Vuvr - Pilgrimage (2001)

Welcome to the Czech Republic! not so often that we go there! as you know nowadays metal including jazz/fusion is "quite" common...but here you have to look at this album the other way around...it's jazz including metal...which is far less common, especially when the kind of metal we're dealing with is DM! what's the difference you might wonder? ^^ the difference is that even though it can be really heavy and loud, and a mixture of both genre, some songs are just plain jazz, which might seem a little bit out of step to some listeners! anyway, the guitar work is really impressive with incredible ambiances and intricate melodies...well, enough said i leave you here and let those proficient musicians do the talking! =]

Vuvr - Pilgrimage (2001)
Genre: DM/Fusion/Jazz
Tracklist:
01 Fear
02 Back in Myself
03 Autumn
04 Garden of Consciousness
05 Longing
06 Passion
07 Waves
08 Pilgrim I
09 Surprised by Pleasure
10 Pilgrim II

Vuvr - Pilgrimage

Yakuza - Samsara 2006

I don't think i ever played this band in here, what a shame! as it is definitely a fav band of mine =D they are quite unique in their kind and i love how they blend the different influences they put into their music...it's psychedelic, extremely heavy and absolutely brilliant! there is hardly any word i can use to describe what they do but Yakusa are utterly the masters of their trade! proficient musicians with a mighty spirit and an unquenchable thirst for the exploration of uncharted territories ...as one of my friend often says "you don't like that one? then why don't you just fuck off and die bonehead fucker!...umh..uhm.. no offense intended of course!" ah ah! i wouldn't go that far though ^^ lol so enjoy!

Yakuza - Samsara 2006
Genre:Metal, Jazz, Progressive
Tracklist:
01 Cancer Of Industry
02 Plecostomus
03 Monkeytail
04 Transmission Ends...Signal Lost
05 Dishonor
06 20 Bucks
07 Exterminator
08 Just Say Know
09 Glory Hole
10 Back To The Mountain

不三不四的人！^^

Herbie Hancock - Future 2 Future 2001

As you'll hear it is not exactly like Krush but as i said i think their styles somewhat echo each other. H.H is mainly known for what he does in jazz but this one album, if it is still jazz, has nothing convetionnal in it! the music is done with samplers and turntable ...and a few keyboards of course! well, if you are acquainted with Herbie's sort of psychedelic style then you should feel comfortable in no time...i understand that perhaps some of his fan from the early fusion style period may be a little disappointed but to me H.H just shows with this record what a talented musician he is, no matter what he uses to make his music....if a bad workman blames his tool as we say, then not an instrument in this world need to fear him! ah ah! enjoy!

Herbie Hancock - Future 2 Future 2001
Genre: Jazzy, Electronic, Jungle
Tracklist:
01 Kebero
02 Wisdom
03 The Essence (featuring Chaka Khan)
04 This is Rob Swift
05 Black Gravity
06 Tony Williams
07 Be Still
08 Ionosphere
09 Kebero (part 2)
10 Alphabeta
11 Virtual Hornets

Open your Eyes and have a vision!

[TOXIC WAR] 鬼束ちひろ - This Armor

i don't think i ever played 鬼束ちひろ in here, so it was high time to fix that! her music combines some jazzy melodies with more conventional rock ones....but overall, it is mainly J-pop. Her Voice is rather low pitched for a woman (especially if we compare it to the one of 刘芳!) but she has a truely great voice and i'm sure with such titletracks on her album, she'll have no problem corrupting your mind!lol enjoy!

鬼束ちひろ(Onitsuka Chihiro) - This Armor
Genre: Jpop, Jazz
Tracklist:
01. ROLLIN'
02. 茨の海
03. ｼｬﾄﾞｳ
04. "Everything,In My Hands"
05. Our Song
06. 流星群
07. LITTLE BEAT RIFLE (album version)
08. Arrow of Pain
09. infection
10. CROW

Warrior babe!

