(Rugby World Cup) Final-ly

Warning: Kicking the ball between this post does not score 3 points.

I remember being ecstatic when NZ pulled out a coup and won the rights for the Rugby World Cup in 2011, but it was so long ago that I've actually lost touch with the fact that it will be played down under in September 2011.

Assuming NZ makes the final (which, as we all know, is less likely than not, given previous history), then it will be 1400 big ones to go see them try to break a losing streak that dates over 20 years now. However, if the exchange rate with yen is anything like it is right now, that's only 70,000 yen, i.e. a lot less than the Football WC Final was in Japan. So, I may well consider getting in there.

The reason this comes up is that it adds a spanner in the works of my travelling plans - which were to quit work and travel for the 9 months or so starting April 2010. But if I were to try to hit this, and I'm not the country in 2011 (seems unlikely atm), then it might be a bit much on the old savings. So, perhaps I should start in 2011 and finish up in NZ?
Having said that, I'll be 27 by then, and I like the idea of travelling before I get to the age that I'm thinking about being a bit more grounded and the like.
Hrmm. Thoughts?

Are you ready for it?

Warning: This music video will (space-)invade your reality.

I do like a good music video. There's something beautiful about being able to use 3-5 minutes and no soundtrack (bar the music, of course) to create something with meaning or unique cinematic vision. Something akin to what Brian Eno said when he was hired by Microsoft to write the start-up theme for Windows 95: he became obsessed with these mini-symphonies and expressing so much with so little.

A good music video is not just one of shots of the band playing - though if you can work them in there, that's always useful so people know who they are. Failing that, editing in time with the music is (IMHO) absolutely essential. Anyone who's seen a live gig or DVD filmed by MTV knows how terrible bad editing on music can be. It's like nails down a blackboard for me.

So, I'm pleasantly satisfied with Royksopp's video for Happy Up Here. I do love CGI that looks like it's shot with handheld cameras (the only thing that made Cloverfield look cool). Joss Whedon's Firefly TV series was full of fantastic graphics like this, and it also reminds me of The Pheonix Foundation's Hitchcock (with the acrobatic Ladas). Plus the idea is cute, fits the music and it's not a pixelated, low-qual piece of trash. All charm-points.

You know, I really like it.


Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

Junior, Royksopp's long-awaited new LP, in stores (including) iTunes March 23rd! For the last two albums they put out awesome special editions in Japan with bonus CDs full of B-Sides and new artwork - do that again pleasethanks

Summer Sonic: Second Announcement

Summer Sonic has put out their second announcement for those who subscribe (at a cost) to their mobile announcements. Luckily the folks over at mixi.jp (Japanese Facebook) have posted what appears to be a mostly complete listing:

Kasabian
Elvis Costello
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Mastodon
Phoenix
Tahiti 80
The Ting Tings
Tom Tom Club
All American Rejects
The Big Pink
Gogol Bordello
Iglu&Hartly
Never Shout Never
The Qemists
School of Seven Bells
Tame Impala
The Temper Trap
The Veronicas

So what is one to make of this? Some new faces (Mastodon, The Qemists), some from a ways back (Phoenix), some major regulars (Kasabian, All American Rejects), and then The freakin' Veronicas.

Much as I like Phoenix's new single (Lisztomania), it doesn't grab me like their really old stuff - and I'm sure The Qemists will be back seeing as they just played Triangle in the weekend (I missed it - couldn't pull 3 nights in a row sadly). So it's all a bit "meh". I expect more, Summer Sonic.

Am I missing something? Am I a bit too picky with my opinion on the line-up? Would you shell out \14,000/day (280NZD, based on today's exchange rate) for this?

Hit you with some Summer

Warning: This post is not recommend for those in need of some fiscal restraint.

First announcements are up for the two biggest gigs of Japan's summer: Fuji Rock Festival and Summer Sonic 2009.

They have left me physically struggling not to rip my wallet from my pocket and thrust my credit card digits cyber-ward to the online booking sites. Though it's only a matter of time - the moment I saw the line-ups it was a foregone conclusion that I was going.

Summer Sonic is celebrating it's 10th anniversary with an extra day of music, padding it out to a full 3 days (August 7-9). I have work on the Friday and Saturday, but I'll be taking it off for the likes of:


Admittedly Miss Boots & Yuksek are the only artists I've yet to see that I'm absolutely gagging to, but I'm sure there is plenty of quality to come.

Usually Summer Sonic puts the wood on Fuji Rock for the hottest talent, due to its central city location (Tokyo, Osaka), with no need to camp out or shell out big money for transport.
However, Fuji have got one up this round in my book, with a first announcement that boasts:

Basement Jaxx
Ben Harper
The Bloody Beetroots
Crookers
Diplo
Fake Blood
Fall Out Boy
Franz Ferdinand
Japanese Popstars
M83
Patti Smith (wtf)
Royksopp
Simian Mobile Disco
Weezer
(full announcement here)
...damn.

Though one would hope and pray that the artists in bold will consider extra gigs in the rest of Japan, it looks like I'm renting a car and taking my leave for 3 days in beautiful, rainy Niigata. Hopefully it's not the mud-fest it was last time.

Anyone keen to come? It's gonna be a hell of a summer.

I'm Back

Warning: This blogger is suffering from an over-abundance of shit to do.

Back in Japan after two weeks in China, shortly after the Chinese New Year celebrations. I was there in late Jan but left before the actual New Year's Day - though I was around for the brutal drinking of the factory parties. I can remember regurgitation onto such diverse objects as ashtrays and hedges, but not much else. Damn Chinese.


This time around we had lots of fun new products coming up for launch in the States - including some new Pokemon stylus - so things were pretty hectic.
I'm not quite sure about these new Pokemons' level of cuteness - I mean, Pikachu is cute-incarnate, but some of these new ones are the stuff nightmares are made of.


There's also some exciting new stuff planned for June release, so I wasn't getting a lot of sleep/still aren't. Can't say much as yet, but Hasbro's game deal with EA is involved. Will keep you posted.

The weekend I came back was quite intense - we were straight off to Labtribe in Kyoto for a night of drumnbass/dubstep at the hands of (Chase &) Status. Only the one of them showed up, but Will ("Status") brought the fine sounds and much fun was had. He even had the nicety to drop Killing In The Name Of SebastiAn in the middle of a dnb set. Very impressive.
The club itself was great - my first expedition out there - but the clientele were far more sparse than Triangle can pull in Osaka. Still, everyone was of the good sort - typical underground electronica round here. Wouldn't trade it for the world.


Sunday night was Tiga - 4 years and three tours to Japan later before we finally managed to be in the same room. He's a lot whiter and quite short in person. He led his two hour set with some minimal stuff he seems to be getting into lately, before busting out "Mind Dimension" and a few tracks I'm sure were his, but possibly new stuff from the album: "It's Six O'Clock" and "What's that sound/I like that sound" being predominant lyrics. Fever Ray and Mr. Oizo also made cameo appearances in a mix that went from strength to strength.


Life = work for the time being so I haven't got many amazing things to say, but The Whore did introduce me to a fantastic (and rather masculine-erotic) video clip from Germans Deichkind. The high quality copy (worth a look) is here.
I'm not gay, but I love anything that can combine porno with parody ("pornody"?)