fusion

mar-pa (マーパ): finale (フィナーレ) (1988)

2021/07/02

The Universe. It’s not often one turns on an instrument and gets presented with such a thing. Yet, the [Universe] was the sound patch introducing you to the world of Korg’s M1, the first of its kind, a music workstation that gave you what seemed like a universe of sounds in one keyboard. Korg’s M1…
Francesco Paladino: Eroi A Rio (1991)

2021/06/29

With the recent passing of the late, great Jon Hassell, I think it’s important to break down something worthwhile he’d be proud of playing a role in: Francesco Paladino’s Eroi A Rio. Twelve tracks. If to be believed, inspired by a vivid dream Francesco had where he recorded a concert held in 1993 at the…
Yuan Jung-Ping (袁中平): 南風旅程 (South Wind Journey) (1989)

2021/05/04

This post wouldn’t be possible without the good ear/find of Christopher Morris and the special vision of Yuan Jung-Ping. It seems appropriate this spring (if you’re on my latitude of the world) to keep digging through the annals of forgotten Asian culture looking for more signpoints guiding us towards a new, Chinese-influence or Sinosphere world…
Chan Wing Leung (陈永良): Milk Of Love (母愛) (1986)

2021/04/27

First and foremost, let me start with an apology. It might be that my review of Joseph Chan Wing Leung’s work and his career might span longer (or shorter) than the actual album, Milk Of Love (母愛), you’ll hear today. Though, in around 20 minutes you’ll get a taste on this album of the esoteric…
Mark Wood: La Mezcla (1988)

2020/09/15

Now here’s a man after my own musical heart. Untied to any single genre or set on creating some easily classifiable, Mark Wood’s La Mezcla takes a tastemaker’s approach to the DJ mix and applies it to the musical medium: the album. Sadly, on his only release, on La Mezcla we hear all sorts of…
Doris Monteiro: Agora (1976)

2020/08/25

Let me be forthright, I wish I had more info to share about this album. Doris Monteiro’s Agora, released in 1976, was a revelation then as it still is now. It’s a funk album, it’s a chanson album, it’s a detached post-bossanova album, it’s a whole bunch of other unclassifiable stuff, but first (and foremost)…
Lee Byung-Woo (이병우): 1집 – 내가 그린 기린 그림은 -航海 (1989)

2020/08/14

I’m glad we’ve gotten hints of the special work Lee Byung-Woo has done quietly behind the scenes in his native Korea. I wager some of you’ve already heard his music soundtracking Bong Joon-Ho’s brilliant films like The Host and Mother. Somewhere lost to our shores has been Lee Byung-Woo’s earlier trailblazing career. 1989’s 1집 –…
Daisaku Kume (久米大作): Eastern Shore (1993)

2020/08/07

I should stop saying this but it still boggles my mind that certain names aren’t more well known everywhere. Case in point: one Daisaku Kume. A rarity in the Japanese music biz, Daisaku Kume’s Eastern Shore was one of the few early Japanese ambient records released outside of Japan. An even bigger rarity was that…
Animal Nightlife: Shangri-La (1985)

2020/07/28

Maybe those who still vaguely remember England’s proto-Acid Jazz scene can better place Animal Nightlife in an appropriate context, but how in the heck did such a group not become a household name like Culture Club, Soul II Soul, and Spandau Ballet? Unfortunately, now tucked under the “where are they now” section, Animal Nightlife was…
Franco Mussina: Racconti Della Tenda Rossa (1991)

2020/04/21

Isn’t it wonderful when you can skip just whole bits of history and get to the pertinent parts? Such is the case with Franco Mussida’s Racconti Della Tenda Rossa (or Tales Of The Red Curtain), made by someone who most of you may already know as the founding member and lead guitarist (and sometimes vocalist)…