Musicians Still in Love With Japan

With all the rough news Japan has had over this year with all the bad economic news for the past twenty, musicians all around the world are still fascinated with the enigma that is Japan. Who wouldn't be? Japan is a bizarre and fascinating place and, as anyone who has ever been here can attest, it is cute and overwhelming both at the same time.  


I love Japan and do not want to live anywhere else at this time in my life.


There have been, over the years, many musicians who have fallen in love with Japan too. Some of the most famous are Deep Purple who wrote and performed, "My Woman in Tokyo;" Styx with "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto" just to name a few (which I'd much rather forget!)

BLUE OYSTER CULT - GODZILLA

Actually, though, there is one unit who consistently makes cool music, often with a Japan theme and that is a duo from the UK called Hexstatic. 


From Wikipedia:


Hexstatic is a UK music duo, consisting of Stuart Warren Hill and Robin Brunson, that specializes in creating "quirky audio visual electro." Formed in 1997 after Hill and Brunson met while producing visuals at the Channel Five launch party, they decided to take over for the original members of the Ninja Tune multimedia collective Hex that had disbanded around the same time. They soon collaborated with Coldcut for the Natural Rhythms Trilogy, including the critically acclaimed A/V single Timber. Much of their music involves integrated visual experiences, and both of their main album releases have been CD and DVD combinations; the latest, Master-View, includes 3D "anaglyph" versions of some of their music videos and comes packaged with 3D glasses. Hexstatic has also been instrumental in designing VJ equipment, including the Pioneer DVJ-X1 professional DVD player. Other artists they have worked with include EBN, Juice Aleem and David Byrne of Talking Heads


Hexstatic have been to Japan many times. I've interviewed them and they just love Japan and it shows in their videos. Here's a few for your weekend entertainment.


First let me show you the video that set them off. The description on Youtube reads:  "The classic piece that was the audiovisual epiphany for many. Still remains the standard to match for AV cutup. Ninjatune rool!"

COLDCUT & HEXSTATIC - TIMBER

For this next tune, Hexstatic took a Japanese pop song and remixed it heavily. This is way cool!

HEXSTATIC - PERFECT BIRD

HEXSTATIC - NINJA TUNE

HEXSTATIC - MACHINE TOY

Thanks to Steve "Poots" Candidus

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Joining the dancing of the Matigsalug tribe

When we arrived at the gardens of Malasag eco-tourism village in Cagayan de Oro City, we were greeted by the sound of the gongs mixed with the dancing and singing of the Matigsalug tribe clad in their native colorful attire. I was really amused because they formed themselves and paraded themselves from the upper to the lower portion of the eco-tourism village.

Here's a little information about the Matigsalug tribe based on what I've read about the tribe in a poster in the village...

The Matigsalug people are living in a nearby Salug river. They are a sub tribe of the Manobo people. For centuries, the people have been hunters and slash and burn farmers.

In the cold mountain of Sinuda, Kitaotao, Bukidnon, these young tribesmen have continued to pursue their traditional ways and heritage.

Cristino Sabas - maker of indigenous crafts.

Elkim Ombon - player of traditional instruments.

Marion Lay-um - dancer of traditional dances.

Dino Ombon - beadsmaker of the Matigsalug tribe.

Guys, experience and learn the Matigsalug culture in the gardens of Malasag.

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Cutie huts!

When the whole family went to Davao Crocodile park, we were able to see the different styles of huts being showcased in Tribu Mindanawon (Mindanao Tribes) that depicts the traditional houses of the different and diverse cultures of people inhabiting Davao City.

Woman dancing a traditional dance

People are watching the non-stop dancing that shows the life of the indigenous people in Davao

Can you see somebody up there? We would have wanted to go upstairs but somebody's dating up there so we just walk away.hehehe

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