Feng's Distorted World : 鋒言鋒語

Zagar is a music band originating from Hungary and consists of Balázs Zságer aka Zagar (fender rhodes, keys, programming), Andor Kovács (guitar, bass), DJ Bootsie (scratches), and Tibor Lázár (drums). In the summer of 2002 they already played at many different festivals in Hungary and abroad as well under the name Zagar. After that they recorded their debut album "Local Broadcast". They are well established in the underground and indie music scene in Eastern Europe.



Seriously this track here does sound kindy jazzy. The elegant synths in the original version gives it that distinct and unmistakable lounge groove to it. This track blends nu-jazz with electronic waltzy-dance rhythms and has been on my list of top 10 lounge tracks for quite awhile. Anyways, the differences between the original track by Zagar and Sumo's remix are really interesting. Worth trying them out.

Zagar - Bossa Astoria
Zagar - Bossa Astoria (Eric Sumo remix)

Download the Music Video here:
Zagar - Bossa Astoria

Grab more of the band's MV's and mp3 at their official site here.

Due to popular demand I've decided to post the lyrics for "Endless Love I", the OST from Jackie Chan's new movie "The Myth". Do check out the movie and download the OST and MV here.

成:
解开我最神秘的等待
星星坠落风在吹动
终于再将你拥入怀中
两颗心颤抖
相信我不变的真心
千年等待有我承诺
无论经过多少的寒冬我决不放手
(韩)金:
现在紧抓住我的手闭上眼睛
请你回想起过去我们恋爱的日子
我们是因为太爱
所以更使得我们痛苦
我们连"爱你"这句话都无法讲
成:
每一夜被心痛穿越
思念永没有终点
早习惯了孤独相随
我微笑面对
相信我我选择等待
再多苦痛也不闪躲
只有你的温柔能解救
无边的冷漠
(韩)金:
现在紧抓住我的手闭上眼睛
请你回想起过去我们恋爱的日子
我们是因为太爱
所以更使得我们痛苦
我们连"爱你"这句话都无法讲
合:
让爱成为你我心中
那永远盛开的花
穿越时空绝不低头
永不放弃的梦
我们是因为太爱
所以更使得我们痛苦
我们连"爱你"这句话都无法讲
让爱成为你我心中
那永远盛开的花
我们千万不要忘记我们的约定
唯有真爱追随你我
穿越无尽时空
我们连"爱你"这句话都无法讲
成:
爱是心中唯一不变美丽的神话

Translation JC:
Release me from this mysterious waiting
The stars are falling; the wind is blowing.
Finally I can hold you in my arms.
Two hearts beating together.
Believe me that my heart is never-changing
Waiting a thousand years.
You have my promise.
Despite many bitter winters, I never let you go.
Kim:
Close your eyes and tightly grab my hands.
]Please recall the past - the days we were in love.
We loved each other too much,
It is sorrowful that we can't even say "I love you."
JC:
Every night my heart aches.
I never stop thinking of you.
I am used to being alone for such a long time
And I face it with a smile.
Believe me, I choose to wait.
Even though it's painful, I won't leave.
Only your tenderness can save me from the endless cold.
Kim:
Close your eyes and tightly grab my hands.
Please recall the past - the days we were in love.
We loved each other too much,
It is sorrowful that we can't even say "I love you."
JC and Kim:
Let love be a blossoming flower in our hearts.
We can pass through time, never bowing our heads,
And never giving up our dream.
Kim:
We loved each other too much,
That is the source of our pain.
It is sorrowful that we can't even say "I love you."
JC and Kim:
Let love be a blossoming flower in our hearts.
We can pass through time, never bowing our heads,
And never giving up our dream.
Kim (in Korean) and JC (in Chinese:
We never forget our promise.
Kim and JC:
Only true love follows us as we pass through time.
Kim:
We can't even say "I love you."
JC:
The love we have in our hearts is the only never-changing myth.

