The Official Album for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (Promo Score)

The official story behind this album is that it was a sealed promo score purchased from a Chinese citizen off of e-bay, although some think this might simply be a limited edition score that was released exclusively in China. The album I am presenting to you includes music that was actually performed during the opening and closing ceremonies, "Parade of Nations" and various other ceremonies during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. I should point out that there were several albums released under the title "Official Album for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games". There are at least two other albums released under the title of "Official Album for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games", containing the type of mainstream music that you will never see posted here. These albums have been dubbed as "the gray album" and "the white album" by collectors due to the colors of their album cover. The gray album contains music from Western pop acts, such as Avril Lavigne, Backstreet Boys etc, while the "white album" contains music from mainstream Chinese pop stars. EMI also released an album simply titled "2008 Olympics", which presents songs sung in Mandarin by various Chinese artists. This score certainly surprised me upon first listening to it. I didn't get the opportunity to watch the opening ceremonies in 2008, and I've since discovered that it turned out to be one of the most epic opening ceremonies in the history of the Olympics. I suppose I expected the music to be more traditional and reserved, which it is at times; however, it is also filled with many exciting, heart-pounding performances as well.

The first disc consists of music from the opening ceremonies, performed by thousands of Chinese artists, and directed by a variety of accomplished Chinese composers . It opens up rather weak in my opinion, but at the heart of this disc is some of the best ethnic music that I've had the pleasure of listening to. My favorite tracks from this collection are "Written Character", "Opera" and "The Silk Road", "Nature", which are all unique and exciting pieces that utilize pounding percussion, chants, natural sounds and traditional Chinese instruments, all in a more contemporary fashion. "The Entry of the National Flag", "Scroll Painting", "Ritual Music" "Before the Lighting of the Olympic Cauldron", "Starlight", are all tracks of the more traditional or reserved variety that I mentioned earlier, filled with sweeping and soaring strings, shimmering harp interludes, soft piano segments, traditional Chinese instrumentation, and are often accompanied by dreamlike choral sections. Don't let the fact that I have lumped the majority of the songs into two general categories cause you to come to the conclusion that there isn't much variety to be found on these discs. This was done simply to save time, as I am unable to do a track-by-track review at the moment. In fact, each track is unique in it's own way, as each composer strives to represent China to the best of their ability, incorporating their own distinct style and flavor to each track in the process.

The second disc exhibits the music from "The Athlete's Parade", more commonly known as "The Parade of Nations". It contains a variety of traditional ethnic musical themes to represent the various nations involved. It features three tracks from master djembe drummers Patrick Pobee (Ghana) and Warren Lieberman (South Africa), a trio of tracks featuring Scottish bagpipe, Mexican Mariachi in the form of "El Son De La Negra", "El Son De La Madrugada" and Athlet's Parade #14, traditional Australian Aboriginal music by Brenton Broadstock and William Barton, as well as several traditional and contemporary folk and classical pieces from various Chinese composers. I had hoped that the music would cover a broader range, rather than including three tracks of mariachi and bagpipe music; however, it still remains a well-rounded and solid group of selections.

The third and final disc is my least favorite of the set. The majority of the music contained within consists of pop ballads and anthems. It's just not my cup of tea, nor the type of music that I would share here on DM. Fortunately the quality of the first two discs more than makes up for what the third lacks, and I'm sure there will be a few people that actually enjoy the type of music found on this disc also.

I hope that you all enjoy this gem, which I believe is both an aural delight, as well as culturally and historically significant. If any of you can provide me with more information about this release, please help me out by taking the time to leave a comment.


Year of Release: 2008
Genre: Soundtrack
Bitrate: 320kbps

Download:
The Official Album for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Disc 1
The Official Album for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Disc 2
The Official Album for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Disc 3

Download Size:
Disc 1: 157MB
Disc 2: 127MB
Disc 3: 159MB

Catching Some Zzzzzzs

Thought I'd leave you with this last post before I go catch some Zzzzzzs. I set out to post musick from each letter of the alphabet & I finally made it to Z.

