So after a long plane ride and too little sleep the night before, Jade and I are in San Francisco! Yeeeah!
We're staying at the Hotel Kabuki in the Japantown neighborhood. Had my first experience of Shabu-shabu at dinner tonight... which is basically when you cook thinly sliced meat and veggies in a pot of hot water right on your table... and then mix up the result with some yummy rice and sauces. Mmm. I must say, even though I don't usually care for Japanese food, this was pretty durn good. (Although my tummy is rumbling now... didn't fill me up all that much!)
Anyway, got me thinkin'... about dance music, naturally ;) I've got to hit the hay a little early tonight - seriously haven't slept in almost 48 hours, long story! - but in honor of our trip to San Fran and our stay here in Japantown, here are "4 for the Floor," a handful of must-have electronica tracks from Japanese artists. Check'em out, and clip the song titles to sample!
#4 - Cibo Matto - "Spoon"
Originally a duo of Japanese women - later to become a quintet - Cibo Matto was sort of a darling of the '90s indie scene. If Bjork moved towards minimalist trip-hop, it would sound like this. Well, "Spoon" is their best track, a funk-fused dose of groovy beats that wouldn't sound out of place on an American compilation of groovy, neo-soul beats.
#3 - DJ Krush feat. Esthero "Final Home (Piano Mix)"
Krush is probably the preeminent Japanese DJ, and he leans more towards rap than straight up dance. But "Final Home" trades hip-hop for trip-hop, a slow-burning electronica gem. Esthero lends her usual ambient vocals. Me likey!
#2 - Ayumi Hamasaki "M (Above & Beyond Mix)"
Ayumi comes off like the Japanese Madonna, a major pop music and fashion icon who has a huge amount of creative control over the marketing of her career. She has 29 #1 singles in Japan, and her music is remixed by some of the biggest names EVERYwhere. Take this #1 hit from an experimental trance album she released. It's remixed by Above & Beyond, and it's amazing! No, I have no idea what she's saying... but then again, half the time I can't entirely figure out what's being said in English dance songs ;)
#1 - Utada "Devil Inside (The Scumfrog Radio Mix)"
Though born in New York to Japanese parents, it was back in Japan that Utada has actually hit it big. If Ayumi is Japan's answer to Madonna, then this is their Britney... except, y'know, she's not bombed on sake all the time. Or if she is, she still manages to crank out some good music! Check out this awesome track, my favorite on the list!
Alrighty, off to bed... but I'll post another vacation-associated entry tomorrow, fear not ;)
JOHNNY
No comments:
Post a Comment