Category: Culture

Farewell Mr. Sakamoto

April 4th, 2023

Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Just found out last night that Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away and thought I needed to show my appreciation. I first came across his music via the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

I found them on Napster back when I thought I was a pirate trying to download the entire internet. I was way into techno and all kinds of electronica back then. Any kind, from any place.

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Rydeen

YMO sounded like the future – and also the past. It reminded me of my teenage years in the early ’80s, at the arcade. The ’80s were when I knew for certain that the future was coming. I think I still have a few of those tokens. Anyone remember those?

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Firecracker

YMO definitely put their stamp on the future, but Sakamoto was way more than that. He composed the soundtracks for numerous movies, including The Last Emperor and the Revenant. But what really blew me away was discovering songs from his soundtrack to Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, a movie Sakamoto appeared in, along with David Bowie.

I found that thanks to another of my musical heroes, David Sylvian, formerly of the group known as Japan. I followed Sylvian’s career after Japan. I really love his unique voice. Sylvian and Sakamoto collaborated more than once, but “Forbidden Colours” is the one that really turned me onto Sakamoto. Such a beautiful song.

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Ballet. Vocals are by Yoshiro Takahashi, who also passed away earlier this year. I definitely need to show him more love. I totally mistook his voice for Sylvian’s at first. Maybe that explains why he and Sakamoto were able to collaborate so well.

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Cosmic Surfin’. How cool is this? Wish I’d been there.
No sugar, no prize? Are you cereal?

April 3rd, 2023

I was just talking to my wife about what a cereal addict I was when I was a kid. I wanted anything that had a cartoon. Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Cap’n Crunch, Lucky Charms. All the monster ones, Count Chocula, Frankenberry, Booberry.

But we rarely got those. Dad was always trying to save money, so he’d buy generic cornflakes and fake Cheerios (anyone remember the generic stuff that came in a plain white box? Store brands weren’t a thing yet.).

G. Love & Special Sauce – Milk & Cereal

Then he’d pour it all in a clean, galvanized trash can and stir it all up. Any good cereal got lost in the mix. You had to dump a lot of sugar on it. If we were out we got into the baking stuff. Powdered sugar, honey, even Karo syrup.

One of my brother’s little friends was over one time and he asked if she wanted any cereal. She said, “Umm. My parents don’t let me eat out of trash cans.” LOL.

A few times I had to settle for Trix, also a disappointment. “Silly Rabbit tricks are for kids. That’s why we have you.” That’s what I thought when I saw those commercials.

DJ Yoda featuring Biz Markie – Breakfast Cereal

How are you gonna have a cartoon character and your cereal isn’t sweet? I knew what I was asking for was a bowl of candy, but I was a kid. I wanted to eat a bowl of candy.

It was also a disappointment if it didn’t come with a prize. Which caused fights of course. You’d wake up when it was still dark only to catch your brother in the kitchen, his hand at the bottom of the box, with the plastic trinket in his hand. Aha! Mine!

The only decent cereal my dad liked was a granola cereal called Heartland. He was basically eating crumbled up cookies for breakfast, but at least the art on the box made it look healthy. We usually ate it up before he got any. Sorry Dad.

One of my favorite things about being a bachelor. I’d to walk around in my apartment with my hand in box of Cap’n Crunch.

I’m allergic to most cartoon food nowadays, but Honey Nut Cheerios should work. They had a cartoon bee didn’t they?
Van Gogh as I want to think of him

April 2nd, 2023

Just figured out what’s happening in my “Starry Night with UFOs” T-shirt. The aliens are coming back to blast that village for being mean to their boy! Take that haters! Zzzzt!

I’ve always loved Van Gogh and his unique vision. I was an art student for two years, how could I not? I still don’t know if he’s been honored properly in recent times.

I like “American Pie,” but I’m frankly underwhelmed by Don McLean’s “Starry Starry Night.” It comes off kinda maudlin to me. I also wasn’t as impressed with the Doctor Who episode as my wife was, nor could I get into the Willem Dafoe movie.

I get the impulse we all have to try and make up for how shitty he was treated in his day, but the Doctor Who fantasy is not possible. He’s never going to know.

Maybe I have trouble with all the tributes. Of course his life makes a good, if sad, story. Who wouldn’t be interested? But I would focus on what he created, rather than how sad his life was.

That’s what he wanted. For people to look at his art and try to get it, not talk about his various humiliations.

I went to one of those traveling Van Gogh exhibits where they project his art on the wall and the floors. I still don’t know if it did him justice, but at least his art had the biggest part in the show.

What I see in Van Gogh is a challenge to creative people. How much are you willing to sacrifice to remain true to your vision? How much are you willing to compromise in order to be accepted? (Or as is increasingly the dilemma today, pay rent?)

He painted the way his soul demanded and gave up everything. Eventually it became impossible to ignore him.

I don’t like to like to dwell on “tortured soul” Vincent. I prefer to think of him as a badass.
A couple of experimental gems

March 31st, 2023

This is still International Trans Day of Visibility, so I thought I would share some musical awesomeness by some trans performers.

“Follow Sun Ra” is from the After the Flood 2 album, a really obscure project with experimental ambient and related music, although this one is a bit industrial. Scottish singer #CinderSharp from #Cindytalk is on vocals.