Since this is Zero_ii's blog & he's a Z, I thought I better end on a high note. Now I'm a Nothin', which is like a Zero. In fact I use the Ø as my symbol (NØ) & I did model my nom de plume after another Zero named Earl. But when I set out to accomplish somethin', well I see it through to fruition. Hence Nothin' Sez Somethin' or in this case, does. I finally got this alphabet thing licked (but man is my tongue dry). Without further ado...

Zru Vogue - Zruisms 1980- 1984

Zru Vogue is an American independent band composing, recording & producing ethno-electro avant-pop surrealist rock for postmoderns.

Zru Vogue formed in Palo Alto, California in 1980, when two musicians, Andrew L. Jackson & Rick Cuevas got together with friends Tom & Nancy. Their musick was inspired by pop, punk & dada. They began experimenting by mixing up: African tribal & Middle Eastern rhythms; ambient; British-influenced avant-garde rock; minimalist electronics; & funk-rock guitars.

Their name came from a ‘zine headline “Zero Risk Unobtainable”. Andrew wrote a song with that title, then another called “Z.R.U. Part Two”. Somewhat randomly the ZRU was coupled with Vogue, thus Zru Vogue.

Zru Vogue’s first single, Febuary 1981's “Nakweda Dream b/w Cumulonimbus” on San Francisco label Adolescent Records was critically acclaimed in the alternative press. Sub-Pop magazine named it the best independent single of 1981. The first 3,000 copies sold out within months, mostly by mail order & another 3,000 were pressed & distributed.

From 1982 to 1984, Zru Vogue released an album (Zru Vogue, The Album [1982]) & an EP (Zru Vogue Now! / Possibly Imagined / The Artist [1984]). In 1985, Zru Vogue disbanded. The core duo of Rick Cuevas & Andrew L. Jackson made solo records through the late 80s & 90s.

Relocated to San Francisco, Andrew & Rick resurrected Zru Vogue in 2002, adding drummer Patrick Coyne to the line-up. They have released four albums of new material since 2004: Beautiful Again (2004); Unlimited Enjoyment Instant Gratification (2005); The Exile (2006); & their latest, Eleven Eyes (2009).

Zruism 1980-84 includes the complete studio recordings of Zru Vogue from 1980 to 1984. The musicians here are: Andrew L. Jackson (known then as Andrew Finkle) - guitar & vocals; Rick Cuevas - guitar & bass; Tom Sanders - bass; Nancy Miller - drums, Max Tyrell - multi-instrumentalist, with Zelda Blue (80-81) & Lawan Angelique (83-84).

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Zru Vogue
Genre: Dream-pop, Art-funk

Tracklist:
Cumulonimbus
Nakweda Dream
Do the Zru
The Dream Stops
Loubella Extendables
Pretty Girl
Exploring the Underworld
For the Time
Ubuhuha
Big Fish Swing
Now!
Possibly Imagined
The Artist

Download: Zru Vogue - Zruism 1980-84
Download Size: 144MB (ripped at 320 Kbps)

Zmiya - Somamdenlo

Zmiya is a band from Nantes, Pays de la Loire, France. They began as a more basic French hip-hop electro unit before altering their sound, becoming a very Eastern & Arabic sounding band. Their music is a world musick mix of traditional influences & modern electronic rhythms. Most of their songs have a peaceful shamanistic feel. Zmiya blend ethno with electro, using a diverse range of traditional instruments from around the world, such as: oud; hurdy-gurdy; didjeridoo; balaphon; arghoul; & kora mixed with subtle electro beats & samples.

Somamdenlo was released in 2004 by the Prikosnovénie label, also located in Nantes. It is currently out of print.

Zmiya here are: Jerome Ettinger - vocals, arghoul (a double-pipe, single-reed woodwind instrument that consists of two tubes: a melody pipe with between five & seven holes & a longer drone pipe) & programming; Sebah - kora (African lute-harp), guitar, & programming; Julien Bonvoisin - bass; Matthieu Rousseau - drums; along with four musickians from Cairo on vocals, percussion, rababa, arghoul, & kawala. Female & male vocals alternate throughout the album.