Pinyin

jie kai wo, zui shen mi de deng dai
xing xing zhui luo fong zai chui dong
zhong yu zai jiang ni yong ru huai zhong
liang ke xin chan dou

xiang xin wo bu bian de zhen xin
qian nian deng dai yao wo cheng nuo
wu lun jing guo duo shao de han dong
wo jue bu fang shou

ijen naye soneul chapgo neuneul kabwayo
uri saranghaeddon naldeud senggaghaebwayo
uri nomu saranghaesso apassod neyo
soro saranghangdan malgo motheson neyo

mei yi ye, bei xing tong chuan yue
sze nian yong mei you zhong dian
zao xhi guan le gu du xiang sui
wo wei xiao mian dui

xiang xin wo yi xuan ze deng dai
zai duo ku tong ye bu shan duo
zhi you ni de wen rou neng jie jiu
wu bian de leng mo

ijen naye soneul chapgo neuneul kabwayo
uri saranghaeddon naldeud senggaghaebwayo
uri nomu saranghaesso apassod neyo
soro saranghangdan malgo motheson neyo

rang ai cheng wei ni wo xin zhong
nai yong yuan sheng kai de hua
chuan yue shi kong jue bu di tou
yong bu fang qi de mong
uri nomu saranghaesso apassod neyo
soro saranghangdan malgo motheson neyo
rang ai cheng wei ni wo xing zhong
na yong yuan sheng kai de hua
uri sohjunghaedon yaksog
ijineun marayowei
you zhen ai zhui sui ni wo
chuan yue wu jin shi kong
soro saranghangdan malgo motheson neyo

ai shi xin zhong wei yi, bu bian mei li de shen hua

credits to yunnan.cn & jackiechan.com

Here's a Japanese female singer that writes and sings in a style that i really love. Her name is Tsuji Ayano (つじあやの）. She plays a ukelele and is well-known for singing the OST for Hayao Miyazaki's (宮崎駿) Studio Ghibli anime film Cat's Returns (猫の恩返し) - Kaze ni Naru (風になる, translation - I become the Wind）. She's not really that famous in Japan but her songs are really heart-warming, gentle and happy and her lyrics are really meaningful and sweet if you understand them. And when combined with the delicate twang of her ukulele she makes those qualities uniquely hers. She was born and grew up in the historic city of Kyoto and was a folk fan in high school and throughout college. Tsuji Ayano debuted on the indie scene in 1998 and some fateful meetings with the right people led to her commercial debut and steadily growing popularity.

Generally I feel so free and happy after listening to her tracks. I listen to her tracks the night before I sit for exams and sumhow they worked. I really like her tracks Tsuki ga Naiteru (月が泣いてる, translation - The Moon Cries） and Arikitari na Romansu (ありきたりなロマンス, translation - Ordinary Romance) from her wonderful album Ren Ren Fu Ka (恋恋風歌）. Her cover of Disney's "When you Wish upon a Star" which is sang in Japanese is also really nice and is included in the double CD album "Cover Girl".



Her new single entitled Autumn and Winter is released on the 5th of October. Do listen to a sample of some of her tracks at Speedstar here. (Streaming Media)

Tsuji Ayano - Kaze ni Naru

Tsuji Ayano - Yubikiri (From her new single)

She refers to herself in the first person, as "Boku"（僕） and second person as "Kimi"（君） in many of her songs. Generally it is impolite for girls to use "Boku". "Boku" is mainly used by boys to refer themselves although most modern japanese girls also use "Boku" in this age. So her lyrics would sound as if a little boy is singing for his sweetheart.

Please check Tsuji Ayano out, her music won't dissapoint you, I promise you!

Here are some unofficial english translated lyrics of her songs. Do visit her official site at Speedstar Records here and don't forget to check out her official blog here which she updates pretty frequently. Sorry it is available in Japanese only.

here's a little poem i wrote while listening to Andain - Beautiful Things(Gabriel & Dresden Remix).


Timeless Memories

So many beautiful things,
I don't want to forget,
counting on the many blessings,
and wonderful people I’ve met.

Stories from yesterday,
remain as forever moments,
Tales from a bygone day,
remain as precious presents,

Reminiscing in the past,
for that I have done,
Yet time passes too fast,
and that I’ve missed the fun.