[TOXIC WAR] Keren Ann - Nolita (2005)

This is some strange band! ^^ actually i don't really know how to describe the music....it all seems like a long ballad to me..a stroll somewhere! and indeed that's why each of the songs from that album is to be considered more like an emotion or a feeling and not really like a song, ...though it is one of course! describing different moment of a same day during which you experience several moods...at times you feel like time has stopped... but there are suddenly sunbeams piercing through, shining on the melancoly around ....cause it is only melancoly, ..you never experience boredom...That is in a few words the kind of things you may feel or expect when you'll try to intoxicate yourself once again! hope that helps =)

Keren Ann - Nolita (2005)
Genre: like a stroll somewhere...
Tracklist:
01 Que N'ai-Je ?
02 Greatest You Can Find
03 Chelsea Burns
04 One Day Without
05 La Forme Et Le Fond
06 Nolita
07 Roses & Hips
08 Midi Dans Le Salon De La Duchesse
09 L'onde Amère
10 For You And I
11 Song Of Alice


I'm breathing!

[TOXIC WAR] Sylvain Chauveau - Des Plumes Dans La Tete

As you can see this is a french artist, but he is not at all famous and remains known to only a very small number of people. His music is minimalistic to say the least and you must pay as much attention to the sound itself as to the music work. Basically this is the OST of a movie ("feathers in your head") but that artist must be considered as some kind of poet making music rather than a musician only....difficult to describe but very emotional, this guy often re-uses his own theme and melodies but try to see them from a different angle....hope you like it!

Sylvain Chauveau - Des Plumes Dans La Tete
Genre: Intrumental (piano), Weird Jazz!
Tracklist:
01 Des Plumes dans la Tête (Variation 1)
02 Situation Initiale
03 Pour les Oiseaux
04 Feu
05 Le Brasier de Tristesse
06 Ferme les Yeux
07 Des Plumes dans la Tête (Variation 2)
08 Les Débutants 1
09 Pour les Oiseaux (Variation 1)
10 Anthracite
11 Nocturne Urbain 2
12 Pour les Oiseaux (Variation 2)
13 Sinon le Vent qui Passe
14 Noir
15 Ferme les Yeux (Variation)
16 Les Débutants 2
17 Pour les Oiseaux (Variation 3)
18 Blanche Comme l'Infini
19 Situation Finale
20 Des Plumes dans la Tête
21 Suber
22 Datebook

Close your eyes and breathe!

[TOXIC WAR] Yeska - Skafrocubanjazz

As this is just the beginning of the war, let's not play too toxic an album!lol yeska is an american band which i listened to quite a lot some years ago, a bit less now, though i still enjoy the music, no doubt about it! The musicianship is great and the music itself hovers between, jamaican and cuban music...and i must say those two styles blend together particularly well =D it's very funky and also very varied, though it remains within the compass of these two genres of course....what do we wait for? let's intoxicate ourselves!


Yeska - Skafrocubanjazz
Genre: Jazz, Cuban
Tracklist:
01 Fideo (Para Aqui)
02 4th Generation
03 Walter's House
04 Falafel Combo
05 Second Menu
06 Cantaloupe Island
07 Skaliente
08 Stakes Are High
09 Chilaquiles
10 Fideo (Para Llevar)

Cuidado por favor!!

諫山実生 (谏山实生) - 恋愛組曲～Ｏｎｅ ａｎｄ Ｏｎｌｙ Ｓｔｏｒｙ～ のトラック

well no one seems to be around at the moment but it doesn't matter! you'll see it at one point or another when you come by .... Isayama Mio is often considered to be a pop artist but in my view she's definitely not that and to my ears, her music is imbued with jazzy melodies. She has a great and sweet voice that can at times be likened to that of 椎名林檎 (when she's not in a rock frenzy!lol) incidentally their music can somewhat sound similar as well, and to a certain extent i'd stake that if you like one there are good chances you like the other! an excellent and melodic album that should interest anyone looking for top notch easy listening =D

諫山実生 (谏山实生) - 恋愛組曲～Ｏｎｅ　ａｎｄ　Ｏｎｌｙ　Ｓｔｏｒｙ～ のトラック2005
Genre: Pop, Jazz
Tracklist:
1 月のワルツ
2 心春めいて…
3 手紙　＜シングル・ヴァージョン＞
4 誰も知らない
5 同級生
6 想いコガレテ
7 坂道
8 桟橋＜アルバム・ヴァージョン＞
9 涙の向こうへ

Like a feather floating over!