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Prikosnovénie PRIK087
Genre: Tribal, Electro

Tracklist:
Somamdenlo
Magical Time
Desert
Douma
Al Mostafa
Zmiya
Terra Nova
Redjah

Download: Zmiya - Somamdenlo
Download Size: 71.4MB (ripped at 320Kbps)

Zillatron - Lord of the Harvest

The electronic spawn of Godzilla is about to funktify your fuzzface. Yes, indeed, it is none other than Bootsy Collins in one of his many various personalities...this time Zillatron Fuzzface Bootsy, the Lord of the Harvest (of souls, we might ask???).

Describing the musick on this album is no simple matter. There are elements of metal, funk metal, funk, hip-hop & some leftfield type stuff as might be expected with Bill Laswell, Buckethead, & Bernie Worrell having their hands in this album. This is one of the earlier projects featuring these cats, much in line with later releases by Praxis or other Bill Laswell releases. Fans of Bootsy's work with Praxis should definitely enjoy this, but it still packs enough straight forward funk punch for more diehard Rubber Band fans.

A great concept for Bootsy has him playing bass as only he can. The theme of paranoia, both from within & without, is excellent. An extremely ambitious project utilizing: some heavy HEAVY fuzz bass; funked up guitar sounds from Buckethead; vocal samples from the film Naked Lunch; & other high weirdness. Zillatron lays down a coherent (if chaotic) landscape of funk fused with almost industrial music. It is very futuristic-sounding 'Cyberfunk' with snatches of techno, rock, & spaced-out ambient sounds all vying for supremacy. All the weirdness is capped off by a real zinger of a song, the hauntingly beautiful finale "The Passion Continues", a song that reverently references some great lines from some great ParliaFunkaRubber songs of the past.

Take the time to really listen to this album, both musickally & lyrically. You will not be disappointed.

"This Record is Dedicated to Eddie Hazel - The Maggot Brain of Funkadelic"

Zillatron is: Bootsy Collins - bass, sampler, & vocals; Buckethead - guitar; Bernie Worrell - piano, organ, & synthesizer; Bill Laswell - noises; Brenda Holloway, Debra Barsha, Kristen Gray, Momma Collins, & Patti Willis - backing vocals; & Grandmaster Melle Mel & Umar Bin Hassan (of the legendary Last Poets) - rapping & chanting. Recorded at Greenpoint Studio & Bootzilla Studio.

Year of Release: 1993
Label: Rykodisc RCD 10301
Genre: Funk Metal

Tracklist:
C.B.I. Files (Central Bug Intelligence)
Bugg Lite
Fuzz Face
Exterminate
Smell the Secrets
Count Zero
Bootsy & the Beast
No Fly Zone (The Devil’s Playground)
The Passion Continues

Download: Zillatron - Lord of the Harvest
Download Size: 99.6MB (ripped at 320Kbps)

Zwell - Open Air

Zwell is the performance name for Jean Libert, of Toulouse, Midi-Pyrénées, France & a constantly changing cast of supporting characters. Libert was born in Lille, France. He sang in rock bands in another life & now plays in his kitchen among pigs, dragonflies, & beer. He uses boom boxes, synths, guitars, bells, street sounds & vocals to create his own brand of outsider musick.

Here he gets by with a little help from his friends: Antonio Mas - Spanish guitars; Karine - vocals, bass & keyboards; Marc Dechaumont- mandolin; Gian Lucca Houalla - drums; & Yves Alain for all the rest.

This is all I know about Zwell, so just listen & enjoy.

