not you're a keen listener, is that Depapepe's songs are always upbeat. They never have a downcast mood in their pieces. Melancholy, sadness,  I'm going to exhibit this characteristic by presenting you, more songs, starting with Ready go!! 

then moving onto Quarrel 

 and then ending with this one, called One.

By this time you probably understood the crux of my thesis. Most of Depapepe's songs are on a major key. That being said, a lot of their songs are rapt with buoyancy, and optimism. It's a defining character of Depapepe. You just can't have a bad day with their music, because when you listen to them, you're practically getting a warranty that states you will feel uplifted and happy. Listen to this next one and please try to tell me that it didn't make you feel better. Do try because you will likely fail, because the song is literally called, Morning smile. 

And speaking of mornings, try this one as well. It's a personal favorite of mine called Start.

All the mornings I've started off with putting this on in the background turned out fantastic, although rest of the day I would feel dismal due to Depapepe withdrawal until I get my next dose.

These days, it's hard to find cheer in anything I do, or experience. However, if there was one streak of line that shines on the derelict realm of misfortune that is my life, a large part of it would be Depapepe's music. To those who are looking for a little positivity in their life, I strongly recommend this group, because I know they've brought many smiles at least to myself, and I'm sure you'll find that much needed pat in the back that says "Cheer up! Live life!" in Depapepe as well.

As I'm signing out, I give you some more songs; Sky! Sky! Sky!, Wake up! and Flow

Hitting the books like an average Joe

Finals. The dreadnaught of all university challenges. It has finally approached us, and has crossed south into our lives once again. So in continuation of the study music posting before, I have some more study music!

If you are into Japanese culture, you certainly have not missed this music giant I'm about to introduce, and his name is Joe Hisaishi.

Well-known for his famous movie soundtracks for well-known films such as Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro, which is below, Joe Hisaishi is an internationally acclaimed music director, composer, conductor and pianist. His collaborations with Miyazaki in various Ghibli films never cease to be stunningly magnificent to the core of musical essence. Melodies that penetrate the very psyche and soul of humanity have been written from him, and I cannot grasp how one man could move so many hearts.

This one from Spirited Away (with Hisaishi playing live)

And this one is from my personal favorite Princess Mononoke, and since I am an orchestra junkie, once again a live version.

and also this next one just because the instrumental combination is absolutely enchanting.

However, few know that he also has composed music outside of movie image albums and soundtracks. These next songs are from his piano albums.

I'll stop there, because I believe my point has been sufficiently delivered. 

Some of these pieces don't make good study music for myself, because sometimes the melody is so engaging and mind-gripping that I must pay attention to every note of every bar.

So give a listen. If you're not a fan of classical music, Joe Hisaishi is a great start. 

These last two are my favorite pieces from the illustrious Hisaishi-san. Enjoy!