The seasons go by ever so swiftly,
but alas, you cannot cry,
Because Time is just simply,
Passing us with a sigh.

The past has left us.

*rethink*

So many beautiful things,
I don't want to forget,
but Time does the weavings,
leaving things to be set.

I'm paddling in the waves of time,
searching for memories;
Only wishing I could get a rhyme,
but lost in the reveries.

Never will I look back again
Crying tears, confusing fears,
They’ll heal any pain,
before I’ve passed many years.

The wheel of Time continues its spin,
memories ever fading and emerging.
But we know that its already a win,
for indeed life itself is a blessing.

The future lies beyond us.

I'm back!!.....zzzzzz...... so sleepy....been cramming in few hours of study for the past few days...darn, my finals are just around the corner....Anyways, today's track is a beautiful classical piece, so should take off most of the stress.

Anna Chepikova, a Russian born pianist teaches & plays in virtually any style from classical Masterpieces by Bach, Mozart, Debussy, Chopin, Tchaikovsky to contemporary jazz, Christian & pop. This concert pianist and music teacher is extremely versatile in all the different styles of music she plays. Incredibly diverse, elegant, classy, and jazzy at times. The piano solo here is a classic by Pachelbel, yet she plays it in such a distinct style.

Visit her official site here.



Anna Chepikova - Canon in D(Pachelbel)

I just managed to watch Ryuichi Sakamoto's Japan Tour 2005 at Zepp Tokyo on NHK World TV this afternoon. It was truly brilliant. Mr Sakamoto did a live performance using a Yamaha grand piano, a mac, and other electronic music instruments. (Pioneer CDJ 1000mk2, Roland drum synths, a Korg Kaoss Pad KP2 and i think what was a Akai MPC) Ryuichi Sakamoto is an internationally reknowned Japanese composer and producer of classical, ethnic, and usually electronic music. He composed the Oscar award winning scores for movies "The Last Emperor" and "Sheltering Sky". He has also composed scores for the opening of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Recently, mobile phone maker, Nokia hired Sakamoto to produce ringtones for the Nokia 8800. His music is often described as groundbreaking and genre-crossing. His ability to blur the lines between the genres of music that he produces is what makes his tracks so special and highly acclaimed by music critics worldwide.

The track featured here is "World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)", live performed on 25 July 2005 in Zepp Tokyo by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Steve Jansen, Christian Fennesz, and David Sylvian. Vocals by reknowned singer and songwriter David Sylvian is just right. More about Mr David Sylvian in my future reviews. Extremely soulful and with a minimalistic touch to it. The track also features mellow drum beats and soft electronic bass rhythms combined with a gentle piano playing in the background to give it that relaxing atmosphere. Downright brilliant.

Also, download a FREE copy of the screensaver of his album BTTB (Back to the Basics) here.

Do check out Mr Sakamoto's site here for more news and his discography.



Ryuichi Sakamoto - World Citizen (Live at Tokyo 2005)

Okay....i was bored....*wink*....Found this great site with tons of experimental games that are constantly being developed..A ton of great stuff here. I tried playing this game "Tower of Goo" where you have to build a gooey tower higher and higher without toppling over...Great idea about this experimental gameplay project, and it gained a lot of exposure from the gamers and people in the game industry. Rules for the games involved in this project is:
each game must be made in less than 7 days
each game must be made by one person, including all art, sound, and programming
each game must be based around a certain "toy" ie. "gravity", "vegetation", "swarm", etc.

Download a copy of the game "Tower of Goo" here.
Do check out the site here.

WOOHOO!! ipod video has just been released by Apple.



This latest installment of the excessively popular ipod family now plays videos. The 30GB and 60GB models loads up to 15,000 songs, full-color album art and up to 25,000 photos. It also supports up to 150 hours of video with its 2.5-inch color LCD display. Meaning you could catch your favourite TV shows on the ipod.

It connects out through an option TV-out cable (which I imagine is just a good ol’ 1/8”-to-Triple-RCA adpator), or you can do s-video through a dock connector. It will also interface with the new Apple Remote to allow couch-potato viewing.

Apparently, current versions of the iPod Photo can play video, it’s just disabled at the moment. So an iPod firmware update should ostensibly enable video playback on a model you already own.

The iTunes music store will sell music videos for $1.99 apiece, and TV shows for the same – $2 an episode.

The 30GB model retails for $299 and 60GB retails for $399.

Check it out at Apple's official site here.

Whoa!! Finally managed to get the OST for "The Myth". The CD was just released for about a week and was practically sold out in the first two record stores i went to(Fantasy & Speedy Video). The next batch would only arrive on Thursday, and that's not guaranteed. Heck, i went to Tower Records and finally found it there! It was the last copy on the cd shelf!! Managed to listen to the Chinese version of "Endless Love". Its called "Endless Love II". Great vocals by Sun Nan and Han Hong in this track but i don't really like the harmony they changed. I prefer the original harmony from "Endless Love I". Really impressive music by Nathan Wang and Gary Chase. Extremely mature and deep production here. Best track in the CD apart from "Endless Love" is probably "The Last Stand". This was the track that was used as the background music when General Meng Yi was fighting to his death. Another notable track is "Reunited", this track is like a choir & strings version of "Endless Love". =)

Definately worth every cent i paid for the CD. GRAB THIS CD NOW!!

You can listen to a FREE copy of the themesong "Endless Love" here.

OMG, i'm seriously having a BIG addiction to "Endless Love".....been listening to the same track for more than 20 times a day for the past 3 days!!! 死啦！係唔係好恐佈咧？.......gosh!!!.....its one of those songs that i listen over over and over again without getting bored. Another one of these is "CASSHERN"'s "The Last Day" by Shiro Sagisu......that one the addiction's actually worse but i've gotten over it now....HPing says there's this other full Chinese version of "Endless Love" but the male vocals are much better cuz they're not sung by Jackie. I'll try digging them out. In the mean time, do download the addictive track "Endless Love" here and see if you have the same side-effects as i have.

Anyways, back to today's review here, sorry for ranting and any inconvenience caused. =)

Rene Breitbath, a reknowned veteran of the textone.org community gives you another great dose of minimal, tech house with his track "125". Basically same rift throughout the entire track, similiar to many other minimal tracks but a great subtle bassline combined with a decent and catchy hook merge seamlessly to create a great tech house track here and is something that really deserves to be on vinyl. The track is a bit softer than most tech house tracks and not really dancefloor friendly, but it is just ideal as an intro track for funky house sessions. This track is featured on the "Designated Drivers Compilation" on textone.



Rene Breitbath - 125

I find the following article extremely amusing:


You see, a girl is just like a book. In fact the lead up to all relationships can be analysed based on this side by side comparison.

Face it - every book is judged by its cover. If the book cover looks nice and new, you would probably be tempted to walk over and pick it up. A book cover that is badly designed shows that the author didn't really make an effort.

Then again there are other forces in play. If the book was written by a famous author or the title is different and catches your eye, then if you have time in the bookstore you would most likely pick up the book.

That's when you walk over.

Then maybe, just maybe the cover design is interesting enough to make you want to find out more about the book. So what do you do? You flip over to the back cover to read the blurb.

That's when you say hello, let the introductions begin.If the blurb is interesting then like any experienced book buyer you would squat down the aisle and flip the pages. If it looks promising you would walk to the provided benches in the bookstore to read the first couple chapters.

That's when you take her out on dates.

If you like what you have read so far, then how? Buy the book to read at home la...

That's when you develop a relationship with her.

If the book is good, you would probably introduce it to your friends. But all hell breaks loose if they 'borrow' your copy and you never see it again. So how? Tell them to buy their own copy la.

Some books remain favourites even when they are old and tattered. These people are called loyal readers. You want my copy of LOTR? Go f*ck yourself.

Some people buy the books then sell it off after they read it. These people are called 'playboys'.

Some people leave the books on the shelf never to be read again for the rest of their lives. These people are called 'married'.

Then my very philosophical friend who gave me the opening lines on this older post said,

"Even bad books are sacred, and therefore precious."

What is the moral of the story?

Original article here


...hahahah...=)

Matthew Herbert, a British DJ and producer of modern house who is also known as Radio Boy, Wishmountain, and Doctor Rockit, released "Leave Me Now" in 2001, and is the first single to bereleased from the forthcoming album "Bodily Functions", the long-awaited follow-up to 1998's "Around the house".

His music often incorporates organic sounds and samples of various noises from everyday life. This track features extremely light, soulfull and sublime house beats combined with a late night twist to the melody. Mainly jazz, but set in a house framework, is what that sets this track apart from other house/jazz contemporaries. The track features some great vocals from Dani Siciliano. Herbert sets theses vocals amid a sparse click track tenderly augmented with a nearly inaudible synth pad and an occasional piano chord. Grab more of his stuff from epitonic.com and his official site here.



Herbert - Leave Me Now

"tripped out weirdness with a great beat" -Score, Baby!

"an alcohol-induced fantasy album perfect for cocktail party-turned-orgy" -Supersphere

"a retro-futurist space odyssey" -Sleazenation (#8)

This is another one of my favourite tracks from one of my favourite electronic music groups of all time. What would the titles "Zero-Gravity Miniskirt" and "Inter-Sexual Overdrive" induce thoughts of? WIERD STUFF, ISN'T IT?

Seksu Roba's music is seemingly digital and extremely post-modern yet sometimes retro, funky electronic. The Korean/Japanese/US music group is based in Los Angeles and features Japanese artist/designer/vocalist Lun*na Menoh and Korean producer/thereminist Sukho Lee. The two met through Los Angeles' underground electronic scene and they produce great electronic music. Using theremin, mini-moog, and micro-processor based technology, they create space groove electro-love vibrations that expand the mind and libido while massaging the soul - provocative pop and instrumental music that can be appreciated by electronic music fans, DJ's, pop music fans, and anyone who just enjoys fun, eclectic music.

The track combines bubbling synths with a piano playing a funky jazz rift and a digital-ish bassline squishing subtly in the background. All playing in sub bossa nova and compound tempo. Great sci-fi odyssey into deep space-age rhythms. Kinky kinkish electronic/digital vibes and extremely groundbreaking. Seksu Roba's music is both delicate and ingenious. SUPERB STUFF!! Download more of Seksu Roba's tracks here.












Seksu Roba - Zero Gravity Miniskirt

Seksu Roba - Inter-Sexual Overdrive

Great lounge music here by underground Japanese duo Neutrino, Atsuhiro Murakami and Hideki Kuroda, similiar to the likes of DJ Krush, and Seksu Roba. Perfect track for chilling out in a lounge after a wild night of psychadelic trance out at many of Tokyo's clubs. Neutrino's music is simple yet elegant, minimal and inspires feelings that are predominantly neutral. Repetitive at times, but not annoyingly so, with chilly-chill hip-hop beats and gentle analog quasi-melodies. No vocals used, but Murakami and Kuroda make good use of the vocal samples. Extremely infectious balance of late night downtempo grooves and hip hop beats with this track. GRAB IT NOW!!



Neutrino - Syupaman

Managed to watch Jackie Chan's new Movie "The Myth" (神話) this afternoon. I'm usually not a big fan of Jackie Chan films but my friends decided to watch so i tagged along anyway. Wasn't exactly a great movie but since it had certain aspects that i pretty much liked, i decided to run a review on it anyway. This new JC film is directed by internationally-reknowned Hong Kong director Stanley Tong （唐季禮). Great cinematography by the art director. Especially the decapitating scene. Editing and transition of scenes are good. Most notably between the modern day parts and the parts from Qin dynasty. You don't get the feeling of watching two separate films. Good use of background music, notably in the fight scenes. Jackie's fight scenes in ancient Qin were extremely heroic and dramatic. OST was nice. More about the OST a bit later in this article. CG animation of Emperor Qin(秦始皇)'s levitating mausoluem is crude and a bit off today's industry standard. Jackie Chan pretty much keeps his standards in his fight stunts this time but stunning performance by Korean actress Kim Hee Seon and Tony Leung Ka Fai. I love Chinese history and i must give credit to Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong for making a fictatious account but still sticking to pretty much of the original historical plot based on decpiction of the Qin dynasty by the first true Chinese historian Ssu Ma Chien(司馬仟).