Year of Release: 1999
Label: My Dining Room Records
Genre: Outsider

Tracklist:
A Fairy Tale
Beat Boxes
Colma Train
Dirty Tricks
Fly Even Higher
I Married the Sun
Open Air
White Shirts
Mezzo il Mare
Mumble Doll
Peeling the Lichees
Trini Lopez
In the Moon
Spin Doctors

Download: Zwell - Open Air
Download Size: 91.5MB (ripped at 320Kbps)

Zyce - Transgressive

Zyce is a progressive psytrance project created by Nikola Kozik from Nova Pazova, Serbia. Since he was quite young, Nikola was interested in music. He gained experience playing in numerous rock, reggae & metal bends in his native Serbia. After years of playing, Nikola found himself gravitating to electronic music.

Nikola is a prolific artists. Aside from Zyce, his progressive trance solo project, he is involved in: Vertex , a progressive house project with Slobodan Gacesa; Zyce & Fox, a psytrance collaboration with Petar Lisica as part of the Tesserac Tstudio organization; & Ectima, a progressive tech-trance unit with Dalibor Delic (aka Flegma). He has released musick on labels such us: Spin Twist Records; Mikrokosmos Records; IONO music; Blue Tunes; Plusquam Records; & Synergetic Records.

There is a very fertile Progressive scene of his home country Serbia. Although his first material using the Zyce name was released as recently as 2008, it stood head & shoulders above much of the other musick in its genre because of both its technical & creative skills. Now only two years later, he delivers his second studio album. I usually don’t post things that are this contemporary, but this is an artist who deserves to be heard.

Transgressive utilizes solid melodies while plowing a distinctive acoustic furrow, creating a very laid-back & dreamy atmosphere. Nikola plays guitar, bass, keyboards, & drums with equal ability. Far from being claustrophobic, the 10 tracks on this album feel like a tender spring breeze against the listener's face.

Year of Release: 2010
Label: Spin Twist Records SPN1CD034
Genre: Progressive Trance, Psychedelic

Tracklist:
Blue Body
Earth in the Flame (with Flegma)
Hush
Nemesis
Intoxicated (Zyce remix by Martin)
Off-duty
Basic (remix)
Wonderland (with Nok)
Absorb
Moon Riders

Download: Zyce - Transgressive
Download Size: 148MB (ripped at 320Kbps)

ZZZZZZ - Holeigans

ZZZZZZ is a musical project by the band's only member, artist Tomas Johansson of Stockholm, Sweden. The music had been growing for a few years as intangible ideas & thoughts in Tomas’ head.

At Liljevalch's (Sweden's most renowned art gallery) 2000 Spring Exhibition, Tomas Johansson was exhibiting three paintings: "Which hole is the way out?"; "Holeigan Spiral"; & "The Bump" which depicted holeigans sitting in their holes. They were large paintings with an alien character as central figure. The whole concept was built on a simple ‘expressionlessness’ which, in its simplicity, became extremely expressive.

This expressive expressionlessness became the central concept that led to the creation of this musick. These Holeigan figures also illustrate the cover. The music is not really about the holeigans, but was created in the holeigans spirit...minimilistic & clinical with a pinch of humor in a juxtaposed calming yet desolate feeling.

Tomas’ musickal background is as a bassist in Swedish heavy & death/trash metal bands, but his influences span over a much broader spectrum, including a heavy dose of German ‘krautrock’ such as Kraftwerk. This musick has in fact been described as ‘ Kraftwerk meets Monty Python.’

All the songs on the CD are produced, composed, arranged, performed & recorded by Tomas, except the final bonus track "ZZZZZZ (L’Babe remix by Lizette)" which is produced, arranged, performed & recorded by Lizette von Panajott. Lizett also is responsible for the mix of the album. Mastering was done by Henrik Jonsson at Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden.

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Blue Lemon International
Genre: Experimental, Electronic

Tracklist:
The Operator
Hole
The Bump
Love
Electromonominimilistic Dimension
ZZZZZZ version 2.0
Another Mind
Something Nothing
ZZZZZZ (I´Babe Remix by Lizette) - bonus track

Download: ZZZZZZ - Holeigans
Download Size: 141MB (ripped at 320Kbps)

So adios all my DM friends, bedwise is rightwise now, right right right.

