Tracklist:
1 // Perfume – I still love U
2 // MEG – LIES
3 // 소녀시대 (Girls’ Generation) – 소원을 말해봐 (Genie) // Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)
4 // Perfume – edge (⊿-mix)
5 // MEG – JOKER
6 // Perfume – ワンルーム・ディスコ // One Room Disco
7 // Saori@destiny – Shangri-La
8 // Perfume – The best thing
9 // MEG – SKIN
10 // MEG – FREAK -yasutaka nakata remix-
11 // Perfume – NIGHT FLIGHT

I was actually working on TPL4 pre-⊿ but then I decided to hold off because I didn’t really have any direction in what I was doing. I actually thought of doing a MEG-A-MIX that I might just do later (TPL5?). But anyway, I won’t say much about what I think of the ⊿ tracks because I’ll be doing a review of it eventually.

Something new in this TPL would be BPM changes. I have 6 BPM changes in this mix. It starts off at 110 with I still love U and ends off at 145 with NIGHT FLIGHT. Here’s a little table of all the BPMs:

I found it weird that all of MEGs songs had that .980 on each of them. Check it out yourself if you don’t believe me. Anyway, here’s the download link:

TechnoPopLove 4 // BEAUTIFUL TRIANGLE (and stuff) [54.74MB]

Comments and all that stuff are greatly appreciated <3

but I’ll be taking the “talent over looks” argument in a slightly different angle.

I think it’s safe to say that most people hear people’s music before seeing them, or is it really that safe considering every band on the planet has a myspace and their music videos up on youtube? There was a time where you’d have a chance to sit down and LISTEN to music before the visual judgments get tossed around. Or maybe that’s just me? Everything’s all about having “the look” or whatever it is. Many musical acts have been shrugged off by producers because of their lack of “the look”. I guess it makes sense for them to do it because everything’s about first impressions these days. Also, sight processes faster than sound so if you can’t capture a potential customer’s attention within that timeframe it takes them to surf to a new page or change the channel, you’ve lost a battle.

Perfume

Angela Aki

Morning Musume
(circa Summer 2001)

The Pipettes (circa 2007)

Being a Japanese music fan living in Canada, media exposure of my favourite musical acts is limited to what I actively search for online and through my RSS feed subscriptions. In comparison to MuchMusic, local radio, and just walking around malls and anywhere that plays music, you’d think that I have more exposure to North American music – it’s actually quite the contrary. That or the music here is just so easy to ignore since it doesn’t tickle my fancy at all. Or at least the pop genre here doesn’t. In the case of non-visual media, people might come across a song that they haven’t “seen” yet, but with music videos playing practically everywhere (movie theatres, music stores, mall food courts, etc.) it’s practically impossible in the pop world. It’s funny how much longer a song’s lifespan becomes when it isn’t constantly force-fed into your system.

Given that I’m not on youtube looking for new music nearly as much as I’m exposed to the local stuff, most of the new music I come across is heard instead of seen. This helps me in a few ways: firstly, I don’t fall victim to the visual marketing ploy and listen to just the music first, and secondly, I toss judgments purely on musical ability and not on unimportant things like looks. By the time I become unlazy and actively search for what this new act looks like, I’m already enough of a fan (or antifan) that it doesn’t matter what they look like for it to make much of an impact on what I already think.

This was the case for me with Perfume, Angela Aki, and even Morning Musume. For Perfume, I heard them before seeing them and was pleasantly surprised that the extremely cute voices behind Sweet Donuts were accompanied with extremely cute girls. For Ms. Aki, I heard a lot of her stuff bleed into my room from my sister’s room and she’d always have her playing in the car and now that she has her piano books, there’s some serious Angela fever in the house. I must admit, though, I didn’t expect her look to be so casual and I’m not usually a fan of the “poof” hairstyle. The weird thing with me is that I’m such a positive scanner when the vibes around me are good that Angela’s style is growing on me. Morning Musume went the other way around though. I first heard Love Machine without any knowledge of who they were and wasn’t quite turned on to it. Then I found out who they were (while in their 4th generation) and listened to a bunch of their other songs before it clicked that they were the same group, plus or minus a few members.

