We are back again! I mentioned in my last blog post that I probably wouldn’t be doing any lists any time soon but look where we ended up. This time I’m going through all the things I thought were noteworthy within the first quarter of this year, this includes music, video games, films and everything in-between. As previously I’m not doing any rating or reviewing but just talking about why these things are cool. I’m also gonna include things which weren’t just released this year but also discoveries and things which I thought were noteworthy that I took in so far this year. Without further ado, let's get cracking!
MUSIC
xaviersobased - Keep It Goin Xav [ALBUM]
xaviersobased has still got it and sounds the best he ever has. Previous projects from xaviersobased never really hit it off with me as a lot of the tracks on them felt pretty hit and miss but here he really locks in, elevating the sounds he’s been experimenting with currently into his most consistent and focused project to date. A lot of cool cuts on here including bold intro “FanOut”, personal favourite “On My Own” and stoner anthem “Get High”.
tarozan - kiraSTAR …newtrends [SINGLE]
Japanese-Finnish artist tarozan reaches for stardom with this one. I found out about tarozan whilst writing the last blog catching my ears through his emotional ballad everyday combining japanese and english delivering sentimentality over glistening production certain to put you in the feels. However, now tarozan heats up brushing off his haters and exuding self-confidence to the maximum level. The vocaloid sample driving through the instrumental is nutty and the braggadocious attitude really set the tone for this one. Coming from the burgeoning japanese SoundCloud scene tarozan is a self-proclaimed star in the making. #kiraSTAR.
tarozan - butterfly [SINGLE]
I literally just found this whilst writing the previous blurb and this goes hard as fuck. Despite not knowing where you’re gonna be in future and having no idea as to what the next step should be, we're gonna shine regardless. #kirakiraSHINE
Baby Osama - why you call me chunk freestyle? [SINGLE]
Baby Osama is slowly becoming one of my new favourites within the new SoundCloud underground. Cruising on this exquisite piano ballad Baby Osama treats it like child's play. With her playful tone she just wants to flex, get jiggy with her boo and see her friends reach to the top. The beat selection on her recent releases have been phenomenal and this is just a prime example of that with this beat sounding like it was sent down by angels from the pearly gates. Baby Osama is really on the way to become one of the best out.
LAZER DIM 700 - Injoy [ALBUM]
LAZER DIM 700 is a one of a kind character. Rapping rapid fire with the thickest Atlanta accent with questionable vocal quality is what makes this guy so raw. On Injoy LAZER DIM 700 just goes in on these batshit insane beats inspired by tdf and perc40 that include 808s which are just bizarre sounding like the audio equivalent of what an electrical transmission tower sounds like combined with a lawnmower. This guy also has some funny and wild one liner which appear here like “you a lil savage, get put in the toilet”, “come to hood, come through the portal” and also not appearing on this mixtape but “TRAP SO OLD GOTTA RUN OUT THE HOUSE WHEN I PLAY MY MUSIC SO THE ROOF DONT FALL ON ME”
Yasuaki Shimizu - Music for Commericals (1987) [ALBUM]
2024 really got me listening to music for some adverts. Nevertheless this isn’t the expected generic slop you usually see on your televisions, this is arguably the best music made for advertisements. Yasuaki Shimizu crafts these miniature songs which are brimming with invention even almost 50 years after its release. Each song on this album averages at around 1 minute 30 seconds however each song manages to fit so many eclectic ideas. The album makes you feel all sorts of feelings from relaxed, opulent, energetic and even borderline demented. A masterwork of music production made for the most unexpected place to find it.
Clever Girl - No Drum and Bass in the Jazz Room (2012) [EP]
While I'm not a huge fan of math rock (or just rock music in general) I was always fascinated with the clean but complex guitar playing that these bands had. I’ve dabbled here and there listening to some songs by Tricot but never really fully soaked my feet into the genre but this little gem of an EP has made me want to see more of what the genre has to offer. Everything about this EP just gives off this happy-go-lucky vibe. The guitars are complex yet exuberant whilst the drums are consistently high energy capable of picking you up even from your lowest of days. However the cherry on top for this EP is saxophone which you wouldn’t think would work on a project as this but it brings out an unexpected freshness to it all. Over a decade later and gems like this are still tucked away in the depths of the internet like deep sea treasure.
WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA - SUPERMAN (2017) [ALBUM]
I’ve been aware of WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA since around the time that this album was released and have been a fan of a lot of the singles that they’ve released but never fully dug into any of their albums but I guess better late than ever. This album consists of effortless blends of a range of genres from electronic, pop, dance, disco, hip hop and house music. The production from Kenmochi Hidefumi is complex yet approachable and is delightful; however what really steals the show is KOM_I's vocal performances which range from graceful and elegant to weird and wacky. KOM_I’s vocals are full of personality with her gracefully gliding on Sakamoto Ryoma to rapping with attitude on Ikkyu-san adding so much charm to the already infectious production. It’s really a shame that we won’t be hearing music like this with them as KOM_I recently left the group and a new member Utaha was introduced with the music still being really good but just not having the same charm as before.