New Christs - Dropping Like Flies EP (Double 7")

This little gem was originally posted on the first Ausrock blog, which was removed by blogger. It hasn't reappeared on the new blog, so I thought I would post it here as requested.

The New Christs were originally formed by Radio Birdman and New Race vocalist Rob Younger after he was offered the support spot on Iggy Pop's Australian tour of 1984. The other members had played in groups such as Celibate Rifles, Lime Spiders and Hoodoo Gurus. The tour proved a success and the band stayed together, recording the two singles Like A Curse and Born Out Of Time for Sydney independent label Citadel Records. These releases gained universal acclaim for their tough and uncompromising nature. With the prospect of an album deal and European tour, the other members instead chose to return to their former interests. Younger was left to pursue a career producing some of the finest upcoming Australian alternative bands.

In 1986 Barracudas bass player Jim Dickson returned to Australia from the UK and together with Younger started a new line-up. Featured were Charlie Owen, a gifted but as yet unknown guitarist and drummer Louis Burdett who soon left to be replaced by Nick Fisher who had played with Ed Kuepper and Wet Taxis. This line-up released a series of hard hitting singles Black Hole, Headin' South, Another Sin and the EP Dropping Like Flies. These tracks were compiled under the title Divine Rites, whose European release allowed the group to tour there for the first time.

Track List:
1. Dropping like Flies
2. Dead Girl
3. I Swear
4. You'll never catch my Wave

Download: New Christs - Dropping Like Flies EP
Download Size: 20MB

A.K. Klosowski & Pyrolator - Home Taping Is Killing Music

"Demented pop music from the very early days of sampling"This album was passed on to me by one of my friends on last.fm If you are reading this Metawirt, thank you very much for introducing me to this wonderful gem, as well as all the other music that you regularly recommend. Metawirt was also kind enough to set up a last.fm artist page, which unfortunately didn't exist until he created it. To my knowledge this is the only project that A.K. Klosowski worked on. There are two bonus tracks included which are a collaborative effort by Klosowski and T. Eckart. I am unsure if these were included on the original release, or if these were included on a reissue. If any of you have any more information on this release please pass it on. I haven't been able to dig up much information on this project, and I'm short on time at the moment, so I will pass on the information that Metawirt posted on last.fm:

"In 1984 Pyrolator (aka Kurt Dahlke, specialist for music & computer and early part of “Fehlfarben”, “Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft” and later part of “Der Plan”) teamed up with A.K. Klosowski for the groundbreaking sampling experiment Home Taping Is Killing Music:
Demented pop music from the very early days of sampling. Numerous artists are credited as being the sample sources, but good luck to you finding them." - Metawirt

Year of Release: 1984
Label: Captain Trip
Genre: Electronic, Sampling, Sound Collage
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Overtüre
2. Österreich
3. Tschak
4. Hammond
5. Agana Wudiov
6. What Made You So No Good
7. Heimat
8. Dahomey
9. You know, I Need...
10. ZV9
Bonus Tracks by A.K. Klosowski & T. Eckart
11. HiFidelity
12. China First On Mars

Download: A.K. Klosowski & Pyrolator - Home Taping Is Killing Music
Download Size: 58MB

Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson - Unnoticeable in a Tiny Town, Invisible in the City

Representing the letter Y is a group from the magickal Arctic Rim country of Norway.

Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson is a Norwegian post-rock band. The band came to be when a group of four journalism students got together at the Bodø University College in the fall of 2003. During the following year they recorded a series of songs in a yellow bomb shelter in Bodø. At first their musick was an amalgam of various styles & influences, but as they continued working together they realized they were most aligned with the longer dreamy post-rock tunes exemplified by “A List Not to Be Read at Your Wedding". Working in that vein, they soon had written six lengthy tunes which ended up on their début album Unnoticeable in a Tiny Town, Invisible in the City which they released 21 May 2005 on their own new label, How is Annie Records.

