Tag Archives: Music

In Search for that MPLS Sound…

27 Apr

MPLS Sound - Softcover TradeBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Life Drawn Publishing
Available to order on Amazon USA

Spoiler Alert

Some graphic novels can benefit from having that MPLS Sound if pressing those cheap plastic vinyl records is possible. This book could have been brought up a notch had it included a soundtrack too, as an insert or digital code, so readers can benefit from listening to the music that defined that Minneapolis style.

In this book’s case by Joseph P. Illidge & Hannibal Tabu, it’s about why Starchild aka Theresa Booker became a musician. she fell in love with the music that not only Jimi Hendrix made famous but also Prince. It’s also an indirect look at who the musician Prince is and what he represents. Not everyone knows his origin story, and Theresa’s tale is supposed to represent his struggles as a musician. After reading this illustrated work, however, I have to revisit Purple Rain. Both works examine how tough it is to become respected in the music industry. The fictional characters introduced in this book felt very real.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , ,

From Beatmania to Beyond, Yamato, This Star Blazer is Making Waves

15 Apr

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xjE6BQAQwllu_JLriFJ8sMl7BfsJ9MvIUzyNdGOOKnWRmwOnxcYTFjEXi-78jiNmBzJfR89eoQFE-1VpSnd6xe5_qb-7-wmoNbCPnikxb815yjq7k-_dweZnWGBitw

To see Yamato’s latest videos, please visit the official YouTube channel.

Meet Yamato, an impossibly highly skilled DJ and producer from Japan who has redefined the boundaries of CDJ mixing. Over the course of his career, Yamato has been blessed by the late DJ Avicii, and, more recently, contributed tracks for Konami’s ‘beatmania’ games. Yamato’s latest track, ‘Blaze’, has been featured in a campaign to attract visitors to the city of Nagoya.

Just two years after his DJ debut, this DJ took first place in the ‘burn WORLD DJ CONTEST 2013 JAPAN’ competition, which was sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company. Soon after, during the ‘burn STUDIOS RESIDENCY’ global contest held in Ibiza, Spain, he was selected by superstar DJ Avicii to co-star at the ‘burn YARD in Budapest’ festival in Hungary, becoming the first Japanese artist to perform with Avicii. Since then, Yamato has been a fixture at clubs and large festivals in Japan and around the world.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , ,

Cinderella Switch Vol 4 in Review and Who’s Next in Part 5

1 Apr

Virtual Reality Concert Cinderella Switch Coming to a VR Near You | Cat with MonocleBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Available with the VARK app on Oculus and Quest 2 (VR); regular version on Android, iOS, and Niconico (non VR)

If only Virtual YouTubers existed back in the 1980s, I’m sure EVE from Megazone 23 would’ve endured beyond the golden age of anime. She’d even be ‘upgraded’ with the times. Well, technically, she was an avatar, a computer program designed to keep an eye on the people of Earth on floating cities. Her presence is meant to keep the populace happy, and the virtual idols of today serve a similar purpose. Their celebrity lifestyle is something fans want to follow; Himemori Luna (姫森ルーナ) and Natsuiro Matsuri (夏色まつり) is ) are two beloved video bloggers on YouTube who have a massive following. According to the VTuber Wiki, the number of subscribers to these idols and many more number in the millions. These two are the latest to perform a virtual concert last weekend!

Cinderella Switch -Futari de miru Hololive- cycles through popular virtual idol singers per show and unlike their regular YouTube content, which also puts their life on spotlight, these performances allow fans see them sing from the best seat in the house. The shows are “managed” by VARK Inc, considered a leader in this VR concert industry, and software that’s developed puts viewers into a cartoon.

vlcsnap-2021-03-31-22h31m18s352

This show realizes the two as best of friends. One is sweet and naive, and the other a ball of fire. Their shows are approximately an hour long, consisting of five tracks. Luna’s repertoire was bouncy, and Matsuri’s more varied (her show’s production value is a lot more varied). They sing covers of tunes composed by other artists, ranging from 40mp to DECO*27, and the emotional value is everything I’d expect from a Urusei Yatsura EDM mix-tape. Notable favourites include Ugoku, Uogoku (Chito & Yuuri), Paprika (Foorin) and U&I (Houkago Tea Time).

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , ,

Kauan Explores “The Terror” with Ice Fleet & RPG Concept Album

30 Mar

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Artoffact Records 
Preorder available on Bandcamp

There’s been a handful of doomed expeditions to the Arctic circle early in exploratory history, and perhaps the most famous is Sir John Franklin’s doomed expedition. This particular case is well known in Canada since it was found near our waters. AMC’s The Terror gave their take on what may have happened, and its legend still sends shudders to those wanting to find definitive answers. 

Although only two boats were involved, Russia’s own home grown terror is not well known and perhaps covered up! Anton Belov from the folk metal band Kauan learned about this tale from his research into his country’s unsolved mysteries and turned it into a concept album, aptly named Ice Fleet. He said, “The only real artifact is the hand-written letter of a person whose grandfather was part of a scientific expedition on the northern shores near the Laptev Sea. This man was involved in blowing up huge ice layers to find the right place to build a meteorological station. After one explosion, the snow revealed a dozen masts. This is where our story begins. The letter itself is carefully translated to English and presented in the next chapters in its entirety.”

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , ,

Virtual Concert Series Cinderella Switch to Stream Mar 27th!

26 Mar

Anyone who has played Kizuna AI: Touch the Beat on the Oculus will get a different type of experience with VARK Incorporated’s virtual concert series, Cinderella Switch.

This show brings Himemori Luna and Natsuiro Matsuri to many virtual headsets for fans to listen along to. This show takes place Saturday March 27th, 2021 at 9AM CET/4AM EDT/5PM JST. Of course, keeping track it in other time zones is tough unless one has an alarm and reminders in place–but for what’s offered in volume four is going to be a fun time. You’re getting J-pop as its meant–with a 3D laser light show and it’s all digital!

All people have to do is download the software. They’re available on Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2, PlayStation VR, Niconico, and on Android and iOS smartphones. 

The cost of the ticket is $43/€35 for a single concert part, with both pieces of the experience being offered when bought together for $80/€66.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , ,

← Older Entries

%d bloggers like this: