The Cat House

The Cat House is a Korean band which consists of seven people - Gu Ja Chang (vocals), Jin Bo Ra (vocals), Park Ji Na (percussion), No Yoo Suk (drums), No Hyun Joo (keyboard), Jung Kyung Hun (bass), and Jo Yong Ho (guitar). Too bad there's not much information about them in English but when I heard their single, Confession (2005), Jazz is definitely the best word to describe their music.

Yet, if you ask what kind of jazz they're playing? I don't really know for sure. Is it acid? Is it lounge? Well, those kinda stuffs I suppose. I have to admit that I'm not really good in defining genres but actually, I have got a better way of describing their music. It's like hanging out at the lounge with your bestest friends, having a drink or two in a room with a live music stage playing jazzy tunes. Relax and let the city crowded day life fades out into the night.

disc:
- 2005 - Confession (single)
- 2006 - Imagination
- 2007 - Nabi

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Cinnamon: more than just a flavour!

Do you like Cappuccino? Well, me too! However, it's not the Cappuccino that I'd like to talk about this time. It's the thing that give flavours to Cappuccinos and that thing is called Cinnamon.

Cinnamon are: Frida Diesen (Vocals, Harmonica, Synthesizers, Vibraphone), Jiri Novak (Guitars, Keyboards), Per Linden (Keyboards, Guitars), Samuel Laxberg (Bass), Christian Ekwall (Drums, Percussions) and this band is established in 1993 somewhere in Sweden.

Cinnamon's music, just as reviewed by Apricot records who released their CD, Vertigo, is a little bit hard to put in words. Even so, I will try to describe it with my own word and the first thing that came up was SWEDISHPOP! First of all, Miss Frida's light voice reminds me to the sweet indiepop sounds from Sweden. However, by only listening to few tracks in Vertigo, we'll be dragged back to Europe in the 60s. In addition, a small touch of retro here and there will take us inside classic detective films.

album:



Vertigo

Dorlis - Swingin Singin Playin

Yayyness I finally got this fifth album of my fave singer, Dorlis. I'm totally happy cuz I've been looking for this album since forever!!! So after few times playing the songs, here's a little sneak peak:

When listening to the first song, Suheisen to Yuuyake to Kataomoi, I swear I could feel a grin appeared on my face... The song totally rocks err.. in this case, jazz XD I like the dominating piano sound and the ukulele sound played. The song is pretty unique because it's a bit reggae which probably because of Likkle Mai's, a reggae musician - appearance. However, the aransement of the song is pretty Dorlis like.

The second song called Hajimari no Rythm brings a rather cheerful atmosphere. This one's so Dorlis, me think ;P

Entering the third song's intro, I already fall in love with the song itself. Dorlis is colaborating with jazz musician, JABBERLOOP in this song called Koi no Battlestick. It sounds a bit funky although in some parts we can still hear some swings with the brass and horns sections dominating the song. If you happen to like Shiina Ringo, then I think you'll like this track.

Track 4, Unmei no Roulette, is like taking me in an afternoon walk in Paris. I love the accordeon and violin playing in this song.

Track ke 5 to 8 - Shimin Pool to Skate Rink, Marble no Tsuki, Hitorigoto Mitai ni Aishiteta, dan Mariposa - aren't really new songs. Now, guys, do realize that this is the part where I'm screaming "KYAAAAA" (fangirl like) cuz I think she's amazing!!! The new simpler aransement of the songs are great and I could tell that Miss Dorlis really knows how to play the guitar ^^ If you happen to like Depapepe, you'll like these tracks cuz it's like listening to Depapepe music plus Dorlis' vocal. GRAND!!!

All in all, I really like this mini album and if you really into jazz and sorta stuff, you should listen to it too.

click to download

Paviliun Do Re Mi (2006)

A wonderful and colourful compilation CD by Paviliun Records which consists of 18 tracks from 10 Indonesian indie bands. Why colourful? well, when you hear this CD, you'll imagine lots of colours in your head; purple like the lipstick of a girl who wears goth clothes head banging infront of the stage listening to The Gimmcik, black clour from Chaotic Mama's Police Brutality, green grass image from Blossom Diary and Room V, orange colour for Dept Store's Happy Birthday, the simple white from Planet Bumi's Kau dan Aku, sweet and cheerful pink when hearing Dear Nancy, happy yellow from Clover's Sundae Rhapsody, dark gloomy blue from the Dying Sirens, and lots of other colours that crosses my mind.

In a way, I think this compilation is a refreshing air for those who get bored easily when listening to one genre only CDs. The music is differ from one to the other and it's like having a tea in your back yard with your bestest friends

Three Berry Icecream - Apricot

A fan of Kahimi Karie? Well, if you are, you'd probably like Three Berry Icecream. It's a solo project of Mayumi Ikemizu where she does everything all by herself.

The album Apricot is a compilation of bossanova, tweepop, and well, indiepop. I personally love the songs because it's pretty simple but could really makes me smile. It is opened with a cute track called A Sunny Spring Day which really brings spring to your heart. The Second track, A Towering Cloud In A Summer Day, is a little bit bossanova based with accordeon played by Mayumi herself (oh! and a sweet whistle solo too). Track 3, Children Hour is quite short and reminds me of songs played in music box. The next track is called Fine Day which I think is like a typical tweepop sound. Then moving on to the fifth, a song called Funny How Love Can Be takes me to a carnival. Next, we've got KLM Line and Marble Arch which are also typical indipop songs (I like em tho, expecialy Marble Arch). The album is then closed with a very simple song called The World Begins To Move Again which consisted only guitar and vocal.

Finally, in this album, Mayumi Ikemizu melts the sweetness of twee pop and the jazzy bossa nova. So, if you share a love for all things cute, you'll love this album.

click to download the album

an afternoon tea at the English countryside

The Softies



is one of my fave indiepop band for sure! They are Rose Melberg (Tiger Trap, Go Sailor) and Jen Sbragia (Pretty Face, All Girl Summer Fun Band). Both of them sing and play guitar. Most of the songs consist of only guitars and harmonious vocals. The melodies are very simple, no complicated sounds and definitely less distortion. Very simple but so sweet that it reminds me of having an afternoon tea with my bestfriend at the English countryside. A perfect afternoon indeed...

albums:

+ it's love (1995)

+ winter pageant (1997)

+ holiday in rhode island (2000)

more:

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