塞宁- 珍珠饭店 2005

that artist called 塞宁, i am not sure where she's from if it's HK, TW or China... her style is rather eclectic and original as she mixes jazz, pop, and electronic sound, depending on the song...hope you'll like it and i take any info about her if you happen to have some (cause everything i find is in chinese and it's not easy to decipher!!ah ah!) =D

塞宁- 珍珠饭店 2005
Genre: Pop, Jazz, Electro
Tracklist:
01 珍珠饭店
02 马格丽特
03 轻微
04 塞宁
05 蕾丝边

Unscrutable Newcomer!

Michael Shrieve - Two Doors - 1995

(sorry for the big cover, but i think it's nice!)

I was rummaging through my stuff and look what i found...an old dusty album for you! ah ah it's been years since the last time i listened to it, i had almost forgotten i had it! but beneath the dust is indeed a pretty shiny one, almost a masterpiece to me! the musician are of course very skilled =) the drummer (Michael Shrieve) is really good (...i know a retired drummer who's gonna be happy!), and i must also mention 2 other names at least cause on guitar we have shawn lane (before he got real famous) and Jonas Hellborg on bass! the other musicians are certainly famous but not to me!lol the music is in the best fusion style and shawn lane really delivers impressive sounds and leads! believe me, this one fusion album deserves to be in your collection (get yourself a copy if you find one) as it sometimes even turn out to sound metal! eh eh! so hope you have fun with it!

Michael Shrieve - Two Doors - 1995
Genre: Jazz, Fusion
Tracklist:
01 Stellar Rays
02 Deep Umbra
03 Sorcerer
04 Baraji
05 Caress of Lillith
06 Smiling Tarshishm
07 Juvalamu
08 Palace of Dreams
09 Locomotion
10 Data Trash
11 Stella
12 Your Saviour
13 Pipeline
14 Crocodile
15 Lincoln Logs
16 First Train
17 Queen Bee
18 Flying Polly
19 Stella (Reprise)

Drummer from hell!

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

As everybody is having a well deserved rest, i play that smooth band which comes from the US (L.A). They play some sort of swinging and rocking jazz music in the style of New Orleans stuff (I'm not pretty sure about that one, but it sounds like it somehow! ah ah!) it's pretty quiet and yet there a very cool rhythm in their song (the album contains many different style in the end)... it's kindda like Cherry Poppin' Daddies which i played earlier! =) so hope you like it, ....that should swing you back to life in the wink of an eye!! lol

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Genre: Big Band, Jazz, Rock
Tracklist:
1 Jumpin' Jack
2 13 Women
3 Cruell Spell
4 King of Swing
5 Beggar's Blues
6 Machine Gun
7 Fire
8 She's Gone
9 So Long, Good Bye Swing

Highly energetic elixir!

Trio givone - en chemin

This is the band from a "famous" french guitarist from Nantes called Daniel Givone. Gypsy's music has always been a family story so no wonder the second guitar is played by his wife and the doublebass by his brother (plus some percussions)! there are also some guest like Patrick Saussois : guitar (4), Frédéric Renaudin : piano (6), Jean-Christophe, Rouet : violin (3, 8), Philippe Allano : guitar (13), Damien Ducelier : accordeon (5), Meivelyan Jacquot : percussions (13)...well quite a lot indeed! ah ah
The music is certainly one of my favourite style when it comes to acoustic guitar style, ...i just love it!! =) as you'll see it's gypsy style (what we call "Manouche" over here) but it's rather ecclectic with some flamenco or classical influences! the musicians are very technical and skilled as is their music but as you'll hear they are miles away from showing off. The best part of this music to me is the way it sounds, always a bit sad and yet it seems to make fun of that feeling and even to take advantage of it to laugh out loud! lol This one was pretty hard to find so hope you enjoy! =D

Trio givone - en chemin
Genre: Instrumental, Gypsy (Manouche), Jazz
Tracklist:
01 Coralie show (D. Givone)
02 La cumparsita (M. Rodriguez)
03 Hunn, o pani naschella (T. Winterstein/L. Reinhardt)
04 Angera (P. Saussois)
05 La counouche (J.C. Givone)
06 Au coeur du vent glacé (D. Givone)
07 En chemin (J.C. Givone)
08 My sweet (D. Reinhardt)
09 Valse à l’ancêtre (D. Givone)
10 Mor pral (D. Givone)
11 Le temps ne fait rien à l’affaire (G. Brassens)
12 Valse nomade (D. Givone)
13 Dali (B. Dessoliers)
14 Couci couça (D. Givone)

Masters living in shadows!