These songs are haunting & skygazing epics combining electronic elements with soothing layers of dreamy guitars & pounding yet jazzy intricate beats. This is post-rock with a pop feel laced with spoken, sung & screamed vocals. One can dance to these tunes or be lulled to sleep, they are at the same time beat-driven & dream-inducing.

Earlier this year YPOFH released their second album, this time self-titled...a continuation of the old-school emo & modern post-rock found on this, their first release. The new album is their first release to be sold in the U.S. So for anyone who missed their original offering, I serve it up here with four bonus tracks for your listening pleasure, down to the wire with letter Y.

The original members of Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson are: Gjermund Arne Jappée - guitar & vocals; Torbjørn Endal - guitar & vocals; Audun Hoem Hagen - bass; & Morten André Samdal - drums.

Year of Release: 2005
Label: How is Annie Records HIA003
Genre: Post-rock

Tracklist:
Van Gogh Kept Painting Himself Because He Was the Only Model He Had
Yet We Continue to Build There, the Structure
How Odd to See These Lamps Still Burning
I've Got a Picture of You Boss
A List Not to Be Read at Your Wedding
We May Be Remembered by What We Did When We Sat Down
bonus tracks
Jazzsangen
Zimbabwe Optimist Sailing Team
Game, Set, Match
Our Doorhandles Stopped Moving Years Ago

Download: Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson - Unnoticeable in a Tiny Town, Invisible in the City
Download Size: 143.6MB (ripped at 320Kbps)

Yellow Magic Orchestra - Solid State Survivor

Representing the letter Y is a group from the magickal Pacific Rim country of Japan.

Yellow Magic Orchestra is a Japanese techno-art-pop group. They are highly innovative & influencial in the world of electronics, similar to Kraftwerk. The band was formed in 1978 by Ryuichi Sakamoto collaborating with drummer Yukihiro Takahashi, who had previously worked with the art rock group The Sadistic Mika Band & bassist Haroumi Hosono, who had already released four solo albums & was a well known producer. The initial concept was to set high tech Kraftwerk type arrangements to the sort of exotic faux orientalism of Martin Denny. It was originally supposed to be a sort of experimental one-off project, but after the success they encountered they decided to continue, getting together a full band, touring & doing more albums.

Solid State Survivor is their second album, following quickly at the heels of the first self-titled release. It was not released intact in the U.S. until the Restless CD in the 1992. Some of its contents wound up on the US LP X∞ Multiplies but three tracks never came out in the US on LP. Although Yellow Magic Orchestra is considered more a synthpop band, they never dropped their original Prog sophistication.

The musick on this album is fantastic, beginning with “Technopolis” which was written by Sakamoto. Probably the most well known song is “Rydeen” which was written by Yukihiro Takahashi. The title song “Solid State Survivor” features guest guitarist Makoto Ayukawa of Sheena & the Rokkets fame. The lyrics are by Chris Mosdell & all three YMO members do vocal work.

Year of Release: 1979
Label: Alfa Records, Inc ALR-6022
Genre: Synth-pop

Tracklist:
Side A -
Technopolis
Absolute Ego Dance
Rydeen
Castalia
Side B -
Behind The Mask
Day Tripper
Insomnia
Solid State Survivor

Download: Yellow Magic Orchestra - Solid State Survivor
Download Size: 73.5MB (ripped at 320 Kbps)

Geinō Yamashirogumi - AKIRA: Original Soundtrack

Iwas delighted to discover that I hadn't already posted this soundtrack. This is easily one of the most unique soundtracks of all time, and it happens to be my personal favorite. Don't make the mistake of judging this album by it's cover, thinking that it's just the soundtrack to some silly cartoon, as that would be a serious lapse of judgement on your behalf. Those of you who haven't had the pleasure of listening to it are going to be in for a real treat. I'm not a fan of anime or manga, but there are two exceptions, those being "Ninja Scroll" and "Akira". Fortunately for you all I happen to have the soundtracks to both, with the latter being presented to you now.

