Advice

Some advice from the WC stables this week...
1. If you have a mobile, write down your important numbers somewhere.
2. Don't cycle when you're drunk.

Guess what I did this weekend :(

Hifana - Channel H

I got a copy of Hifana's new album 'Channel H' yesterday. Lke the last album it's nt really a collection of songs so much as a collection of beats. Infact it's the DVD you get with it that I put on first. Watching them do their thing really is jaw dropping sometimes. The album may not be to everyone's taste (although for the music geeks out there the production is stunning again) but I really can't recommend enough seeing what they do live. This DVD is longer than the last including a lot more animated stuff and is probably as good on its own as many an album you might buy.
You can watch a couple of videos here. Unfotunately neither of the films featured show them performing live but they are still worth checking out.

UK n stuff

Been back a few days now. Always thought jetlag was a bit over rated but went to bed at 10 pm last night. Either that or installing software on my new laptop is just sending me to sleep...

Bit of a hectic trip, Guildford, Haarlem (Holland), Brighton and London were all stops for at least a couple of days. Half the trip seemed to be spent on planes and trains (mmmmm British trains). Good to see family and friends obviously, especially new niece Elodie :) Had lots of nice bread and cheese, drank Stella, watched Nathan Barley. Well bum.

Hiroshima

On Aug 6th this year I will be flying back to the UK from Hiroshima. This year is the 6oth anniversary of the atomic bombing. There are all sorts of events planned in the city and in fact there is one any of you, wherever you are can get involved in - http://www.hiroshima2005.jp/ For the outsider the name Hiroshima probably conjures up only one thing, and I don't mean Okonomiyaki. Apart from the obvious sadness of that awful day its a bit of a shame for modern day Hiroshima (which is lovely) that it's almost only known for being destroyed. It's inevitable I suppose. You can be easily overwhelmed by the sadness of one of the most depressing days in history, the unleashing of such a destructive power onto Hiroshima and into the world at large. At my workplace however there were loads of pictures of tour groups ...mostly kids, cute smiles, peace signs, the A-bomb dome in the background. I started to think they had the right idea rather than me sombrely wandering round on my first visit. Hiroshima styles itself as an International city of Peace and the word is everywhere. It wasn't a word that sat comfortably with my former cynical British outlook, but in a way Hiroshima has reclaimed the word for me. It's people, it's kids, their kindness and the lack of aggression on the streets. Peace in a practical sense. I wonder if the same thing had happened to other countries how other cities and more importantly, how the people would have reacted.
Ironically Hiroshima is known as one of the roughest places in Japan with its Yakuza reputation and Bosozoku gangs and don't get me wrong, you won't find a city full of beautiful shaven headed androgonous beings in flowing robes communicating via sub bass, there are wankers everywhere. There is however a lot Europe could learn from here and the longer I stay away the less I think I could stand to worry about walking down certain streets on a weekend night for fear of 'looking at someone funny'.
So that's my tribute to Hiroshima for this Saturday. Recently I was ignored (not uncommon) by someone quite spectacularly until they left and said 'Peace' to me....reminded me a bit of Main Source's 'Peace is not the word to play'. Although, granted, that song is about people shooting people and then saying peace rather than being a bit unfriendly :)
Anyway give me a kid's big toothy smile and the same word anyday

Peace ('_')V


Sorry about that, this is supposed to be a music site....erm....getting a new computer very soon :geekheaven: Can't wait. Hifana have got a new album out soon too which I might just go and buy....oooooh. Check them out, they are very good, and if they play live near you...GO! They are amazing.

Oh and I'm now Uncle WC. My Sister had a beautiful baby girl, Elodie who I can't wait to meet.

Music 'n' stuff

New track is progressing ok. Shame I'm going back 'home' next week. A 2 week break and a new PC might get in the way of it. Still, musn't grumble...

Currently 'in rotation' (do mp3s rotate?) at the moment in the WC 'Pao' studios are The Perceptionists , 7 Notas 7 Colores , Reflection Eternal , the Herbaliser and some other people...all those links should take you to some (apparently) legal downloads of tracks from these marvelous artistes.

And that my friends is that :)

How low can you go?

WC has been a little unproductive of late. Thankfully last night I came up with a bassline which made me bounce up and down in my cheap office style computer chair. I happily let it loop around and around for ages too which is always a good sign. What I need now is a good bass sound. I like natural sounding basses...spose I should get myself a real bassist.

Saw the Spins again last week. Superb again. Wankers.

Back in the UK soon for a couple of weeks of Amsterdam, Brighton and er, Guildford action. Then it's back to Hiroshima and hopefully a few dates in town including the soon to be resurrected 'Nu Bassix'.

Umi no hi weekend

Been a busy weekend here in Hiroshima. The 3 day weekend saw a number of events kicking off with Felix's 3rd birthday party. Lots of pool action which was good as Tsuyu skulked off with a whimper whilst Summer arrived with all the subtlety of baseball bat. It was hot. And what better place to spend a boiling Sunday than a city centre 'garden' surrounded by concrete? That makes the Amnesty benefit sound horrible, which it wasn't. Pools for the kids, stalls for everyone and an awful lot of bands all (well most anyway) in aid of Amnesty International.

There was an excellent mix of bands throughout the day. Highlights for WC were the Spins, Aki of Akicool's 'other' band (sorry didn't get the name) and as always, Nekomushi. Talk to a lot of foreigners in Japan and they'll very often mock the music produced here. Which is strange when you look at the local scene here and see bands like the Spins wipe the floor with just about everyone. WC is fast becoming drummer Kiyo's number one fan. Add to that Bom's keyboard skills (how does he find the time to have a family, run a bar and be so good on keys and drums?) and the awesome scatching of Shimo and you have one of the best bands I've seen in a long time.

In the evening things moved on to Kembys for the dance party. Whilst the venue doesn't exactly lend itself to dancing, some of the bizarrest moves were on display. All that was missing was a handbag. Quite a lot of people seemed to be there though and what was important was the cause, Amnesty. It's a shame some people decided to avoid the party to drink elsewhere. Perhaps the 500 yen donation to AI was a bit steep or the prospect of not being able to listen to your own music for a night too much to bear. Despite that moan, it was a fun night.

A few photos of the day

Amnesty Party - Hiroshima - July 17th

First up, welcome to the blog. Secondly, it's only days until the next Windcheater night out, once again with GHb of Get Hiroshima fame, now going by the name of Little Foreigner. Check GH for details

It's Umi no hi the next day so we can party late without fear of early starts (or in my case Japanese lessons.....gomen Misa-sensei, WC has been a bad student recently) and as it's my birthday next week there'll be some very special mash ups for anyone at Kembys.