Renaud Garcia-Fons - Oriental Bass - 1997

Here's an album that is to me a masterpiece in his category! I heard it once at a friend's while sitting around a fire and was pretty much stunned (not by alcohol or anything else but by the music i mean! lol) as a consequence i couldn't help rushing to a store to get it a few days afterwards!lol Renaud Garcia Fons is double-bass player from France but he is from Spanish origin (Catalonia) and that explains the somewhat oriental aspect of his music, though it's likewise very much influenced by classical/jazz music. There are a number of instruments on that album that is certainly as impressive as the virtuosity and profiency with which they are used! just to name but a few, there are flutes, accordion, guitar, lute, derbuka ...and so on and so forth! ah ah! well this guy isn't especially famous to my knowledge but once you'll have listened to him he'll have you in his grip and power forever!

Renaud Garcia-Fons - Oriental Bass - 1997
Genre: Instrumental, Jazz, Traditional, Oriental
Tracklist:
01 Oriental Bass
02 San Juan
03 Goodjinns
04 Oryssa
05 Ghazali
06 Jullundur
07 Hommage A Ostad
08 Bajo Andaluz
09 Jam Buleria
10 Djani

open-minded jazz!

[Live Earth] The Sea and Cake - Oui [2000]

After all that battling to save the earth, i guess it's time to take some rest for the few moments left in this Live Earth 777 ...and what's better than having a good time far away from all the predicaments we'll have to face sooner or later! The Sea and Cake are your ticket ...and they are very eager to bring you in this peaceful world of their own =) the music is in the vein of Four Tets and Radiohead broadly speaking, that is sort of jazzy/electronic, a bit melancolic overall...but while they carry you across their world ...you'll think about nothing and just enjoy the ride as if on a cloud!lol... so what are you waiting, jump on and let's go!


The Sea and Cake - Oui [2000]
Genre: Easy listening, Pop, Jazz, Alternative
Tracklist:
01 Afternoon Speaker
02 All The Photos
03 You Beautiful Bastard
04 The Colony Room
05 The Leaf
06 Everyday
07 Two Dolphins
08 Midtown
09 Seemingly
10 I Missed The Glance

Gliding on a breeze!

[Live Earth] Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot

Put your smartest suit on, this time we're leaving the underground far below! well not so far indeed if you listen to the lyrics!lol i was given this album as a present by a friend of mine and ....Cherry Poppin' Daddies is definitely some rockin' band! you'll feel your legs twisting and shaking before you are even ready to go!lol Many different styles in that album, not really technical in itself but the whole thing is certainly very well performed! i'm not sure a good mood will be enough to save the earth but at least we'll die with a big grin on our face when it'll blow up straight in our kisser! ah ah! rock on! =D

Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot
Genre: Big Band, Rock, Jazz, Blues
Tracklist:
01 Zoot Suit Riot
02 Ding-Dong Daddy Of The D-Car Line
03 When I Change Your Mind
04 Here Comes The Snake
05 Mister White Keys
06 Come Back To Me
07 Brown Derby Jump
08 Dr. Bones
09 Pink Elephant
10 Master And Slave
11 Drunk Daddy
12 No Mercy For Swine
13 Cherry Poppin' Daddy Strut
14 Shake You Lovemaker

Swinging a catastrophe!!

Cause For Effect - PQ-2 (2001)

This is a grindcore band! =) but not the usual type, actually there are only two guys in the band, a bassist (also doing the vox) and a drummer! their style is very technical and rather unusual! i believe they come from Finland but not sure as there is not many info about them...this album is a MCD and despites its containing about 20 songs, it's about 20 minutes!! ah ah, true grindcore power!!!lol well not much to add except that if you like it strange and off the beaten track, this one is for you! enjoy!

Cause For Effect - PQ-2 (2001)
Genre: Grindcore, Fusion, Jazz
Tracklist:
01 Loyal to the New Order
02 Far Beyond Harsh Language
03 Robotic Brute
04 Genetic Beast
05 Fuse
06 Occult and Extreme
07 People of North America Have Decided to Destroy the Earth
08 Patient and Potent
09 Remember Focus
10 Political Feeling
11 Scrag
12 Full Potential
13 Stern Ballista
14 Saboteur
15 50 Modification
16 Core Fusion
17 Harsh Written Rule
18 Usability
19 Sto-Po

improvisational artistry!

