THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Soundtrack: The New Radicals - You Get What You Give


I am just going to ignore the fact that I have not updated this blog for many moons and just write as if nothing happened.

Lately I have been getting more and more affirmations that I am officially old because my teenage decade is now a the new trend.
All I could think of is: This must be what my dad felt when I told him I was into platforms and if he still had his Beatles and Hendrix vinyls.

My friends and I attended a one-hall-one-night music festival type event where they got rock bands from the 90s era to perform. The headliner was the band Suede, which I was incredibly excited about even if I only knew one song.
They came out rocking in very age appropriate attires. White shirt and fitted blue jeans with a brown leather belt. It really did look like Brett dropped by Bangkok to do a gig on his way to pick up his kids from the park on a sunny British summer afternoon.
Seriously.

h

I actually prefered the mini moshpit-without-the-moshing better. It was just outside the concert hall where the a DJ played tunes like Trouble by Shampoo and Chumbawamba alikes.

I appreciated the effort and the opportunity to reminisce some good times but once it hit 10pm, the old ladies had to retire to a quiet bar for a quick night cap before heading home and wash our hair.


Love,

Colour Box

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

NEVER OVER PLAY YOUR FAVOURITE CD


Lewis Taylor

• Full name: Andrew Lewis Taylor
• British
• 9 solo albums
• Now musical director and bass player of Gnarls Barkley

The track that got me curious about the album was it's single; Bittersweet. It fits right in the Neo-Soul box. Great to put on when you're cooking. I swear it tastes better this way.

This CD is the 3rd copy I had to get because it keeps on going M.I.A. Luckily, a good friend managed to track it down and gave it as a present.

It's the kind of album that every song has its own opinion. You won't forget which track is which. Every time I play it, when the last track finishes, I always wish for more.

STONED

This album is actually my cousin's. She has kindly lent it to me indefinitely. Though i'm not sure if she knows that.

"Stoned" is definitely one of the 2 Lewis Taylor favourites. I especially love his version of Stop, Look, Listen.

Haven't heard any of these tracks for while, perhaps it's time to put it back on and then safely store them away for another year.


Click here to listen to a sample track : )
Lewis Taylor - Bittersweet

Happy listening!


Colour Box

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

DRAGON'S DEN


Soundtrack: Someway through this - The Black Ghosts


Can you tell me what 'Dub' is? Can you name a Dub track?
Well DJ Dragon skooled me yesterday when we met at his slick pad and I got really snappy happy.

I was also greeted by two of the loves of his life; Dachshund puppies named Shorty and Jum-Jim. I automatically baby-talked with them and I was officially in love.

Back to music otherwise I will gush about them all day long.




So!
Records everywhere, vinyls and CDs... Expected really... He is a DJ and I am sure there are more hidden away somewhere.

Our conversation was a mix of catch-up and music related. I first met DJ Dragon when I was a student at SAE and he was one of the lecturers there. I've been a fan of his Dubway parties since and it really attracts an awesome mix of people.

I raised the topic of vinyls vs CDs and mp3s and I must agree with him in terms of sound quality. Mp3s are great for sharing music but again the feel and the sound is not the same as vinyls. It also takes music appreciation a bit beyond the sound. You have to consider the effort that goes into cover design, product design, sound engineering and to master mix tracks for vinyls. 
Sadly, it is something that the 'digital age' kids have missed out on. I may not be from the records era but at least I had the pleasure of discovering CDs and going music shopping. Remember that feeling of looking forward to go through the sleeves and read the artist's personal notes? I totally remember my first CD purchase. It was 1500 baht at the time and it was The Lion King soundtrack... and there goes my street cred. 


As vinyls become collectors items, I myself have a few (*proud*), I sincerely hope that it stays with us because it would be great to be able to still 'touch' music rather than just the player (and I'm not talking about DJs).


DUB IS:


Instrumental reggae music that emphasizes bass and drums, using certain audio effects to create a sense of space between rhythm patterns and melodies. (Straight from the Dragon's mouth I swear, word for word... though I'm sure a lot of people have asked him this)


DUBSTEP IS:


New skool kind of Dub, which is a mix of modern electronic dance and old skool reggae


DRAGON SAYS:


"Any kind of electronic music nowadays is kinda Dub"


FIRST GIG AS A DJ:


At his high school dance, in the 9th grade under another DJ name. Which he won't reveal but it has something to do with his middle name.. begins with a P....


FIRST DRUM&BASS LOVE:


"I went to a rave in the UK and they were playing House and Breakbeat and D&B... kinda started from there. I was listening to a Gilles Peterson radio show and he played Someway Through This by Black Ghost and that was it. I thought it was awesome"

RECENT PROJECTS


" I co-produced this with some Japanese dudes and we have another one coming out this year "

RANDOM FACT:


" I do yoga and no one believes me"




DJ DRAGON IN ACTION

Follow DJ Dragon and Dubway parties on FB and Twitter


FB: DUBWAYBKK http://www.facebook.com/groups/dubwaybkk/


Twitter: @dubwaybkk






Happy Dubbin'!


Colour Box