DMW: Digital Music W...

Check out this video of Air's "Mer du Japon". The highlight was definitely having the two female interpretive dancers kiss.

Posted by Amanda Nanawa on August 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This was just forwarded to me by a friend of mine at Bang Zoom! Entertainment. If you ever wonder how to beat the human traffic that exists on Tokyo's sidewalks during rush hour, check this video out.

Note: There are no English subtitles. But do you seriously need subtitles to understand the comedy of living in Tokyo?

People in the US tend to walk on the right side. In Tokyo, its the opposite. You walk on the left side. Pavlov would be proud.

Posted by Amanda Nanawa on August 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I spent more time this past week listening to this release from start to finish. The release is a nice departure from previous efforts (Psyence Fiction & Never, Never Land). Each track has their own "personality" thanks to some guest vocalists such as The Duke Spirit, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Autolux and Ian Astbury among many others. The iTunes version offers 16 tracks where normally there are 14 tracks on the standard CD release. "Buying a Lie" and "Mistress" are the bonus tracks.

This album is more rock-driven, thanks in part to the co-production of Chris Goss (producer for Queens of the Stone Age). So if people think this is your typical UNKLE album, they are just wrong. I'm glad they went in this direction, it shows that DJ James Lavelle & Richard File do indeed rock out. And speaking of which, after three releases the band finally gets to tour. I've been waiting for these guys to head out on tour and they finally made the announcement that they are kicking off their first ever North American tour at Webster Hall, NYC during CMJ Music Marathon conference. I can't believe how expensive those damn badges are.

So to say this is a long time coming is really an understatement. I expect to see lots of fans and industry people to rock out Oct. 18 in NYC. I wonder if they will have special guests like The Duke Spirit or even Thom Yorke? That would be so sweet. But they will have a live seven-piece band on stage. Yeah!

Posted by Amanda Nanawa on August 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Video to "The Salmon Dance" by Chemical Brothers. Its a funny song that will undoubtedly inspire countries like The Philippines to do the dance. Much like that prison house in The Philippines where all the inmates were dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Uh... yeah.

Posted by Amanda Nanawa on August 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I downloaded this from iTunes about five weeks ago. My official take - I LOVE IT. Its The Chemical Brothers at their best. Each track is as infectious as the next. If there is one weak track, it would be "Seal" that gets tacked on the end.



Comparing this to Bjork's "Volta", UNKLE's "War Stories" and Air's "Pocket Symphony", I'd say its a three-way tie between "Volta", "Pocket Symphony" and "We are the Night". I would not be surprised if The Chemical Brothers get nominated for a Grammy. I just can't stop playing this release. Its best to listen while driving. The songs are catchy, hard-driven, rhythmic and downright fun.



And now, I'm really stoked about going to see the Bros. performing in Brooklyn next month. Opening for them will be Ladytron. The Chemical Brothers and Ladytron... Amazing! Too bad Goldfrapp is still in the studio and not touring. Otherwise, if the billing had Ladytron, Goldfrapp and The Chemical Brothers, the show would've been sold out because that my friend would've been the trifecta of electronica wet dreams.

Air - New Album + Bonus Track - Download Now on iTunes

Posted by Amanda Nanawa on August 12, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As expected, Hollywood takes another Japanese flick and tries to Americanize it any way they can. "Shinobi" is the latest Japanese ninja scroll movie to get this treatment. Instead of the plot taking place in 1600 Shogunate Japan, it will take place in Hong Kong (I assume modern day). And something along the lines of Romeo & Juliet meets asian gangs meets ninja gangs.

In case you don't already know, there is an anime version of the story. It played on IFC during their anime block. That show is "Basilisk". That is a great show. The original Japanese live-action movie is remarkable. Both titles are distributed by FUNimation.

Little back story - "Basilisk" was based on the novel "The Kouga Ninja Scrolls" written by Futaro Yamada in 1958. The novel was based on actual events and some characters that took place in Japan. In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu was named Shogun after a decisive battle that took place at the Battle of Sekigahara. Japan was unified and peace began to reign throughout the land. There were factions of ninja clans that would fight against each other from time to time. But there were two significant ninja clans that held a very long storied grudge against each other. They were the Iga and Kouga clans. The Shogun would like nothing more than to see these two clans decimate each other off the planet. But as fate would have it, two lovers from opposite sides of the clan are forced to fight each other to the death. Only one Shinobi will remain standing from either clan.

When you get a chance, try to catch both versions - anime and Japanese live-action. It is basically the source material of all things ninja. See it before it gets Americanized.

Posted by Amanda Nanawa on August 01, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)