Mukimukimanmansu - 2012 (2012) [ALBUM]
Now here’s the weird shit (if you thought the other stuff wasn’t weird yet). 2012 is the only album released by musical duo Mukimukimanmansu consisting of Muki who plays the korean janggu drum and Minwhee Lee who plays the guitar and is primarily doing the vocals on the album. The album is pretty much these two women letting off steam and venting about the daily struggles of life and being a woman in South Korea, it’s punk as fuck. The live performances which made the duo go viral are a sight to behold with their eccentric and intense aura but that isn’t all they have to offer. Starting off the album intensely with Andromeda which has the two women screaming their fucking heads off soon calms down surprisingly with more mellower folk tracks with the same subject matter but every now and then you’ll be hit with those ferocious tracks that’ll blow your brains out. They really are a one of a kind musical act within the Korean music scene and it's a shame that we never got more from them.
Navy Blue - Ways of Knowing (2023) [ALBUM]
NAVY BLUE THE TRUEST! Navy Blue is one of the most open and honest rappers out right now. Continuously introspective and frank in his raps, Navy Blue keeps his heart on his sleeve. I haven’t felt as connected to a rapper's words as I have with this man. Inspiring growth from the lowest points of life and being grateful to living itself is just a drop in the ocean of what Navy Blue’s raps are about. Manoeuvring through family, grief, love and success Navy Blue’s raps persists to approach the world with grace and open arms. I definitely should’ve listened to this album earlier because it was definitely one of the best albums which came out last year but I still wasn’t over Navy’s Reprise (also amazing) to move onto this album. Navy Blue really proves that he lives up to his real name Sage.
FILM & TV
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002) [TV Series]
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a show I’ve been meaning to watch ever since I caught glimpses of it on AnimeCentral back when I was a young boy. The openings for both seasons of the show have been ingrained into my brain ever since I can remember and I wasn’t going to go through this lifetime without having watched at least the first season. Initially I was caught off guard by the tone of the series as it was very much a police procedural compared to the 1995 film being very moody and atmospheric with themes of existentialism as well as what it means to be human. Understanding that it wasn’t going for the same ideas as the film I did enjoy the series for what it was. Even with the show being a police procedural, the most interesting part of the series were the different ideas and concepts that were showcased which came with a future where technology has advanced to questionable degrees having cybernetics and AI being inescapable in our lives. The show has a lot of ideas involving a potential future which I don’t have the brain capacity to explain so I recommend viewing it for yourself (sorry) and is scarily topical with the current advances being made with technology at the moment. A gem of the early 2000s, I need to watch the second season soon.
Dune Part 1 |REWATCH| & 2 [FILM]
Funny story, when both films originally released my brain couldn’t comprehend a majority of what was happening. These films aren’t overly complex or profound, I just caught them at the wrong time. Tired after work dealing with the lingering effects of being involved in a workplace that is personally the equivalent of the netherworld, I couldn’t tell you what these films were about. Rewatching the first film there was more clarity as to what was going on as I wasn’t under the influence of employment but clearly I didn’t understand enough as halfway through the second film I was utterly perplexed and after the film was over my friend had to explain what the actual fuck was happening. These are the effects of doing stuff after doing a job you hate. While I think the first film is a tad overrated and both films definitely cram too much information for one sitting, Dune Part 2 definitely feels like a moment with great performances and gorgeous cinematography even though I clocked out halfway through.
Little Forest: Summer/Autumn (2014) & Winter/Spring (2015) [FILM]
This is peak comfort media. Both these films consist of Ichiko narrating and living her life in the Japanese countryside and cooking food that she likes interspersed with memories of her past looking into what inspired the life she currently leads. Occasionally Ichiko mentions the feelings of how she feels like she’s running away, floating through life and this is a bigger theme in the second film however that doesn’t detract from the relaxed atmosphere and gentle spirit that the films offer. The wonderful scenery and beautiful shots will make you dream of living off the land in a quaint countryside home and is much needed for people like myself living in the concrete jungle. Serene vibes scattered with occasional humour and existentialism, these films are a definite must watch for those just wanting to take a load off and brush off the daily stresses of life.
Monster [FILM]
Monster is a definite contender for film of the year. Starting off with the unfair treatment of a student by a seemingly strange teacher but then unfolds into something completely unexpected and beautiful. Subverting your expectations the film continuously transforms and unravels through displaying the characters own version of the events. There’s so much which can be said for the film but I wouldn’t want to give away too much as to not spoil the film. Incredible performances by all the cast but especially the child actors who knocked it out the park. One of the best films to come out this year and you should definitely go see it now if you’re in the UK as it’s still currently showing as of writing this.