“Burning the Old Home” is from Psychic TV, featuring singer Genesis P-Orridge, who sadly left us in 2020. This song is so good I’m going to have to check out their whole catalog – that guitar solo at the end!
I remember you Avery, hope you got to wear that dress

March 31st, 2023

When I was around 7 or 8, there was a little kid I used to see in the nursery of our Southern Baptist church. I’ll call him Avery. Avery was about 4.

This was the early 70s in a small Texas town, typical Baptist church. Avery’s parents were decent and very active. I think the father was a former preacher.

When adults asked Avery what he wanted to be when he grew up, Avery would say, “I’m going to be a princess and have a pretty dress like Cinderella.”

You could tell it bothered them. “No you’re not. You’re going to be a handsome young man and have beautiful children.”

Avery would argue back. “No, I’m going to have a pretty dress like Cinderella.” As long as I knew Avery, the answer never changed.

I’m not one of those people who calls himself an “ally.” What the hell do I know about trans issues? I’m old. I used to be on the “wrong” side of politics. I use the wrong pronouns half the time.

But I know being transgender is not made-up, or sinister. I remember Avery and I know what I saw. I’ve since met other trans people – and they’re people, with hobbies and interests. They just want to live.

When I see all the cruelty directed toward trans kids and their families, I think of Avery and wonder if they’ve had a happy life. I’ll never know, but I hope Avery got to wear that dress and feel like a princess if that’s what Avery wanted.
When cultures find each other

March 30th, 2023

Two Indian uncles listen to psytrance music: Blastoyz – Mandala

Had to pass this along. This really made me smile this morning. So much joy. I get that feeling when I hear their music too. I like the little bit at the end.
Cannot get enough of the Oud

March 27th, 2023

“Repent you people repent half of the sins” with the Star of Tarab Kaddour Midoni – Alrashool. Relying on Google Translate again… I take it the performer’s name is Kaddour Midoni. Corrections from Arabic speakers welcome.

Just found another gem from people who I believe are Berbers living in part of Morocco.

I’m fascinated by the Nacer Records YouTube channel where I’ve been finding these treasures. I just know it’s full of culture and interesting music from that part of the world.

Too bad I understand almost none of it. Always the frustrated wannabe world traveler…

Tarab is apparently more than just a kind of music. It also involves a relationship with the audience. Definitely want to dig into that in the future. (How to stop going down new rabbit holes before I finish the first one?)

Ever since a co-worker turned me onto Middle Eastern Ensemble music in the ’90s, I’ve been fascinated by the instruments from other cultures – some resembling those we Americans and Europeans know, some not so much.

I love how they sound when tuned to non-Western scales. I love them all, but I can never resist the sound of the oud, the ancestor of the European lute, still in use all over North Africa and the Middle East. “Al oud” kinda sounds like “a lute,” doesn’t it?
Music from waaay before my time

March 26th, 2023

Peter Pringle – Lament For Gilgamesh on the Gold Lyre of Ur

A song about Gilgamesh sung in the original Sumerian on the Gold Lyre of Ur? That’s something I never expected to find. Fascinating stuff this man is doing.

Peter Pringle started his career as a thereminist, but has recently begun performing on recreations of ancient instruments and songs. Some of it has to be guessed at, but they know how the instruments would have sounded.

I’ve always been amazed at how long fragments of a culture can last. Apparently archeologists have uncovered more relics of Mesopotamian civilizations than I realized.

Check out more of his material on YouTube. He has songs from other traditions as well.

Here’s one in English. Old English, that is. He usually has the history of the song and instrument either in the video or in the description. I think this stuff is amazing. Take that, entropy!

Peter Pringle – Caedman’s Hymn on the Anglo Saxon Lyre.
Jazz meets science fiction

March 25th, 2023

I was never a big jazz listener until recently (long story), but even when I thought I hated jazz, The Comet is Coming would’ve hooked me. How am I going to resist a group that would name their album Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam, or have song titles like “Deep Within the Engine Deck.”

The Comet Is Coming – Technicolor

I’ve seen them called nu jazz and psychedelic jazz. To me their music sounds like just like their song titles – sci fi. They make very trippy and exciting music. Whatever it is, I’m sold.

Love the look of their website, and the blueprint/star chart theme on the cover of Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam, their latest album. Seems like a bold statement, like they’re the blueprint for others to follow.

I like the quote in their Wikipedia article about “aiming to destroy all musical ideals which are unfit for our purposes” looks like they do feel that way. Sounds like a band with a vision.

The Comet Is Coming – Neon Baby (Has Space 1999 clips!!)

The Comet Is Coming – Code
International Submarine Band

March 24th, 2023

I was sitting around, feeling kinda melancholy about the South, when I put on a country music playlist and wow, found Safe at Home, by The International Submarine Band.

Where has this album been all my life? I can be melancholy later. I have to play this album a few more times.

Turns out it’s one of Gram Parsons’ bands, from before he was in The Flying Burrito Brothers or the Byrds. I really need to dig into those.

Really love that mix of country and rock that some of those types put out in the 60s. Legit hippies, but still country in their souls.

Even now, living in the city I can’t forget the country and it’s music. Much as I spent my time there listening to rock and every other kind of music. This is has always been in my heart. I hope Willie never dies. Or Dolly. Never her!

International Submarine Band – Safe at Home