Michel Petrucciani - Marvellous 1994

well as it is jazz time, i bring this this little guy here who is a French pianist (from an Italian origin)...i don't know if you've ever heard about him but he was very famous over here! as you can see he was a dwarf and had very small hands with tiny fingers...but when you'll hear him playing...well you'll just realize how big this guy is as a pianist! unfortunately he died a few years ago at an early stage in life...as all geniuses i would say... there seem to be a mandatory rule about that! = / Whatever, his music is truly awesome ( i like the Snoopy track a lot [charlie brown]lol) and i'm sure you'll enjoy his work and recognize how much it's worth! \m/

Michel Petrucciani - Marvellous 1994
Genre: Jazz, Instrumental, Solist, Piano
Tracklist:
1. Manhattan
2. Charlie Brown
3. Even Mice Dance
4. Why
5. Hidden Joy
6. Shooting Stars
7. You Are My Waltz
8. Dumb Breaks
9. 92's Last
10. Besame Mucho

Jazz Masterpiece!

[LPP] The Free French - A Place Of Our Own

I take advantage of this party to play stuff i usually don't indeed! the free french plays some jazzy pop which is quite enjoyable IMO. it's very well crafted and performed, a bit in the lounge style of some old jazz stuff from the 60's. it may seems a bit too "conservative" or "hype" in some sort of way, but actually if you pay attention, you can easily hear that behind simple melodies and smooth arrangement, in fact a complex and intricate work has been done! this is the slow dancing part! hope you are still able to see the girls around...or is it all blurred and swirling!?lol

The Free French - A Place Of Our Own
Genre: Pop
Tracklist:
01 Fireman
02 Living Together
03 Babysitter
04 I Need A Career
05 Everyone's Always Alright
06 You'll Suggest Somebody
07 The Scales
08 The Letter T
09 You're The Boss
10 Don't Come Cheap
11 Holiday At Home

if music was a science!

椎名林檎 - 无限偿还

Shiina Ringo is a girl from Japan i love as much as YUI, but i don't happen to listen to her as much though i don't know why...perhaps to enjoy her a bit more each time!lol Her style is quite borderline between punky/rockin' and sweet poppy/jazzy! she seems not to be willing to choose either!lol actually she's a somewhat experimental approach to music, and don't hesitate to include electronica here and there for instance, ...well to me she's definitely a great musician with lots of different facets to offer her audience =) she has also a very particular voice at times, kinda nasal or something, which reminds me of some French female singers whose name i completely forgot!lol but chiefly, her voice is very soothing! ((**)) warmly recommended, she's really worth it! ;D

椎名林檎 - 无限偿还
Genre: J-pop, J-Rock, Jazz, Punk
Tracklist:
01 正しい街 (正确的大街）
02 歌舞伎町の女王(歌舞伎町的女王)
03 丸の内サディスティック(丸内虐待狂)
04 幸福论 - 愉悦编
05 茜さす 帰路照らされど...(虽然夕阳照耀归途)
06 シドと白昼梦(席多与白日梦)
07 积木游び(积木游戏)
08 ここでキスして。(在这里接吻)
09 同じ夜(同一夜)
10 警告
11 モルヒネ(吗啡)

sweet winged apple!

The Living Jarboe - Disburden Disciple 2000

Before the war, the Hell Legions always have a gigantic banquet to entertain its countless demons!lol and of course music is at the core of the party! the main song which is used for opening is called "Dear 666" which is about total war and annihilation! an excellent medium to motivate our troops! so here, i give you the opportunity to hear what the soundtrack of our feast sounds like! a dirty, suffocating and atmospheric music that is not a second violent music wise, but that will nevertheless tear you apart and shatter you spirit owing to the dark and powerful poetry it contains! war as many form indeed! =)

The Living Jarboe - Disburden Disciple 2000
Genre: Experimental, Trip Hop, Jazz
Tracklist:
01 Bound
02 Consume Me
03 Dear 666
04 Kiss of Life
05 Scorpion
06 Under
07 The Seance
08 Forbid
09 Forgive
10 Scarification
11 Pure War

Horrified Ghostly Experiment