Sadly, to answer my question, I can say that I am a bit shallow in that if I see a cute girl in the music biz, I check her out to see if she’s good. Is that really such a bad thing though? It happened with me and The Pipettes and look what happened there. But recently, The Pipettes went through some member changes. They haven’t released anything since but will I be as entertained as I was with the old line up? I don’t know for sure but I loved Rosay’s sass. Something I do know is that with Morning Musume, there’s no contest between a Love Machine with the original line up compared to today’s line up.

Wota Wonderings 4 – Are You a Shallow Wota (Solo Space)
WW04 – Are Looks Everything? (Tsuyoki de Yukoze!)
Wota Wonderings: On looks versus abilities… (boylikesmusic)
Wota Wonderings 004:Looks Or Talent? you decide (take off is now!)
[Wota Wonderings 04] It’s what’s outside that counts. (Renai Revolution 21)
Wota Wonderings 004 – Are You In The Shallow End Of The Pool? (Selective Hearing)
Wota Wonderings 04 – Case of the Body Snatchers (fields of maiZe and berryZ)
Wota Wonderings 004 (H!P Fangirling like Nobody’s Business)
[WW] Would I love Airi if she weren’t adorable? (Tsuugaku Vector ☂)

From Left to Right: RiotBecki, Rosay, and Gwenno

The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes (2007)
North American Release Shown

Released October 2nd, 2007

1. We Are The Pipettes
2. Pull Shapes
3. Why Did You Stay?
4. Dirty Mind
5. It Hurts To See You Dance So Well
6. Judy
7. A Winter's Sky
8. Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
9. Tell Me What You Want
10. Because It's Not Love (But It's Still A Feeling)
11. Sex
12. One Night Stand
13. ABC
14. I Love You
15. Dance And Boogie
16. Baby, Just Be Yourself

The first thing I looked for were their names. Gwenno, Becki, and Rosay. Easy enough! Also, not nearly as confusing as those super-groups in Asia especially since each of them were completely unique from the get-go. I think the first music video I bumped into was for Pull Shapes and was blown away with how much awesome was in that track: the dance, the style, the music, the everything. I definitely got a Beatles and Monkees from the 60’s kind of feel from the musicality. The lyrics, though a bit more modern, still had that playfulness and child-likeness to them which makes this kind of music so easy to listen to. The trio really takes advantage of each member with their harmonies and different layers of vocals.

But anyway, they were to be playing at a small restaurant and my friend and I called in the day before the show asking if there were any tickets left but sadly, there were none. We still ended up going downtown that day. I was kinda hoping that we’d bump into them but we didn’t and ended up watching 300 at the Scotiabank Theatre. It didn’t take them too long to come back and give me the opportunity to see them live. I do believe it was June 1st, 2007 and again on November 18th of the same year. 3 visits to Toronto in a year. We were spoiled. With the first visit, I got them to sign my UK release of “We Are The Pipettes” that I got shipped. On the second, I got them to sign my NA release. Also, RiotBecki said she remembered me. But then they kinda disappeared for a bit and said they were going back to the studios. Then Rosay and Becki left. Then two new girls came, then one of them left, and now I don’t know what’s going on with them more. :( I did manage to pick up that vinyl in LA while down there for my cousin’s wedding in the winter holiday season of 2007-08.

But on with the album commentary. I’ll be using the US release for this “review”. While writing the above, I’ve sat through the album twice already. It clocks in at just shy of 40 minutes, including the bonus tracks that weren’t included in the UK release. The longest track clocks in at 3 minutes and 8 seconds, “A Winter’s Sky“. Overall, it’s quite easily one of my favourite albums of 2007.

And in no particular order, my favourite tracks and a little commentary on each. Pull Shapes would have to be my favourite, not because of the music video or because it was the first video I saw of the girls, but because of its simplicity and the makes-you-want-to-dance factor. Dirty Mind’s lyrics make me lol. Also, dance factor. Judy features Rosay and her awesomeness. ‘Nuff said. ABC is just cute and energetic and again with the dance factor. I Love You is more of a sentimental song for me but is still completely danceable. Dance And Boogie makes me want to dance and boogie. There’s not that much more to it than that.

If you’re looking to enjoy some music reminiscent of the swingin’ 60’s with some girly attitude, check out this album. It’s sad though, you won’t be able to experience this group of girls live anymore. I do look forward to if the Pipettes of new end up visiting Toronto.

And just thought I’d add this in because it’s cute…

Hamasaki Ayumi - & (2003)
Click Image for CDJapan Product Page

Released July 9th, 2003

1. ourselves
2. Greatful days
3. HANABI ~episode II~
4. theme of a-nation '03
5. ourselves (Instrumental)
6. Greatful days (Instrumental)
7. HANABI ~episode II~ (Instrumental)

Welcome to a time when I actually listened to Ayu. Didn’t everyone start off listening to Ayu anyway?

This single holds a very special place in my heart since it was the first Japanese CD I ever purchased. Actually, it was a split gift between myself and the girlfriend I had at the time; we were pretty big Ayu fans back in the day and also kids who had no money. This was back when Pacific Mall had Music Headquarters right by the Up escalators; it’s a clothing store now but oh, the memories. I think I have one more FML article planned with a CD from that store. 2 actually.

Checking up on when this single was released on her wikipedia discography article, it was released during the last era of Ayu’s that I actually cared about her music. The Memorial Address mini-album was the last thing I ever remember loving to death. After that, I just fell off the Ayu train all together.

While giving this single another spin, I realized that ourselves, HANABI ~episode II~, and the theme of a-nation ‘03 were forgettable tracks. I remembered what they sounded like after the 3-5 second cue of the start of each track but besides that, you could toss them into the pile of songs that you know the names of and confuse with the rest of the discography. This reminds me of a conversation I had with a few #wotachat-ers trying to identify an old Ayu song. It turned out to be Independent+ which we forgot sounded nothing like Independent. Ah well. We scratched our heads for a while on that one… I digress.

The only memorable track on & (and only one I haven’t mentioned yet) for myself would be Greatful days. It’s happy and summery and just reminds me of good times with friends. Also, wasn’t this the PV with the random alligator?

Yup, it was.

A song this catchy deserves to live on. I can’t remember if I found a translation to this song. Frankly, I don’t really care since the song is awesome regardless. Though, I just wonder if the lyrics have anything to do with the PV…

Oh hey look, a translation.

Nothing to do with the PV. I lol’d. Alligator. :3

I guess most people know of Tamaki Nami from Gundam Seed. I’d mention something about her Greeting album but that’s an article for another time. I was linked to her Realize and Believe PVs from friends who watched the series and totally dug them. It even got me watching the series, though, I didn’t follow through with Destiny. Oddly enough, I enjoyed Nami’s contribution to it and was listening to this album for the entire summer of 2005. At the start of said summer, my sister and I attended a cousin’s graduation at UC Berkeley. Yay California!

While sightseeing in San Francisco, we made a stop in Nihonmachi (Japan Town) and found a music store. I still have the map that I got from one of the stores. I remember walking in and having that kid-in-a-candy-store kind of feeling. Back home, we didn’t really have a Japanese music store back then, though, now, we have Broadcast at Pacific Mall and their Taiwanese version albums and not that much of a selection outside of the popular stuff. Anyway, I looked all over for the Make Progress CD that just released but couldn’t find it on the racks. I asked the man behind the counter if they had any and he thought for a second and told me to hold on as he went to the back. He came out after a few seconds holding a box and opened it and told me a new shipment of stuff just came in. At the top of the pile of stuff in the box was the Make Progress CD+DVD and all its shimmering glory. I remember getting giddy. I maybe did a little happy dance.

But anyway, this whole album makes me do a happy dance. That’s my favourite aspect to this album – it’s full of high-energy songs from start to finish. “You” is the only ballady song on the album. I know it’s not an actual genre of music but I like to think that Tamaki Nami’s music is textbook “action anime” music, chilling with Shoko-tan and momo-i who cover other sections of the anime field. The only difference is that Nami doesn’t do voice-acting.

