Lucky Cat Series 12 Ep 2 - Movie News & Purple Sweetcorn

18th June 2016

East Asian Movie News Special with Purple Sweetcorn in the Dim Sum Lunch Box

Cannes Picks:
Park Chan Wook's Handmaiden 


Koji Fukada's Harmonium


Coming soon from veteran HK director Johnny To:


Out Now:

When Marnie Was There - the latest film from Studio Ghibli.

Cemetry of Splendour - the second film from Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul



Playlist:

• I Wish Someone Would Care - Etta James (Miss Peaches, Chess LP)
• A Thing of The Past - Phyllis Dillon (Treasure Isle 7")
• Everybody Needs Love - Gladys Knight and The Pips (Motown Yesteryear 7")
• Omoidezake - Sachiko Kobayashi (Warner Bros 7")
• Danger in Your Eyes - Ronald Merrills (Studion One 7")
• What Happens - Cornell Campbell (PAMA 7")
• One Kiss - The Coasters (Let's Go to the Dance with The Coasters: Rare Early Rock n Roll Sides, Harmony LP)
• Aishitamou Koto Nakare - Sayori Yuki (Toshiba EMI, 7")
• Too Much Whiskey - Errol Dixon and The Backbeats (Bluebeat 7")
• Bad Bad Whiskey - Amos Milburn (Let's Have a Party, LP)
• Zion Train - Bobby Kalphat (Faith 7")
• I'll Take Good Care of You - Garnett Mimms (United Artists 7")

The Dim Sum Lunch Box
Purple Sweetcorn - a recipe adapted from Ken Hom's chilli sweetcorn.

Lucky Cat Series 11 Episode 22 - Movie News and New Vinyl

New out on DVD April 2016

In this episode I give you some East Asian movie news, a recipe for Thai chicken dish khao mok gai and lots of lovely vinyl.

Playlist:

• Silver Words - Ken Boothe (Green Door label 7"), written by Rodriguez
• Love is Overdue - Gregory Isaacs (GG Records label 7")
• Please, Please, Please - James Brown and his Famous Flames (Federal label 7")
• So Long (I'm Gone) - Derrick and Hortense Ellis (Lord Koos label 7")
• Chinaman - Lord Cristo (Antillana label 7")
• Pine and Cypress Trees in Whirling Snow - Wong Chin (Classic Pipa Hits CD)
• Satan Girl - The Ethiopians (blank label 7")
• Love is Strange - Jon Cundo (Bamboo label 7") 
• Win Your Love - John Holt (Love label 7")
• Reggae in Your Jeggae - Dandy (Downtown label 7")
• I Really Love You - Clancy Eccles (blank label 7")

Lucky Cat Series 11 Episode 19

Actor Yao Anlian plays the factory boss - a superb performance

Last week I was away so you had a show from the archives (series 6). Here is the previous week's show which has a review of the wonderful indie Chinese film Factory Boss (shown at the Asia House film festival) plus a preview of my Gaby Agis and The Raincoats DJ set.


Playlist:

I Know That You Will Want to Come Back - The Ethiopians (Jamaican blank 7")
Typical Girls - The Slits (from the LP Cut)
That Very Night - Hollie Cook (Mr Bongos 7")
Met Him on a Sunday - Laura Nyro
Gee, Baby, Gee - The Butterflys (The Red Bird Story vol 2, LP) 
All of Me - Ella Fitzgerald (Unesco LP)
Beijing Opera Si Lang Tan Mu - traditional (from The Grandmaster soundtrack LP)
Butterfly Among the Tea Leaves and Gently Flows the Stream (Shell National Folkloric Festival, Memories of China LP)
Night and Day - Maytals (Trojan label 7")
Rainy Night in Georgia - Lord Tanamo (Jamaican blank 7")

Today's show (episode 21) will definitely be an Ultraman special!  Apologies for the wait.

Lucky Cat S11 E15 - Martial Arts Special!



Lucky Cat - 23rd January 2016 by Resonance Fm on Mixcloud

Martial Arts Special!

Crane style kung fu practitioner Sharmin Asia-Rohima Ahmed talks about martial arts and self defence and the new classes she will be teaching in Clapham. Sharmin has trained in crane style kung fu or 12 years both in China and the UK. Legend has it that crane style kung fu was developed by Fang Qi Niang, daughter of a respected Kung fu master in 18th Century China. Sharmin has competed in several UK and European sparring and patterns tournaments winning 5 gold medals, 3 silver and1 bronze medal.

