NEGATIVLAND - Gimme the Mermaid

Ahh, the sweet sweet sound of copyright infringement. Plunderphonic superstars Negativland, formed in 1980, was busy sampling other peoples work before the term sampling was even around. Conceptually from dadaesque nonsense beginnings, the random sampling collages began to take on a life of it's own. Mark Holser of the group talks about Negativland's evolution in an interview shot at Creative Electric Studios after the opening of a Negativlandland exhibition in Minneapolis.

Negativland's most infamous project was the U2 record (often referred to as 'The Letter U and the Numeral Two') with samples from 'America's Top 40' host Casey Kasem ranting between takes in the studio. In 1991, Negativland released a single with the title 'U2' displayed in very large type on the front of the packaging, and 'Negativland' in a smaller typeface. An image of the Lockheed U-2 spy plane was also on the single cover.

U2's label Island Records sued Negativland claiming that the 'U2' violated trademark law, and the song itself violated copyright law. Island Records also contended that the single was an attempt to deliberately confuse U2 fans, then awaiting Achtung Baby.

'Gimme the Mermaid' (2002) is a short from the group, with help from Disney animator Tim Maloney, who created this using his employer's equipment after hours. 'Mermaid' combines the sound of a music industry lawyer with the voice of the Little Mermaid and Negativland's helium-tinged cover of Black Flag's 'Gimme Gimme Gimme.' The video appears on the band's release, No Business, available via Stay Free!

THE PANCAKES - 越過高山 (Cross the Mountain)

Hong Kong has a cool music scene, I just KNOW it! I'd love to spend a few years kicking it HK because of the nightlife in a city that truly never sleeps and never stops. They say if you left Hong Kong for a month, you wouldn't recognize it when you got back. For all that hustle and bustle it may not be so surprising that much of the music scene is lo-fi and chilled right out. All that craziness out there it's easy to want to escape behind the headphones of an iPod.

The Pancakes, often solo - always fronted by a girl simply known as Dejay, is a great example of this urban escape. Formed in 1999, Dejay's music and lyrics are simple (usually in English), soulful and saccharine yet not cloying. Her music is often used in commercials in Hong Kong. Dejay, truly independent, is usually responsible for all musical composition,writing, instrument performance, singing, recording and production of her albums. Dejay plays various musical instruments such as the guitar, keyboard and drum. And once in a while she may do a ditty with the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

The singer seems inclined to keep her identity a secret only going by the name Dejay (I happen to know her surname is Choi) and keeping her website free of any photos of herself. Even the video, in which she appears, obscures her face with an image of the moon. It's too bad because the girl's very pretty but I guess the music isn't about being a pop diva so the sensibility reflects her personality.

NEL HATE (Aka. Paranel) - Ee-Mu Remix Album

No video today, but I have a free album for you to download! Many Japanese people have told me that there is not much of an underground hip hop scene in Japan. As an outsider that doesn't limit himself to any particular genre, I was very curious to find what allegedly could not be found.

Nel Hate was introduced to me by a German friend, Moorieman, who has never been to Japan and despite all my efforts knows more about Japanese music than I ever will. Moorieman is my god and the reason why file sharing is not only a good thing but vital to the music industry.

A short review of Nel Hate's full-length debute CD, Dobutsutachi No Ensoukai (Concert of Animals), can be found at SeekJapan. Don't let the Sam & Dave banner ads fool you, this site reviews some of Japan's more interesting, obscure bands, its worth a look. Paranel, in true independent hip-hop fashion, also does all the artwork for the albums. He also seems to try to integrate live painting at his performances. As compelling as some of his images are, it seems to run the risk of being overly art-faggy at a hip hop show. This is more of a side than a real criticism because I haven't personally seen him live.

The remixes done by Ee-mu, are taken from all four of Nel Hates major album releases. In most cases, the original mixes are more suited to Paranel's lyrical styling and off-key whining but that doesn't mean that this disc is a miss. The Red remix of "CAVE" is pretty funny if not cool and the Ee-Mu's take on "LIGHTS" is pretty fresh. While most of these mixes are purposely loose, they often come off sounding ill-timed and amateurish. That may be all good in the land of the Japanese basement jack. I don't think I'd count this remix album amongst my favorite Nel Hate efforts but it is kind of interesting especially if you are familiar with the original tracks. I like it when bands release special internet only remix albums. It acknowledges the fact that much of the material is possibly below release quality but gives hardcore fans something special to tide them over until the next official release. For that alone I'd be willing to give this disc a solid C++.

Click here to download the album.

For more of the undergrounds sounds check the music samples of Nel Hate and friends at this site.

Dale's Birthday Party @ the Cherry Bar Soi 8 Pattaya

I have a strange one for you all. I was browsing YouTube when I came across some promotional video for Cherry Bar in Thailand. You all know what that means, awsomely strange Thai music in the background. I've just e-mailed the bar in question asking the who's and what's of the background track. Here's to hoping they don't mind fielding the weird questions.



Pattaya is apparently pretty famous for bargirls. Just in case you aging hipster types are looking for some dirty validation on your next holiday. And who's Dale anyways?

STRONG MACHINE 2 - Daughter

This is a nice follow-up to my Polysics entry late last month involving STRONG MACHINE 2. It seems there is a fair amount of demand for 11 year old schoolgirls who can pop and lock. She has found work appearing in the trailer of UK's 14th Raindance Film Festival. More research has lead me to discover that Strong Machine 1 is her father. Not only does he dance, but he is also the chief priest at a Buddhist temple and Karate fighter!

The video was directed by Kosai Sekine, a philosophy student turned director immediately after graduation. A short by Kosai, “Right Place”, was reported by shots as the most highly praised film at the Asia-Pacific Advertising Festival.

It's a movie. You should do something indeed.

CLAMMBON - Chicago

I had a chance to meet the members of Clammbon when one day I just happened to be at my local Tower Records waiting for a friend. It was pretty cool, being a foreigner I'm pretty sure they didn't expect me to recognize them. I've been a fan for quite a while and Harada Ikuko's telltale fringe is hard to miss. I got them to sign their new single for me appropriately titled 'The New Song'.

Clammbon is a trio consisting of Harada Ikuko on vocals and piano/keyboard, "Mito" on bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals, and Itou Daisuke on drums and percussion. Their first CD came out in 1998 and have continued to release melodically catchy, musically talented, lyrically poetic music. You can find more information on the band from this amazing English Clammbon website or the official Clammbon site. Click here to see a video of Harada Ikuko playing piano and singing in what looks to be her home. It really shows off her talent as a pianist.

Today's video is 'Chicago' from the 2000 release 'Machiwabi Machisabi'. There are two versions of this song: the slow album version, and the perky version seen in the music video. The video is fun to watch and is perfect sunny Sunday afternoon music. Which is great because it IS a sunny Sunday afternoon, enjoy!



There, it's swelling up, that pitch-black thing
There, it's withering away, that pure-white thing
I was keeping it, just in a dream
Now and then we could meet, if only in a dream

Don't come out, I won't play with you
Don't come out, I won't go back there again
Mm, slyly hiding deep behind my eyelids
Showing up in the early afternoon

I won't say any more, that's not what I meant, I'll just start saying nonsense
Ah, what should I say? That's not what I meant, I'll just start saying anything

All over, everything, you are following
All over, smiling, trying to invite me
Don't come out, I won't play with you
Don't come out, I can't go back there again

Even in a dream, "welcome home", even in a dream, "welcome home"
Don't trouble me, don't make fun of me, not me, don't tease me

I won't say any more, that's not what I meant, I'll just start saying nonsense
Ah, what should I say? That's not what I meant, I just start saying anything

Not me, you teased me. I won't go back...

MODERNDOG - Hoo Dtaa Sa-Waang - ตาสว่าง (Found)

I'm the type of guy that wakes up one morning and says to myself, 'Hmmm, I wonder how they rock it in Thailand' and I make it my mission for the day to find out. That's why I am such a fan of the web and yes, file sharing. I look at the net as the world's biggest music shop. I never cared for that Nickelback and so long ago I decided to look past mere words and see music as the universal language it is. And I am very glad I have or I would have never discovered Moderndog.

Formed ten years ago, Modern Dog is drummer Pawin Suwannacheep, guitarist May T. Nojinda and vocalist Thanachai "Pod" Ujjin. An expectation shattering, constantly surprising rock band that shifts between dark radio hits and darker electronic experiments. They have sold over two million records in Thailand of their four albums. Their most recent, released in November 2004, contained three number one singles, That Song, was co-writtten and arranged by Yuka Honda (ex. Cibo Matto) and produced by acclaimed Scottish producer Tony Doogan (Belle & Sebastian/Mogwai). It featured guest appearances by Yumiko Ohno of Buffalo Daughter and Sean Lennon. Most recently, in 2005, Pod visited Japan and toured with the former members of the Japanese indie band, Fishmans along side other Japanese indie heavyweights in tribute to the Fishmans' vocalist Sato Shinji who passed away in 1999.

Today's video is called Found and a bunch of Thai words that I couldn't begin to translate the title but starting today I will try to find english translation for all the foreign songs posted in this blog. You will find them below the video.


The sky is very wide, the way is very long,
and you've gone.
Only I'm left in the distance with the days fading away.
The quiet and lonely emptiness has again returned.

Finally, emptiness in my heart I will meet,
I will be, I will see, right?

The sky is still far away, and you have gone.
My sight suddenly brightens up.
The rain sprinkles down and passes. I see the truth in what has passed,
Repeatedly warning me. Remember... every time.

It's time that I should calm-down,
And use my intellect to consider what has passed to understand.
In the end, emptiness from now on
I will meet, I will be, and I will see. Right?

Really... really... really... really... really.