A Better Year

Hopefully, 2009 will be a better year. Happy New Year to all. Here's a FREE post Xmas deep, dubby, glitchy and tech-y house MIX from yours truly.

Kraftwerk and Hong Kong

I got turned on to Kraftwerk when i was probably 9 or 10 but i was only able to acquire an actual piece of vinyl from them a couple of years after. This was in 1980 0r 1981 and that release was "Computer World". If i remember correctly i bought it in that mall right after you go down from the Star Ferry at Wan Chai station. I was with my tito Rene(Hotdog) at that time and he patiently accompanied me to that particular Tom Lee branch where they sold records.

I remember having picked up Third World's "96 degrees in the shade" and Madness' "One Step Beyond" as well that time but Kraftwerk's yellow colored cover of 'Computerworld" was the one that made my day. From then on, i slowly obtained their back catalogue and got the current and future albums.

Fast forward to 2008, I'm back once again in HK ,this time though it was to see them LIVE. Who would've known i'd be watching them many years later. Amazing how these things happen.

click HERE for related story.

medal or money?

Terno Recordings and its artists (see no.1 and no.4), time and time again, critically acclaimed but ironically, deficient financially.

i think therefore iUDD

dance while the record spins

We're bringing it to you people. It's all up to you now to surrender to the beats on NOV. 29 at SAGUIJO. Click HERE for an example of someone giving in to the groove.

people should give in to talent

I posted awhile back the first draft of this Up dharma Down video from the creative minds of Ivan Despi and Acid House, Everywhereweshoot and Inksurge. Here's the FINAL version and yes i know it's all over the net but i'm posting it anyway.

Times Two

wallpaper for your soul ver 2.0

Based on these examples would you really call it ka-Chongan (too New Wave-y)? Click on picture to enlarge. For the related topic click HERE.

Chong
both noun and adjective
An 80's term of endearment by local punks for new wavers.
Huh?Pupunta kang party sa Corinthians? Puro Chongs doon no! di bale Positive Noise yung mobile, nagpapatugtog yon ng "Damaged Goods" at "Wild In The Streets", pwede na rin!

as a bonus here's Talk Talk's excellent video for "Such A Shame"

wallpaper for your soul

Click on the picture to enlarge. For the related piece on the subject, click HERE

various artists

Here's some various pics of people,some friends but mostly band personalities that somehow got stuck in time inside my camera.

Micaela and Mike Benedicto of Outerhope

Lourd de Veyra of Radioactive Sago Project

uber-roadie Sherwin, Carlos of Up Dharma Down and Chi of The Sinister Left in HK

Alsey of Paramita en route to Mosaic Music Festival

I'm probably going to be crucified for this because i didn't ask permission from the Indie Gods of Manila but here's Dino of Moscow Olympics anyway.

Ean of Up Dharma Down

Armi of Up Dharma Down

Swissy during her video shoot for How It All Started

Mick and Koro. Two of the nicest people on Earth. Stylin' too.

Marco,Ria and Alsey of Paramita

Junji of Radioactive Sago Project

boy, it really must be the recession

Recently, Up Dharma Down played at a quite big commercial gig done in a mall. Usually with gigs of these kind, they definitely provide food for the artists. Nothing fancy or anything. Just, you know, standard packed meals. It's really SOP for most gigs. Now i don't really give personal diva riders or any special food requests to promoters so the usual backstage fare of rice and one ulam was somewhat expected but lo and behold, this was a first and one for the books.
but hey, don't let the picture fool you, it was one small slice per member. Now that makes a huge difference!

my favorite sight and smell

Nothing excites me more than the sight of a store, office or stockroom full or records. I love the smell of vinyl in a Hong Kong morning. This was March this year when Benjie L. bought records in HK and i tagged along. Oh ok, i bought a couple or so as well. Anyone who needs an assistant or chaperone to go record buying, I'd be happy to assist you, provided you pay for my plane ticket,food and lodging. Really, i don't mind.

the final countdown