The Tai Chi and Crane style Kung-fu classes will start Sat 6th Feb in Clapham, see: http://www.damospt.com/ or follow Sharmin via Instagram: damo_self_defense

This programme also features a brief review of Donnie Yen's Ip Man 3, out in UK cinemas now.
Also note that the art house martial arts movie The Assassin is currently showing at the BFI.  to get 2 for 1 tickets use the code ASSASSIN241 when booking online.

Playlist:

• Den Kick - Afronational (7" on No Wahala Sounds label)
• Crane Style - dub version of Madoo's Have you ever Been to Heaven (7" on the Prophet label, Far East rhythm)
• Rude Girls - Doreen and Her Allstars (7" on the Rainbow label)
• Oh Me Oh My - Lloyd Charmers (7" on the Bullet label)

Lucky cat S11 E14 - Sino-grime Special

Here's last week's show which was a Sino-grime special!  To be honest I got a bit confused - is it Grime or is it Dub Step? Digital bass driven music...Whatever the genre I was surprised to really enjoy it (well it is not lovely scratchy old vinyl after all) - especially stand out track Frozen Pagoda!  
Swimful's PM2.5 (named after a pollution particle) will be released on 1st Feb on SBVKVLT label:
https://soundcloud.com/svbkvlt

Lucky Cat - 16th January 2016 by Resonance Fm on Mixcloud

No Cars - Mixcloud link and Photos

Tomoko on keys

 

 

 

 

 

Haruna on lead guitar (and clarinet later)

 

 

Takaco on bass and 'Candy' on drums

I had so much fun with the brilliant band No Cars playing live in the studio last week.  Go see them live - they are amazing!  Check their Facebook for upcoming gigs in February: www.facebook.com/nocarsmusic/

Lucky Cat - 9th January 2016 by Resonance Fm on Mixcloud

Happy 2016!

Hope you all had a lovely festive break and are fresh and ready for the new year ahead!  Here is a mix I made for a friend - no East Asian tunes but plenty of toe tapping treats.

Lucky Cat returns to Resonance FM for a further 13 weeks of series 11 on Saturday 9th Jan 2016.
I will be joined live in the studio by the fabulous group No Cars for a live set and interview.  There may even be a curry taste off!

So far I have quite a few DJ dates booked in for 2016:

JAN:
Sunday 24th: Women's DJ relay at The Ritzy, Brixton


FEB:
Wednesday 10th: Dub Me Always at The Ritzy, Brixton
Monday 22nd: Asia House Film Festival Opening, Ham Yard, Soho 
Saturday 27th: Gaby Agis & The Raincoats, Greenwich

More dates to be confirmed soon!

Música!  Happy 2016! by Luckycatzoe on Mixcloud

Lucky Cat S11 E07 - Andy Martin on Chinese Cinema

Here's last weeks' show where I was joined writer and musician Andy Martin to discuss his book Chinese Cinema: A Study of Chinese Films from 1905 to 2005.

Lucky Cat  - 14th November 2015 by Resonance Fm on Mixcloud

Links
Buy the book:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/andy-martin/chinese-cinema/paperback/product-21225752.html

Andy's UNIT band web site:  
http://www.unit-united.co.uk/

Andy Martin's Top 10 Hong Kong Films

1. Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind directed by Tsui Hark


2. Boat People directed by Ann Hui


3. Tiger Cage directed by Yuen Woo Ping (produced by Michelle Yeoh's ex husband Dickson Poon, fact fans)


4. Daddy, Father and Papa directed by Clifton Ko Chi Sum


5. Men Behind the Sun directed by Mou Tun-Fei
This film documents unbearable atrocities carried out by the Japanese in a chinese prisoner of war camp in Harbin. I watched a clip on Youtube and it is so disturbing I am unable to post anything.  I notice is turns up in this list of the 50 most disturbing movies of all time!
Go search for yourself.  This looks so horrific, I cannot watch!

6. Cageman directed by Jacob Cheung


7. Young and Dangerous directed by Andrew Lau


8. 15 directed by Royston Tan, set in Singapore


9. Too Young directed by Derek Yee starring Jaycee Chan (Jackie's son)


10. Beseiged City directed by Lawrence Ah Mon



Andy recommends this East London shop for all your HK movie needs: Umit & Son
http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/umit-son


 

Lucky Cat S11 E06 - Halloween Tunes & London Korean Film Festival

In this week's episode I play some spooky tuneage for Halloween, pay tribute to the sadly departed HK movie legend Tien Feng and interview Hyujin Cho, producer of the London Korean Film Festival.

The London Korean Film Festival celebrates it's 10th year in 2015 with a bumper programme.  I'm very excited that director Chung Chwang Hwa will be giving a Q&A and 3 of his films will be screening:

• Voodoo Women  - Smiley Smith (Zombie Horror CD Collection, Chrome Dreams CD)

• Vampire - The Upsetters (Loch Ness Monster, Trojan LP)

• Legend of Sleepy Hollow  - The Monotones (Zombie Horror CD Collection, Chrome Dreams CD)

• Dracula Prince of Darkness  - King Horror , thought to be Laurel Aitken (Loch Ness Monster, Trojan LP)

• Kung Fu Master  - Solo Banton (Music Addict, Jahtari EP)

• Last Blade  - Disrupt (Music Addict, Jahtari EP)

• Yunnan Reggae  - Lao Hei (soundcloud)

• Arriran  - Various (Korean Folk Volume 1 LP)

• Zombie Jamboree  -  King Flash and the Calypso Carnival (Zombie Horror CD Collection, Chrome Dreams CD)

• Evil Spirits  - Mighty Invaders (Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2015)

• Duppy Dance  - Aquarius Soul Band (Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2015)

• Hell Below  - Crystal Generation (Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2015)

• Mr Brown  - Cliff and the Organizers (Jamaican Halloween Spooktacular 2015)

http://koreanfilm.co.uk/directors/chung-chang-hwa

The Taiwanese director made these films in Korea with Korean cast and crew...including the 1967 martial arts movie A Swordsman in the Twilight.

There are also more populist movies in the Audience Choice strand of the festival.  HK actor Simon Yam stars alongside Kim Yun-seok, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Jung-jae and Gianna Jun in the heist movie The Thieves, which in 2013 was the secondhighest grossing movie of all time at the Korean box office.  

Lucky Cat - 31st October 2015 by Resonance Fm on Mixcloud

Playlist:

RIP TIEN FENG 1928 - 2015

Lucky Cat S11 E05 - Gareth Rees 'Written in the Dust'

Here's yesterday's show in which I chat to Gareth Rees, director of the contemporary silent film Written in the Dust.  An enjoyable show, great guest!

Lucky Cat  - 24th October 2015 by Resonance Fm on Mixcloud

The Dim Sum Lunchbox: Vietnamese style pork patties (makes 18)

Melt 2 tablespoons of muscovado sugar in a heavy bottomed pan with 2 tablespoons of fish sauce.  This makes a very pungent caramelised syrup (i.e. you might want to open a window)!  Let it cool before mixing it into your pattie mix which you make by blending:

2 large cloves garlic
10 shallots 
1 stalk lemon grass (bash the bottom bit before blending and discard the thin top end - probably about half of the stalk)
3cm cube ginger
dash fish sauce
pinch of pepper

Use a little blender if possible as ingredients need to be finely chopped together then mix into the 900g minced pork (not too fatty) using your hands and also mix in the cooled syrup.  Cover and leave to rest for 2/3 hours.

Heat the grill and lightly brush your grill rack with oil so the patties don't stick. Shape the patties in your hands into balls then flatten so they are approx 3cm in diameter.  Grill until golden brown on both sides.  Serve with fresh mint leaves and fresh chilli and fish sauce dip.  

I served the patties with a Thai green papaya salad made with physallis as well as baby tomatoes and mixed nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds) instead of peanuts.

zaijian 2013

Lucky Cat NYE 2013 by Luckycatzoe on Mixcloud

Santé and Ganbei to 2013 my friends, here's to more music in 2014 x

Lucky Cat S07 Ep 11 Podcast - Final Show of Series 7

Dr Anne Witchard discusses her new book Lao She in London and the China in Britain project.

Featuring music by:
Li Shuangjiang
Yao Lee
Deng Bai Ying and Friends (Calendar Girl soundtrack)
Hollie Cook and Horseman (Prince Fatty versus the Drunken Gambler LP)
Edine with Lisle Mitnik et son Orchestre with the new song The West Coast

Lucky Cat S7 Ep 7 3rd Nov 2012 Podcast & