another perspective

I've been on extended hiatus from record shopping. OK I haven't been shopping in about a week. That's a long time in my book. I've no idea what new stuff is out but I did chance upon an album from 1996 that I always meant to pick up and by the time I looked for it it wasn't to be had. All is now resolved.

3rd Perspective was released by United Future Organisation, a Japanese jazz and funk band that included Raphael Sebbag, Toshio Matsuura & Tadashi Yabe. The album came out on the Talkin Loud label and it must be said that its a blinder. Here's a video of Planet Plan one of the tunes from the album. It gives a good taste of what the rest of the album is like. For any discerning drum and bass lovers, DJ Die did a great remix of it that also came out on a Talkin Loud 12 inch.

I'm not sure if UFO are even together anymore. I know that one of the original members, Toshio Matssura, left the band in 2002. The last thing I heard was that they'd released some of their new stuff in 2003. I also know that they did some remix work as recently as 2007 but after that I couldn't tell you what they're up to these days. It's a pity really. They were doing great stuff. Another of their great releases was Brownswood Workshop - Multidirection which also came out on the Talkin Loud label. I saw a copy of it in an Oxfam shop about six months ago but they were looking for €40 for it so I left it where it was. I must try to get it online one of these days.

forward planning for an asian invasion

I met up with some pals for lunch today and conversation turned to the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival. A few months back I met Eamonn Doyle on the streets of Dublin and quizzed him on the content of the 2007 festival. Apparently the theme of the 2007 festival will be Asian electronic art – offering audiences the opportunity to sample the work of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and other Asian artists, but also "the chance to witness Irish artists engaging with other musical and artistic traditions in an explorative and open-ended creative process".

That's all well and good says I, but will that latter bit consist of Billy Scurry eating some Szechuan Chicken behind a set of Technics turntables? In all seriousness, I'm not very sure what constitutes Irish artists engaging with other musical traditions. Anyhow, says I to Eamonn, 'Will you be getting the Japanese dub reggae band Dry and Heavy over?' 'Who are they' says he? Ignorance is a wonderful thing.

Other Asian (particularly Japanese) artists then sprang to mind during the course of the day. Cornelius who has just released a new album called 'Sensuous'. What about 'Asa Chang and Junray' for a bit of electronic freakiness? Fuck it. Get Pizzicato Five or Fantastic Plastic Machine over for a bit of poptastic madness. If there is anyone with any other suggestions they'd be more than welcome. I'll then be able to put a flea in the ear of the organisers.

Rather than end on a sour note I should big up all the folks behind the DEAF festival who took a very brave step back in 2002. It takes visionaries and passionate people from all walks of life to make these things come together. Big up the DEAF crew; Eamonn, Rob, Karen, James and the others who make this thing happen every year. As a token of my appreciation here's a tune for you guys by The Vapors.