After taking a re-listen to the album, I’d have to say that I can’t say ONE track is my favourite since, although they’re pretty similar sounding, they all do different things for me. Though, for the happiness they radiate, Daybreak, Daitan Ni Ikimashouu, Fortune, DreamerS, and Distance are great. -Fly Away-, Reason, and Heroine are the “action anime” tracks which are just so energetic. Though, special mentions go to Future Step for the glitchy percussion and heavy bass. I didn’t notice at the time and just notice while looking for translated lyrics but apparently Nami wrote DreamerS and You. It also appears that, after a quick skim-thru, all of her songs are about love, determination, or both. Though I’m not usually one to comment on lyrics, I might just have a sit down with this album and the translations one day.

Considering that the album is already 4 years old, it’s held up pretty well for me. I don’t listen to it much anymore but I’ve had it in my iTunes library for a while. A few songs pop up every now and a while. The memories and emotions they bring back just make me smile all-around.

My sister recently purchased BoA’s North American release, THE FIRST ALBUM, and felt let down since the most of the album was just standard clubby tunes. I’m just glad I didn’t go out and pick it up. Still, I’m glad she did since I never would have been able to get my thoughts cleared out about this piece.

I loved BoA’s earlier Japanese stuff: Amazing Kiss, ID Peace B, Listen To My Heart, etc. I don’t exactly know what happened but somewhere around merikuri, I fell off the bandwagon. Maybe her fully English album would rekindle that fire within me. Sadly, it didn’t do much for me.

I think I’ve made it pretty clear through my many online profiles that Japanese TechnoPop, Drum and Bass, and Electro are my favourite genres of music. Give me anything by Perfume, Pendulum, or Justice and I’ll eat it up. Sticking to your favourite genres is safe but sometimes, even your genre fails you.

Back to my anecdote, I’ve liked some pop dance hip-hoppy stuff in the past though nothing really comes to mind at the moment. Liking genres doesn’t work all the time but c’mon, I told myself, it’s BoA. You’ll love this album regardless of what sister says. She says she doesn’t like dance music. I like electronic. I know they’re not the same but I should be fine.

Wrong.

Out of the whole album, I felt only “Did Ya” stood out, but wasn’t by any means groundbreaking. It was a bit more fun sounding than most of the tracks but that really isn’t saying much. Her whole album just feels numb compared to her older stuff. I’m just wondering if I’d like “Eat You Up” as much as I do if it didn’t have a PV…

Compared to other new music I’ve come across, THE FIRST ALBUM, barely makes a blip in the groove radar. The most recent stand-out blips I can think of are from the two groups I’ve spotlighted in NewLikes: Girls’ Generation’s Gee and You Love Her Coz She’s Dead’s Superheroes and Wizards. I specify those tracks because I don’t really go out of my way to find Korean Pop or Chiptunes acts. I wouldn’t consider myself a legitimate fan of either genre since I only listen to one or two acts from each. This proves stand-out music transcends genre. Another prime example of this phenomenon is Lenka. Normally, her genre of un-folk doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest but something about her voice and presentation had me sold.

Same with Nicole Atkins.
Same with The Pipettes.

At the lightest end of this effect, I could detest a song but if someone were to make a FUN stepchart to it on In The Groove, I’d play it. This is proven with me playing Crank That and Umbrella stepcharts. I don’t exactly hate those songs but I’d never voluntarily buy either album or listen to it outside of playing In The Groove.

This effect at a medium scale would be any song that’s made me a fan of the genre. capsule and TechnoPop, Dieselboy and Drum & Bass / Darkstep, Justice and Electro, m-flo and Japanese Hip-Hop, Hamasaki Ayumi and Japanese Pop, Scott Brown and Hardcore. Listening to songs of new genres that makes me want to explore further must have meant something to make me want to dive head-first into a new world.

The largest scale of this effect would have to be what happened with me and Nicole Atkins and Lenka. Each artist has a song that has really touched me lyrically and musically. Nicole’s Maybe Tonight is a refreshing wake up call that tells me this genre hasn’t completely died on me while Lenka’s Like A Song just has a haunting effect which I just adore and listen to in awe. Another example of this would be if a certain song is playing during memorable parts of my life: A song played at a climactic part of a movie or video game (Melodies of Life from Final Fantasy IX or the entire Braid soundtrack). A random song playing on the radio with friends (K-OS’ Sunday Morning). They might have nothing to do with the actual scenario but the song just reminds you of good times. An odd thing that sometimes happens is a certain melody or combination of notes can cause me to shed tears. I don’t know why.

So when a friend introduces new music to me, the song runs through these three levels of judgment: Is it of a genre I enjoy? Does it stand out? Does it mean anything to me or make me emote? Chances are that if a yes didn’t pop up from those questions, I won’t like it. That may change depending on a few factors. Firstly, am I in the mood for that genre at the moment? Does it do anything unique or something totally unheard of? Situationally, are we doing something fun where this song might enhance the mood? If a yes pops out of those questions, I might just happen to enjoy what you’re giving me – just like trying to soften up a parent to say yes to a question you know they’ll say no to, appease them, then you’ll get the answer you want. It’s only manipulative if the responding party notices…

…This is also why I tend to keep my musical tastes to myself when I meet new people, unless of course they ask what kind of music I like. I’m usually not the one to bring up the music talk unless I know they listen to something I know.

My casual interest in chiptunes piqued during episode 7 of series 3 of Skins. My friend said it was castles. I didn’t think it was because the girl looked different and the guy was singing and castles already went on Skins (that’s where I learned about them) so I decided to investigate. Luckily, the guys at Skins love showing off their music. I was greeted with quite the interesting group name. I usually have beef with long nonsensical names like this but for some reason, it doesn’t bother me.

From what I could gather from their myspace, they only have their “Inner City Angst EP” which only has 4 songs but have the “Me Versus You” vinyl forthcoming April 27th. They’ve also been involved with a few Kitsune Compilations. I’ve been listening to Inner City Angst since that episode of Skins aired and it doesn’t venture far off the path that Crystal Castles paved for me which doesn’t really surprise me since they share the same label.

Off the Inner City Angst EP, all 4 of the tracks have their own kind of charm: Superheroes is the fast, screaming, percussion-heavy track that got me hooked. It’s got everything I want in a standard chiptunes track. Dead End is a bit mellower and Blood Lust is fun too, but Wizards, however, is my favourite song of theirs because it sounds the most not like something I’ve heard in the chiptunes genre before.

This track works out like a story: the opening arpeggios foreshadow a sort of epic quality, reminiscent of the Final Fantasy theme. There’s usually something that ties you in about it that makes you read it – it could just be the cover artwork or the blurb on the back. For this song, it’s those arpeggios – something epic is going to be happening in the next 4 minutes. So then we go into the song, starts off mellow, something new adds with each measure: a flutter of beeps, a change in percussion, a hit of melody, a pad. Layer after layer, the mix just keeps building until the climax at 2:27 – it just takes the track to the next level, bringing in a main melody, slowly dying back down to what it was, then gone.

Like nothing happened.

I don’t remember the last time a song sent me on a trip like that. Maybe Hell Hath No Fury by Klute. Either way, cheers to YLHCSD. To more tracks, and more music.

For this month’s Wota Wonderings, I’ve decided to focus our attention to tie-ins to animes and doramas with musical acts. I’m going to be focusing on a fairly recent tie-in. It involves cross-dressing, lesbians, and a whip. No no no, my friends, I’m not talking about Koda Kumi, I’m talking about AKB48, more specifically no3b (No Sleeves) and their dorama tie-in with Mendol.

I know a few of the wotachatters went crazy each time a new episode came out. #wotachat was where I first learned of the craziness that was Mendol. Before then, I hadn’t really given AKB48 a chance in fear that I might actually go crazy about them and have to download everything they’ve done, BUT, I decided to give the trio of no3b a chance since it’s only 3 of them.

