Transcendance by Berlin – Contemporary New Wave at its Best

As I mentioned in my post about influential albums when I was trying to pick out just one new album (i.e. since about 2010) by artists that I like… Transcendance – Berlin. I nearly went with their other recent album Animal, but this one is much more powerful with clever lyrics. Didn’t blow me away…

Science Fiction by Tom Bailey – Wonderful Escapism

As I mentioned in my post about influential albums… Science Fiction – Tom Bailey. Was so happy when Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins started making new material. Doesn’t disappoint. But I wanted to do an additional post, adding to other posts related to albums that I have been doing (see, for example, 432-1: Open…

432-1: Open The Vein by Nasher – Essential Listening for Contemporary Britain (and beyond)

As I mentioned in my post about influential albums… 432-1 is a great album from Nasher (Brian Nash). If you’re on Twitter you should be following Nasher and reading his wonderful posts with his views on life and current affairs. The powerful lyrics and soulful tunes are a delight. Although the content means that it’s…

Marty Friedman, Iconic Rock Guitarist: How the Mastery of the Japanese Language Unlocked Opportunities for his Life and Career

Last week we had the fourth event in the Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series, this time with Marty Friedman – Multi-platinum selling recording artist, and Ambassador to Japan Heritage as appointed by the Japanese Government Agency of Cultural Affairs. Marty was first known for his tenure as the lead guitarist in one of the most successful and…

Book Review: “Do They Know It’s Christmas Yet?” by James Crookes

Today is 23 October 2021. “So what?” I hear you ask. It’s 37 years since 23 October 1984. “So what?” you may ask again. Well, although 23 October 1984 may not be as memorable as certain dates in history, it is actually a very important date. This was the date on which Natasha (Tash) Summers…

Designs That Defined Modern Japan: The Rice Cooker

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I attended an excellent webinar on the topic ‘Designs That Defined Modern Japan’ by Professor Hiroshi Kashiwagi, and the audience were set the challenge of coming with their own list of 8 Designs That Defined Modern Japan. I have already done five posts (these are not in any…

Essential T’Pau, Essential Listening

I have done a number of posts that are book reviews related to music, a post talking about the albums have influenced me most, and there are those related to Frankie Goes To Hollywood and the book that I am writing about Frankie fans and Frankie’s music. But, to date, I have only done one…

Designs That Defined Modern Japan: The Personal Stereo (Walkman)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I attended an excellent webinar on the topic ‘Designs That Defined Modern Japan’ by Professor Hiroshi Kashiwagi, and the audience were set the challenge of coming with their own list of 8 Designs That Defined Modern Japan. I have already done four posts (these are not in any…

Concorde – Too Perfect?

I have been doing a number of posts recently about my favourite shinkansen and designs that defined modern Japan, and these, together with a podcast that I was interviewed on and which will soon be released, have inspired me to do a different, but connected, post. In this post I want to discuss Concorde. I…

‘Two Tribes, United by Music: Western Pop in Japan’

How many times has the headline ‘Big in Japan’ been published in relation to some Western (i.e., North American or European) pop act? The reality is that, as an article by Guy De Launey’s in 1995 (‘Not-so-big in Japan: Western pop music in the Japanese market’, Popular Music, 40:1) pointed out, very few Western acts,…

Presentation – ‘Two Tribes, United by Music: Western Pop in Japan’

How many times has the headline ‘Big in Japan’ been published in relation to some Western (i.e., North American or European) pop act? The reality is that, as an article by Guy De Launey’s in 1995 (‘Not-so-big in Japan: Western pop music in the Japanese market’, Popular Music, 40:1) pointed out, very few Western acts,…

1980s Japanese Pop Magazines – First Impressions

As I discussed in a previous post – British/European/American Music in Japan – I am conducting some research about ‘Western’ music in Japan. This research began as I am working on a book related to Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Japan was one of the few countries outside of Europe that they toured. Japanese versions of…