Ashes of Time Redux--trailer

I just ran across this 5 minute trailer for Wong Kar-Wai's "Ashes of Time Redux".  There is something a bit off about the aspect ratio, but this version has superior audio and the added bonus of English subtitles.  The film premiers in the US 10/10/08.  I have my fingers crossed it will get wide release so I will get a chance to see it on the big screen.  The new musical score and the exquisite playing of YoYo Ma marks a decided improvement over the original film.

Video: Read more

Remembering Isaac Hayes

I remember so well the first time I heard Isaac Hayes' theme from the movie "Shaft".  First was the famous high hat riff, then the wa-wa guitar, before it all exploded in your face with the bass, the horns and all the rest.  From that extraordinary 20 or 30 seconds, I knew the future of music would never be the same again.

I was saddened to hear today that Isaac Hayes died.  NPR, however, broadcast a tremendous 4 1/2 minute summation of the musician's life and influence.  Take a listen and indulge in a little...Read more

Robbie Robertson, "Somewhere Down the Crazy River"

Cool, bluesy song; Martin Scorsese video.  I was crazy for this song in 1988 when I first saw it.  Some things from the 80s still sound damn fine.

BTW, the producer of the record, Daniel Lanois, is playing the Omni Chord.

Universal Music has disabled embedding, so you'll have to click on the link.  Worth the trouble, believe me!

Video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ3LOu9IK7Y

To lead or to follow?

In response to Calvin Wong's blog entry about the future of Asian music, I have to ask why Asian musicians seek only to copy what is easiest copied about Western music, namely genres like pop and R&B?  All Asian countries have rich cultural histories with notable achievements in many  artistic genres, music being no exception.  Where are the artists who are willing to make Asian popular music that is identifiably Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. and is modern at the same time?  Or, alternatively, who is trying to craft a more pan...Read more

A Modest Proposal

Calvin Wong wrote on his blog:

aspiring singers need to expose themselves to various music cultures and infuse their own creativity and created something unique but accessible by `normal' people. Pushing the boundary step by step. If you are not comfortable with Cantonese then sing in Mandarin? It doesn't need to be a ballad. It can be a rap, rock, jazz, soul, funk, nu-metal as long as it's good and you like it and most comfortable with. Good news is that there is a superstar in every genre of music there is.

And...Read more

Flamenco chill--Chambao

Chambao's video for Camino Interior (inner road).  I love this video, the visuals capture the feel of the song so well.  You must click the link to watch.  Embedding has been disabled.

Video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sOzplor5Dj8

Rachid Taha Rocks the Casbah

Here are two videos of Rachid Taha.  I mentioned him commenting on Calvin's blog today, and then realized that almost no one in Asia will have any idea what kind of music he makes.  So, here are two examples.  "Rock El Casbah" is a reworking of the Clash's nugget "Rock the Casbah" (Rachid acknowledges that The Clash were a decided influence on his music) with Steve Hillage and Brian Eno providing the chorus, and "Barra Barra", which shows how masterfully Rachid mixes traditional North African...Read more

Minutos

Ricardo Arjona's music video for his song, "Minutos" (Minutes).  I love this song (English translation below) and its video.  The musical arrangement brilliantly communicates the insistent passage of time that the lyrics speak about.  White the video's narrative presents us with a visual representation of the passage of time.  Such a brilliant song, and it doesn't hurt the video one little bit that Ricardo Arjona is so easy on the eyes!

(You may have to click on the link to be transferred to YouTube to see the video.  Em...Read more

Perfumes of the Arabian Nights

Many years ago, I stumbled across the most incredible perfume essence oils.  They are make in Tangiers, Morocco by the Madini family and incorporate a tradition of perfume-making that is probably over a thousand years old.  Currently over 100 different preparations are available, and new scents are introduced and old ones retired (though I hope not permanently).  Unlike traditional commerc...Read more

When the Fashion Industry Gets it Wrong

The internationally famous fashion model Coco Rocha recounts how someone in the fashion industry told her:  “The look this year is anorexia.  We don’t want you to be anorexic, but that’s what we want you to look like.”  (Vogue (American Edition), August 2008, p. 104)

As much as I love fashion (true fashion, not ephemeral trends), I have mixed feelings when I see the rotten, distorted image of women that is being thrust down our throats by the industry.  Time for another women’s liberation movement—from the crap...Read more