Beasts from the East (Touyou Kanon 東洋神音)

The Ladies of Red Bacteria Vacuum

In this Summer installment, Sean is your guide as we burrow through a good portion of underground rock, and find out about some Beasts who’ve dented the mainstream, namely James Iha of A Perfect  Circle, and more notably, The Smashing Pumpkins.  While you won’t hear in this episode, you should know that Mr. Iha’s expanded his solo resume with composition work for some soundtracks for Nippon films, such as the movie “Linda Linda Linda”

What we know of underground J-music here is again due to the debt of the bodacious Tom Melesky and his Underground Terrarium.  You can learn a bit more about Tom HERE, via a freshly baked Touyou Kanon innovation—-A Beastly Profile!

You’ll hear tunes from NACANO and Red Bacteria Vacuum (who toured with Iha and crew in A Perfect Circle over the summer and rocked The Tabernacle in Atlanta), and more.

A caller gets his hankerin’ for Clive Tanaka y Su Orquesta, and expands our set with some big band salsa flavor.  The much ballyhooed THEMATIC Horror Music gets a little shine via a Kenji Kawai composition from the movie “Dark Water.”

“Blue Seed” fans, the opener to the show is featured in this episode!

Click the Play button below and go under, above, thru, bextwixt, the ground of the Rising Sun land music world with us!

Beasts 7/30/11 Show

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The "Blue Seed" anime crew (the opening track by Takada Band is on today's show)

Smashed Pumpkin Fragment, Perfected Circle Portion, "Linda Linda Linda" soundtrack guru James Iha

Cover of 1998 "Your Hot Lips/Keep In Touch" maxi-single by Cheyenne

Make It Ruff……Nah, Make It Smooth

The title for today’s episode waltzes between the above tangents of style, and comes from the name of a song by a famous West Coast rap star cum actor (more on him later)  We’ll use both descriptive terms for a breakdown of the mood.

RUFF + SMOOTH–We kick off the set with a cross-coastal collaboration between Nippon R&B vocalist Cheyenne doing a remix of one her songs with production aid from the NYC camp Da Beatminerz off a ’98 maxi-single.  They’ve touched everything from the Boot Camp Clik (including Black Moon, and 2000’s superstar Sean Price), Mark “Return of the Mack” Morrison, Eminem, and many more. Their signature pound of sound vibes well with Cheyenne’s teasing vocals. It’s ruff sound and smooth singing.

SMOOTH–The warm blanket of Salyu’s voice is pure cream over the next world electro sounds of “VALON,” her duet with the hip MC Illmari of group Rip Slyme.  Toshi Kubota croons his way into the heart of today’s show with a track from his 2002 “United Flow” album, perfectly titled “Heaven”

SMOOTH–You’ll hear some contempo jazz from the ever reliable Kaori Kobayashi, island funk from MUTE BEAT also.

RUFF–returns in the form of MOLICE , followed by the sizzling big band pomp of all-girl unit Pistol Valve.  Antic Café and moja, both recommendations from our friend Tom Melesky of Tom’s Underground Terrarium bring the heat in rock form.

RUFF—and there’s a knockout punch of a closeout from Nippon hip-hop icon Zeebra (MC of the pioneer J-rap group King Giddra).  He does a well executed remake of the often remade “Jackin 4 Beats” by Ice Cube—a sequence of rhyming over other artists’ beats as proof of the microphone massacre skills that are integral to the modern day MC in rap.

Be it ruff, be it smooth or any other category, we keep things on the go here at Touyou Kanon Central.  Thanks for keeping it proper with us on the Beastside!

Tracklist:

Beasts 7/16 Show

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The cover to Lena Fujii's "1st Collection" album

The Touyou Kanon summer continues in its heated stride with today’s set featuring a few chillers from Hiroshima and Kenji Kawai (Ranma 1/2, Dark Water).  Cindy, Flip, Pizzicato Five, Elekibass and more on this set!

We talk about some Japanese culture events going in the Atlanta area, and the Facebook love we’re getting (and giving)!  “Pretty Time” is discussed in the form of a gorgeous arrangement of a track from the equally gorgeous model/J-Pop upstart lady Lena Fujii.

There’s a smokin’ cover of a Bill Withers tune by Kimiko Kasai to round up with funk on the show that follows ours, “Flowers in the Attic” hosted by DJ Mahogany.

Enjoy!

To see the tracklist for this podcast, click HERE

Beasts 7/9/11 Show

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Nathan and Laurel jump in the leaves

Kids Hour 10/28 Show

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HIROSHIMA (Goin' in with East Meets West World Music Since 1974)

This can be called a “Goin’ In” episode.  The station was closed, we flicked on the Beasts Central lights, and started Goin’ In

For further clarification, check out this definition from Urbandictionary.com

Goin In – To beast at something (contributed by quincymaynedewayne 12/31/09)

Sean’s at the DJ pit, and goes in for a good half-hour (beginning with the bodacious Beastly Medley megamix).   Yoshida Brothers, Hiroshima, Kimiko Kasai, Yasuko Agawa, Three Lights, DoCo, and COMPLEX.  They are each reliable heavy hitters to go in with.

Enjoy the madness!

Here’s the tracklist

Beasts 7/2/11 Show

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From here on, the wonder of Beasts From the East will be touching down more intimately in the Classic City.  We’re taking the show from the studio to the streets.  Specifically the streets of GO BAR (195 Prince Ave) with a series events under the moniker CLUB BEASTS.

Our sonic sojourn is taking us from the airwave confines of 90.5fm and Beasts Central to the hottest nightspot in Athens.  And we couldn’t be happier!

It’s the same mission—Awesome Diety Power Level Music of all styles from Japan.  But for clubgoers out there, it’ll be dance-centric.

Some of the material is from artists we’ve played, others from artists we’ve haven’t.  Old artists.  New artists (including some of the folks we’ve been promoting, like SAWAS PHOOL and Shinji Yamasaki, who’ve provided new material for this shindig).

The event is running through the Beasts Facebook page.  We’ve done one Club Beasts already, which was quite well received.  We are flyering the beejezus out of it to let folks know.  Here’s a piece of promotional artwork from the first Club Beasts.

Stay tuned!

I'm just playing games....I know that's plastic loooooooove........

The summer season of 2011 at WUOG is officially christened with this episode of “Beasts,” the start of The Beastly Summer II.  Sean/S.O.S. is on duty today, making an introduction over the tune “Early Summer” by Ryo Fukui.  (Side note: It was sampled in the O.C. song “Word Life” for the hip-hop saavy heads out there).  From there, the triumphant horns of Shinsuke Kikichi characteristic Dragon Ball Z original episode intro flips into the “Mega Man 2″ theme.

You’ll hear an hour of revolving genres of J music.  The key is transition, and many sources are employed to make the mix memorable for your ears.  Video games, anime, crossover instrumentals (including a song by Motown’s The Brothers Johnson, crafters of the timeless “Strawberry Letter #23″—their song here features June Kuramoto of the Japanese-American jazz/funk fusion group Hiroshma), prizefighter pop (AKB48 keeps it catchy and simple in “Baby Baby Baby”), Shibuya-Kei surf and turf rolas (Three Cheers For Side, with a track from their debut album), remix pizzazz (DJ Kota puts some extra oomph on the song “Bomber” by the great Tatsuro Yamashita), punching hip-hop (hime and Gagle), Balladry With Rap Vocals and Industrial Beat Accompaniment (Salyu and Ilmari from Rip Slyme—it’s worth a perusal), Modern Rock with Flair (L’Arc En Ciel)—-you find all of this and a touch more in today’s Stew of Sound from the Shores That Served The Storied (Kyu) Sakamoto The Siren Song of Sukiyaki (R.I.P.)

You’ll hear a song by Mariya Takeuchi (the wife/collaborator of Tatsuro Yamashita) called “Plastic Love.”  The name of the album it’s featured on sums what we want to deliver with the music we play here on “Beasts”:  VARIETY

The remainder of the Beastly Crew is present in track by track spirit, so the 2nd Summer of Touyou Kanon is propelled by an ever-present communion of musical commerce.

We hope you enjoy this episode.  Beasts From the East—even at an hour short, still as much a feast for the ears.

The tracklist for this episode can found by clicking HERE

Beasts 6/25/11 Show

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Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

The first full year of “Beasts” comes to a wrap in this installment.  In the house are Jamie, Koty, Lina, and Sean.  It starts with a throwback of 1987 East Meets West fusion from Hiroshima.