The Iron Claw [FILM]
The Iron Claw is such a depressing film. The real life story of the Von Erich family is truly a disheartening one and The Iron Claw encapsulates the tragedy that the family went through and the emotional turmoil going through the family. A surprisingly great performance from Zac Efron whose acting I only knew from the High School Musical trilogy (but should’ve known the potential of with his underrated masterclass of a performance of Bet On It) goes all out with honestly a career defining performance. I recommend going into the film without looking into the events of the Von Erich family if you truly want your gut punched and have an Iron Claw on your heart.
The Boy and The Heron (2023) |REWACTH| {ENGLISH DUBBED} [FILM]
The Boy and the Heron, possibly Hayao Miyazaki’s last film may not be his best but feels like his most personal yet. I originally watched this with English subtitles closer to its release but felt the need to rewatch the film as I didn’t fully grasp what the film was going for (and also because I didn’t get to watch the first 10 minutes of the film due to my friend being late). Rewatching the film gave more clarity as to what the film was going for but elements of the film still seemed unclear and muddled as things just kind of happened as well as it feeling like certain parts of the film are left intentionally vague for the audience to make their own conclusions with. Finding out about Hayao Miyazaki’s own relationship with his mother a lot of what happens in the film makes sense however things about this film still come off as murky despite knowing this.
The english dubbed version of the movie is mostly good, a majority of the cast did a great job with their characters however I think Christian Bale’s performance was unusually stitled and awkward. The star of the show was Robert Pattison who voices the heron and is absolutely unhinged with his voice acting. Completely unrecognisable, Pattison is completely absorbed in his role embodying the strange and mystifying heron.
Despite its shortcomings The Boy and the Heron is an absorbing film with its spellbinding world and visuals where every frame you could hang up in your house like a piece of art. A poignant story in spite of being hazy at times The Boy and the Heron is otherworldly journey which nobody should miss.
GAMES
ElecHead
ElecHead is a neat little puzzle platformer where you play as a tiny robot fella trying to bring back electrical power to the planet. Short and sweet measuring at around 4 hours with some clever level design you won’t be wasting your time playing this game. The game isn’t too difficult but will still get the gears spinning in your brain. Cute 16 bit graphics and a cool colour scheme is what drew me to this and I do not regret it at all. A surprisingly good soundtrack by Tsuyomi mixing chiptune with modern production also makes this something worth spending your time with. ElecHead doesn’t do anything groundbreaking but is really fun and there’s a whole lot more worse ways to spend a couple of hours so play this instead.
Grapple Dog
I am currently playing this at the moment and was completely surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I bought this on a whim cause I thought the art style was cute and it had a dinky doggo in it. The meat of the game revolves around using one of the greatest inventions known to video games, the grappling hook to manoeuvre through each level and save the world. The movement is satisfyingly hefty and floaty but is fast enough to feel gratifying. This is one of the games that just feel made to speedrun and damn does it feel good when you get into the flow. This game is also pretty funny with your main character literally being a dumb dog. Definitely gonna keep playing this and can’t wait for the sequel to come out.
BOOKS
Kensuke’s Kingdom (Michael Morpurgo, 1999)
I initially read Kensuke’s Kingdom back in primary school for English class and for some reason it stuck with me (most likely because it was one the first books I was really engaged with plus I the cover was really cool, I was a simple child). I decided to pick it back up and damn what a ride it was. Stressful, heartwarming and saddening Kensuke’s Kingdom showcases both the beauty and atrocity of humanity and blessings of human relationships with as little as 176 pages. A story of a boy, alone stranded on a seemingly deserted island but there is more that meets the eye. I honestly wish this book was longer so it could go into further detail but its brief nature makes it approachable for people who don’t usually read books (i.e: me).
How Do You Live? (Genzaburo Yoshino, 1937)
This is the book that got me interested in reading more books and is probably the entire reason this section of the post exists. Originally only reading this due to it being an inspiration behind the The Boy and the Heron, I was surprisingly engrossed in it’s coming of age story of a curious schoolboy nicknamed Copper and his journey of discovering how to live. Honestly reading the book didn’t give me any more clarity on what was happening in The Boy and the Heron but it did provide an enthralling look into the struggles and abnormalities of growing up and living life as not only a child but as a human being in modern society. An odd book which is often interrupted with essays on topics such as the relations of production and the life of the emperor Napoleon which may seem strange out of context but ultimately aid the themes covered in the book. A phenomenal book, very underappreciated and if did catch your eye due to it being a minor reference in The Boy and the Heron definitely give it a chance.
FIN. A short piece compared to the previous post but expect these to be a regular thing as they’re probably the only posts keeping this blog alive whilst I rack my brain about what to write about next. As with all my posts I hope you found something cool that you wanna dip your toes into or was just entertained by my weird writing nevertheless I just hope it brightened your day. Peace and love till next time 😉
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