I really don’t remember how I acquired the RELAX! single (/me eyes mintii?) but man oh man, there was something about that track that just swallowed me whole. Even still, it took about a month for me to start watching the dorama since I started listening to the song. Some where between then, I watched the PV on youtube and kinda fell in love with Minegishi Minami. I didn’t watch the PV a lot before I got into the show so my first impressions of the girls were from the show. Minegishi is always going to be the adorably cute one, Takahashi is always going to be the tomboy, and Kojima is always going to be the leader. Minegishi still remains my favourite of the trio but I’ve got a soft spot for Takahashi even though she doesn’t really smile naturally, but when she does, her cuteness really shines. Nothing really strikes me with Kojima. I don’t know why. Vocally, all three girls are fun and energetic. Watching the lives they did on the music shows were fun. There’s just something about the talking parts that are cute but when they brought that into the second single, it got old kinda quickly.

I was quite surprised about the style of dorama Mendol was because I never expected to see an idol group do something that suggestive. Again, I don’t follow AKB48, so I thought it’d be something along the lines of something H!P would do. I have to admit that its suggestiveness was my weakness and got me hooked. Something about two cute girls kissing… nevermind. Anyhow, I ended up watching the entire series and was pleasantly surprised that the girls came out with another single even after the series was done. I’m currently not as into it as I was with RELAX! but that could change. It doesn’t quite have the immediate infectious power that RELAX! had.

Sadly, this is where my adventure with AKB48 ends. While Mendol was fun and new for my experiences with idol groups, it didn’t lure me into finding out more about them. I don’t know why. Maybe because My hands are already full with my fanboying over Perfume. Maybe I just need to find a song by AKB48 that has that instant infectious quality I found in RELAX!. Maybe I just think 48 girls in a single group is too much. Yeah, I think it’s that last one.

However, if someone out thinks they can get me into AKB, hit me with a song title and I’ll see what happens. I don’t know if I’m ready to give up on them completely but I don’t know if I’ll actively be looking to spark the interest.

I decided to do it in the styling of hardcore but I might work on an actual hip-hop mix some time later. For now, you can download the RPG-OCD hardcore remix here.

As for the song itself, it’s a pretty standard hardcore beat with an original bass line and melody. As always, I wish I did more with it but I’m happy Anthony enjoyed it. I’m guessing if you’re here from Destructoid, you enjoyed it enough to come and download it. Thank you.

Comments?

In case you missed it up there, DOWNLOAD HERE!

This month, being February and all, I thought it would be appropriate (after a little hint from a friend) to dive deeper into the love that we have as music lovers for the people who make the music we enjoy so much. Idol love. Why do we devote so much of our time, effort, and money into such a one-sided relationship?

Maybe for moments like this?

From what I’ve heard about Akihabara, it happens a lot with the akiba-idols but Haruko Momoi is serious business compared to random street performers. I know this is really old but this is my favourite showing of wotagei, and since I find wotagei to be a pure form of idol love, this is more than just a bunch of otaku going nuts with glowsticks.

Normally, the wotas involved are separated from the idols they cheer so enthusiastically about. In this performance, Halko goes as far as to invite her wotas on stage with her. To some, I’m thinking the experience could be similar to jamming with their favourite instrumentalist, or singing a duet with their favourite vocalist, or in my case, being in the studio with Nakata-san while he’s working on an instrumental. It would be absolutely awesome to experience a professional such as Halko do what she does right there in her face while she experience the love she gets from her fans in the same way.

Pushing aside the extreme wota (and totally ignoring the fanboys and fangirls), I find wota to be more respectful than your average fan. Give some people the opportunity to climb on stage with their favourite musical act, chances are they’d glomp them and probably steal an article of clothing. Wotas cheer on, support, and respect their idols for what they do, through thick and thin.

They also dance.

Dancing is love.

Love is awesome.

Wota Wonderings 2… I luff youuuu~ (H!P Fangirling like Nobody’s Business)
Wota Wonderings 2 – All you need is love! (Solo Space)
Wota Wonderings 002 (Selective Hearing)
Wota Wonderings 002: All you need is love! (Merry Go Round)
Wota Wonderings 02 – The Idol Love Challenge (fields of maize and berryz)
Wota Wonderings: Idol Love. (boylikesmusic)
Wota Wonderings 002: All You Need Is Love (The Groove Music Life)