Jackie Chan plays the part of Jack and General Meng Yi（蒙毅）. Jack is portrayed as an Indiana Jones styled adventurer that helps his friend, William with science research. Jack also has dreams about General Meng Yi, a general from the Qin dynasty in ancient China during the reign of China's first emperor Qin Shi Quang Di, and Ok Soo, a concubine of the Emperor. She is portrayed by reknowned Korean actress Kim Hee Seon.

In actual history, General Meng Yi was sentenced to death by the evil imperial eunuch Zhao Gao (趙高) as the general was accused for treason and did not die in battle as portrayed in the movie. General Meng Yi was a reputable general and a faithful supporter of Fusu(扶蘇), the first son of Qin Shi Huang(秦始皇). Zhao Gao supported Hu Hai(胡亥), the Emperor's second son and therefore conspired with Li Si (李斯), the Imperial Secreteriat to falsify the Emperor's will and Fusu to commit suicide and stripped the command of troops from General Meng Tian (蒙恬）, brother of General Meng Yi. Zhao Gao hated the Meng brothers and using the hands of Hu Hai, now the Second Emperor, he forced Meng Tian to commit suicide and killed Meng Yi. Also, the potion of immortality was never actually created. This is the period of Chinese history that is most extensively researched by Chinese Historians. Do read more about the history of the Qin Dynasty and Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di here (Chinese only) and check out the page about Qin on Wikipedia.

我覺得秦代歷史係中國歷史最值得研究的一部份. 因為秦始皇對中國日後既文化有深遠影響. 秦始皇統一六國,推出新既中國文字 - (出自李斯的小篆), 為以後中國既發展奠定基礎. 加上秦始皇又建造宏偉的兵馬俑, 秦皇陵, 阿房宮以及萬里長城, 實在係中國歷史上前無古人,后冇來者。。

Notably, i would like to mention that most of the parts in the movie was based on actual history. Emperor Qin Shi Huang did create his own grand mausoluem, although probably not floating. Nonetheless, many scholars have heralded it as "The Eighth Wonder of The Ancient World". The Emperor began building his tomb at the age of 13 immediately after his coronation. However, the tomb was never excavated due to the lack of funds and technology of preserving the tomb by the Chinese officials. Other scholars view this as an excuse to cover up the fact that Emperor Qin's tomb was looted years ago by grave robbers. The giant crossbows and arrows used as defense system in the mausoluem and the rivers of mercury in which William died was also depicted by the historian Ssu Ma Chien. General Meng Yi's sword and armour were based on those of a Terracota Army General. The horse carriages in the mausoluem were even based on archaological findings in Xian, China near the Emperor's true mausoluem. Below is a picture of the actual bronze carriages (銅車馬) they excavated in 1975. See the resemblance to the animated props in the movie?

Movie plot is imaginative and original even though based on actual history. I've seen many film directors and Chinese novel writers use the same piece of history for their plots but I've never seen it presented this way. What I didn't like was probably some of the CG effects that were being used, for instance the mausoluem. Also I think its a bit hard to understand the plot if you don't know about the historical side of the story. I've heard people say that you have to either be a Chinese or be a scholar in Chinese History to fully understand the movie. People who don't have a certain knowledge about Chinese culture and history would probably find it confusing about certain parts in the movie. Also, it might also feel wierd for Jackie Chan to star in films with a romantic plot. Verdict? Good and decent film overall, but several factors might undermine it. Otherwise, it could be a PERFECT film. Could be better.

其實都真係幾好睇GA!!只不過D唔熟識中國文化D人可能唔係幾明呢部電影想交待D什麼。。如果鍾意成龍大哥既電影同中國歷史，大家不妨去睇睇呢部戲。











You can also visit "The Myth"s official site here for latest news, see photos, and watch a trailer from the film.

The beautiful theme song from the movie is called Endless Love and is sung in Chinese and Korean by Jackie and Kim. You can view the music video here and download it here.