For those unfamiliar with Akira, it is a 1988 anime film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, based on the manga comic bearing the same name. It has since become a massive cult classic, influencing a great deal of the anime/manga art and animation that would follow in the years to come. The movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo in the year 2019. Rebuilt from the ashes of World War 3, it's a technological dream of computers and soaring science, mated to the social nightmare of corrupt politicians, a rampant military and an oppressed working class. Add to this the rise of a powerful breed of psychics (or 'psionics') capable of various degrees of telepathy and telekinesis, and somehow linked to a top secret military project known as Akira. The film tells the story of Tetsuo, who begins developing psychic powers but doesn't understand what is happening to him or the responsibilities that come with such godlike power.

The soundtrack was recorded by Geinō Yamashirogumi (芸能山城組), and composed and conducted by Shoji Yamashiro. Geinō Yamashirogumi is a Japanese musical collective founded on January 19, 1974 by Tsutomu Ōhashi, consisting of hundreds of people from all walks of life. They are known for their faithful re-creations of folk music from around the world, as well as their fusion of various traditional musical styles with modern instrumentation and synthesizers. In the early 1980's the group saught to incorporate computer-generated sounds into their music. The MIDI digital synthesizers of that time were incapable of handling the tuning systems of traditional gamelan music, so the group taught themselves to program these synthesizers in order to modify their equipment. Their fusion of traditional gamelan and electronic music captured the attention of Katsuhiro Ōtomo, who commissioned them to create the soundtrack of Akira. The soundtrack is built on the concept of recurrent themes or "modules". Texturally, the soundtrack is a mix of digital synthesizers (Roland D-50, etc), Indonesian chromatic percussion (jegog, etc.), traditional Japanese theatrical and spiritual music (Noh), European classical, and progressive rock.

The soundtrack was recorded in 1988, and released in 1990 by Demon Records. You can no longer find it to purchase on the Demon Records website. A few versions of the soundtrack have been released over the years. "AKIRA: The Original Japanese Soundtrack", consists of only four tracks. I haven't had the chance to listen to it, therefore I'm unable to describe to you what extent it differs, aside from the number of tracks and length. "AKIRA: Original Soundtrack" consists of 10 tracks, and contains voices and sound effects from the film, as well as music which was additionally re-recorded for the soundtrack release. "Kaneda", "Battle Against Clown" and "Exodus From the Underground Fortress" are actually part of the same song cycle. "Symphonic Suite AKIRA" is the same as "AKIRA: Original Soundtrack", only the voices and sound effects are absent.

I have no doubt that those of you who have been following this blog will enjoy this, as well as anyone who happens to stumble across it. As I mentioned before, my knowledge of anime is virtually nonexistent, but if any of you could recommend some soundtracks in a similar vein I would be very grateful.

Year of Release: 1990
Label: Demon Records
Genre: Soundtrack, Experimental, World Fusion
Bitrate: 256kbps

Track List:
1. Kaneda
2. Battle Against Clown
3. Winds Over The Neo-Tokyo
4. Tetsuo
5. Dolls Polyphony
6. Shohmyoh
7. Mutation
8. Exodus From The Underground Fortress
9. Illusion
10. Requiem

Download: AKIRA: Original Soundtrack
Download Size: 122MB

XXX Rated

This sucka is triple X rated.
& mostly 78rpms.
Well, really three entries under the letter X & two are from 1978, when punk rock was one year old (according to some...although punk mentality has been around in musick for much longer). So dust of your Doc Marten's & your pogo sticks, kiddies. (Yeah I'm kinda giddy, only two more letters in this alphabet soup.)

X-Ray Spex - Live at CBGBs March 17, 1978 bootleg cassette

Poly Styrene & X-Ray Spex were something of an anomaly, a female fronted band of the original British ‘77 punk movement with no real antecedent & no real parallel. Their sound, style & energy were strictly their own. They were always one of a kind. They never took themselves too seriously, yet had enough ability & unique attributes to make their own way. They were the epitome of the punk movement...start playing live shows after just one practice, release a few singles, one album, & have a personal point of view.