The foursome do a handoff of songs, ranging from ska (Tokyo Ska Paradise), superhero garage comic rock (Peelander-Z), metal (Deathgaze), elegant high tempo period composition (Yuki Kajiura with a piece from the soundtrack to the anime series “Pandora Hearts”), and more!

You’ll hear commentary and reflections from the Touyou Kanon foursome on the music and the times shared.  It’ll speak for itself.

Enjoy!  The Summer podcasts are on the way!

For a look at this episode’s tracklist, click HERE

Beasts 4/30/11 Show

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X-Japan (Needs no further words)

Welcome once again to a stroll down the Beastside!  Today’s podcast gets off to a grand start with a Joe Hisaishi instrumental from “Princess Mononoke” and is followed in the relay of epic scope with a collaboration between Hokkaido’s mixmaster/producer guru DJ Honda and the Brentwood, Long Island (NY) hip-hop duo, EPMD.    Honda has a rep in the states with his self-titled compilation series, which features his booming beats glossed over by the hungriest MCs the US can provide (Fat Joe, De La Soul, Mos Def, Biz Markie, etc)—we have featured some of his work on the show and will continue to.   Today’s track is from “DJ Honda IV”.  On his home front, Honda has worked with female MC Hime.  She’s signed to his label, DJ Honda Records.

DJ Honda alongside some famous DJs/producers (Scratch, Premier) and EPMD at set of BET's "Rap City" program

In today’s show, Sean and the industrious Jamie (working on some background stuff as he sometimes does) are joined by Kainien Morel for a 120 minute Awesome Diety Power Level set.

You’ll hear a phat R&B/hip-hop crossbreed remix of a Coma-Chi single by DJ Hasebe, the mellow mi-tempo thump of a jam from Star Trak signee talent Manami, a worldly instrumental from trio Rin’, uncrackable metalcore from Myproof, with a side of engaging boy band pop of the “The Boss” brand.  This is all just icing on the cake though!

On a more thoughtful note, you’ll hear a piece of the interview that Jamie and Koty did with Mr. Dan Orlowtiz, a journalist/translator/teacher who was in Japan during the Sendai earthquakes.  In an earlier post here on the blog, you’ll get the full interview.

On the anime tip, you’ll hear some songs from Revolutionary Girl Utena and Sakura Tiesen(Sakura Wars)(one of the many versions of the theme song—for a Sega Saturn game), and Project A-Ko 3: Cinderella Rhapshody.

What must also be mentioned is that X/Japan prior to this podcast made the announcement of their first European tour official.  We discuss this, and play a tune from their legendary discography.

Whether old or new to you, the musical merriment we provide shall be welcome company to your ears.  We hope you enjoy, and click the Play button below.  Cheers/Kampai!

For a rundown of all the songs played on this installment, click HERE

Beasts 4/23 Show

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Much like the Offense and Defensive lineups head-to-head competition at G-Day (which happened during this broadcast), the music today is a highly accomplished scrimmage of super stylized sonics.  The coaching staff is Sean/DJ S.O.S. and DJ Diamond.  Today’s playbook has some sneak plays from our assistant Kainien (friend/fellow J-music fan/UGAnime member).

It’s a 2-hour run awaiting you here, which starts up with the full-on-eardrums blitz of some Sonic The Hedgehog compositions by a trio of soundworkers  (Masato Nakamura with a Sonic 2 track, and the opening kickoff being a joint effort from Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata)

The ladies of Pistol Valve get down in their multi-instrumental jamming way as well on the nickel and dime route.

Pigskin language aside, you’ll hear some tunes from Okino, Honey Sac, Jazz Liberatorz, and Perfume (with a remix to one of their songs from DJ Amaya) to throw a little poster of the roster your way.  You’ll also hear the Japanese theme to Dragon Ball Z.  It’s quite the departure from the U.S. “Rock the Dragon” opener, and has a lightheartedness about it that captures the fun of the Dragon Ball series that preceded it.

It’s business (and pleasure) as usual at Beasts Central.  Click on down to get down!

To see a list of the songs that were played on this episode, click HERE

Beasts 4/16/11 Show

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