SPEC - first episode impression

So, yesterday evening I finally managed to watch the first episode of SPEC, a Japanese mystery series about two detectives of opposite genders that are trying to unravel mysterious cases where seemingly unnatural powers are involved.

Synopsis
The first episode begins with the questioning of the main male character Sebumi, who was involved in a special police forces action, where a colleague died. Sebumi is being accused of having shot him, but of course Sebumi claims that this is not true, that the colleague Shibuma got shot by his own bullets. Of course, nobody believes him and thus he loses his elite position in the police and is moved to the disrespected section, the one that tries to solve unsolved “mysterious” crimes…
Hopes
It’s pretty much entertaining, has a bit of a Conan flair to it. It really does seem promising, so lets hope that the second episode will be even better ;-)

Instrumental Hip-Hop

I have been recently, partially also thanks to marroann, checking out a musical genre that I've been trying to avoid in the past years, because whenever I heard its utterances somewhere on MTV, or any other music channel for that matter, I felt disgusted, mainly because of the primitive and perverse lyrics that were floating along with the beats, destroying their sometimes beautiful nature, and not only that, but also the video accompaniment, where sex hungry female asses were shaking to the beats, big men with big glittery and golden chains hanging down their throat unto their XXXXL shirts, reaching their crotch which is thanks to the pants that hang one meter below normal body proportions somewhere on the ground, standing behind those huge asses shaking in the same rhythm -- all that was synonymous with hip-hop in my brain. No, I didn't bother much to check out whether there's also an indie, or classy scene among hip-hoppers. Yes, that's entirely the fault of my shallowness and laziness, but I think any decent hip-hoppers and producers will realise that they can also send partial thanks to all those fat and ugly, well-hung machos from the "Bronx" for that abominable reputation that is attributed to hip-hop, rap, and so on. 

I thought that good hip-hop and rap is DEAD thanks to those self-pitying golden-teethed beings with bodies full of bullet scars that is probably supposed to show how much they've suffered for being from the Ghetto. 

But look at that, it's NOT dead, and never was. It's just that it never received the attention it actually deserves. While mentally challenged hip-hop producers are monopolising the hip-hop industry with their bad taste, there are actually, in the shadows, people who are striving to bring out the best and most touching tunes out of their musical minds. Kudos to them! While I can't consider myself a hip-hop connaisseur, it seems that in the USA (music monopole) those talented and beautiful minds would have no chance at all, while in Japan their music has been greatly appreciated and promoted, outselling US productions. Thank You, dear Japan, for having given me the chance to meet fabulous tunes by Nujabes, NOMAK, Michita, Raujika, Tsunenori, Smooth-J, LEMS, Blazo, and many more!

Here a few tasters: 

Raujika - Veronica

incise - phased - "Familiar Voices" 

Nitsua - The Aftermath 

Herajika Tracks - Memory Lane 

LEMS - Siki 

Blazo - Nujabes Tribute 

Cocore (코코어) -- The Korean Nirvana!

     Cocore (or Kokoeo, 코코어) is an 'underground' band from South Korea and is being referred to as one of the first indie rock bands. It's most definitely one of the more interesting ones, if not greatest ones, I've come across thus far.

     The band is formed by four (*cough* cute males) musicians, I U Seong (이우성) as the vocal lead and guitarist, Hwang Myeong Su(황명수) on guitar, Gim Jae Gwon(김재권)on bass guitar (also vocals), Jeong Ji Wan(정지완)on drums. 

     The band formed around '96. Their first album was Odor. Just by listening to the first track (아무래도, anyhow)of said album, I get this strong Nirvana feel which is epic, and on second thought it isn't even surprising since they used to cover Nirvana. They even have an album called 'Smells like Nirvana'. ;)

Check them out!

Album | Odor

Album | Relax

PS: About DL content, please read. 

Fanny Fink (파니핑크)

Fanny Fink formed in 2004, and is a South Korean Indie band. The group consists of three members, Yeong Bin (영빈) on guitar, Myoi (묘이) as the lead singer, and Jae Mok (재목) on guitar.

I randomly came across one of their songs from their album 7 Moments, and it really did catch my 'ear', in that sense that the female singer's dreamy voice came really to its full bloom in this melancholic song, of course the magic of the song comes across ten thousand times stronger if the lyrics are understood. I mean, "The winter air is cold, just like the tip of your finger was when it touched my cheek.." can't let you cold!

Of course I liked the whole album, but River is the most outstanding one in said album, in my opinion.

But I don't think that River is the standard music level of Fanny Fink, they have also happier songs, more rhythmical ones, with more electro effects to it, but nonetheless quite decent (I definitely fell in love with the singer's voice )

Definitely a band that should not be missed!

Check them out! 

Album | 7 Moments

Album | Mr. Romance

PS: About DL content, please read. 

Adultchild (어른아이)

Band: Adultchild (어른아이 -- eoreun ai)

Band Members: Ryu Seung Hyeon (류승현)- Guitar, Hwang Bo Ra(황보라) - Guitar+Vocals, Hwang Jeong Hun(황정훈)- Drums
Country: South Korea, Seoul
Genre: Indie, K Pop, Rock

The South Korean trio exists since 2004, but only since 2006 did they appear on album. They're with the label Pastel Music which seems to particularly focus on bands that are out of the ordinary.

If you've watched the Korean Drama "Coffee Prince", then you'll surely remember the awesomely dreamy voice of the female lead singer.

Electronic elements peek through the dreamy and lyrical melody. And songs such as Sad Song really make your heart ache.
The band's name is not a joke as the music conveys the feeling of being in a child like dream while still being an adult, leading to an inspiring feeling of harmony between the world of a dreamy child and the realistic adult world. 

The lead singer's voice merges wonderfully with the music, as if it was an instrument itself.

Check them out!

Album | Dandelion

Album | B Tl B Tl 

PS: About DL content, please read.

About downloading stuff

Please, note, that those download links are not related to me at all, and if there are any complaints about any of the download links and the content they provide, take it up with the owner of the website, or the one who uploaded it as I don't have any power over them whatsoever.

I provide my posts with those links mainly to promote the artists, and of course I wish for people to look those artists up on various websites such as amazon if they're interested enough to buy their works.

Thanks for understanding

Loveholic (러브홀릭)

 

A South Korean band I came across just recently. In 2007, the female vocal lead split off and the band renamed itself Loveholics. Loveholic was composed of three members, Gang Hyeon Min, I Jae Hak, and Hwang Ji Sun (short Ji Sun). Their songs were also part of many soundtracks for KBS and MBC dramas, and one of their songs (신기루, Mirage) was also used as the ending theme for Black Blood Brothers (Japanese Anime). As Loveholic they made 5 albums (Florist, Invisible Things, Nice Dream, Re-Wind, Dramatic & Cinematic). Since I like them as Loveholic, I will have to look how the band managed without Ji Sun and will therefore check out also some of their newer albums as Loveholics. 

Their sound is tasty, dreamy and catchy, and even if you don't understand Korean at all, the sound will make up for it.

Genre: K Pop, Indie Pop, Modern Rock

Check them out!

Get it: 

            Album | Florist

            Album | Invisible Things

            Album | Nice Dream
Album | Re-Wind
Album | Dramatic & Cinematic


PS: About DL content, please read.