In March of 1978, X-Ray Spex played a short residency at CBGB's. This recording came from their March 17th show. Judging by musick levels & audience noise, this was probably recorded through the soundboard. 12 songs, 2 encores & pretty good sound for what it is.

“It’s 1978, & the crowd at CBGB’s are belligerent, maybe expecting Malcolm McLaren’s media demon juggernaut The Sex Pistols to fire off a trade mark drunken set. Poly’s on stage in a leather apron. She’s got her hair curled in 1950s schoolgirl ringlets, a couple of dominoes pinned to her lapel & a golliwog doll hanging round her neck. Into the chaos, over the puking & fighting she yells out, “Some people think little girls should be seen & not heard, but I think…” & there’s a pause, the crowd pull in closer & Poly yells again, “Oh Bondage, Up yours! One, two three, four". The Spex break into their furious sax driven hit. The place goes wild. For a moment it seems the kids are listening. It seems like somewhere in the nihilism & self destruction of late 70’s punk, there’s room for a young girl from Brixton with something important to say. Poly flaps her arms and bounces around the stage, hot & hip despite herself, leans into the mic, “Chain-store chain-smoke / I consume you all / Chain-gang chain-mail / I don’t think at all” . Stop, freeze frame. Hold her steady now. There she is on the right, mid-verse, iconic in black and white, twenty one forever.”

Year Recorded: 1978
Label: bootleg
Genre: Punk

Set List:
Artificial
I'm obsessed with you
Let's submerge
Identity
Plastic bag
I live off you
Germ free adolescents
I'm a poser
Genetic engineering
I'm a cliche
The day the world turned dayglo
Oh bondage up yours!
Artificial (encore version)
Identity (encore version)

Download: X-Ray Spex - Live at CBGB’s 17 March 1978 bootleg
Download Size: 107MB (ripped from audio cassette at 320Kbps)

X - Adult Books b/w We're Desperate 7" 45

Not much needs to be said here. The first single released by Los Angeles band X. Exene Cervenka on vocals, Billy Zoom on guitar, John Doe on bass & vocals, D.J. Bonebrake on drums. Essential.

Year of Release: 1978
Label: Dangerhouse D88
Genre: Punk, Indie Rock

Tracklist:
Side X -
Adult Books
Side Z -
We´re Desperate

Download: X - Adult Books b/w We’re Desperate 7“ 45
Download Size: 12.1MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Xmal Deutschland - Tocsin

Xmal Deutschland - Tocsin

Xmal Deutschland formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1980, originally an all-female band.Founding members included: Anja Huwe - vocals; Manuela Rickers - guitar; Fiona Sangster - keyboards; Rita Simon - bass; & Caro May - drums. Their first single, "Großstadtindianer" was released in 1981 on the ZickZack label. About this same time, Rita Simon was replaced by Wolfgang Ellerbrock. In 1982, a U.K. tour opening for the Cocteau Twins resulted in a label deal with independent label 4AD Records.

Xmal are masters of eerie, gothick musick sung in their native German, with beautiful bass driven melodies & searing, though icy, guitar lines.

Tocsin, Xmal Deutschland's second full-length album is arguably the bands creative high point. It is undoubtedly less bleak than their first record, but by no means saccharine. These songs are somewhere in the middle ground between the neo-psychedelic 4AD tradition & the more aggressive sound of Xmal’s earlier offerings. The tension created by the disparate styles serves the band well. This is some tasty blend.

The line-up here is as listed above with the exception of: Peter Bellendir - drums.

Year of Release: 1984
Label: 4AD CAD 407
Genre: Goth Rock, Synth-pop, Minimal

Tracklist:
Side 1 -
Mondlicht
Eiland
Reigen
Tag fur Tag
Side 2 -
Augen·blick
Begrab Mein Herz
Nachtschatten
Xmass In Australia
Derwisch

Download: Xmal Deutschland - Tocsin
Download Size: 85.5MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)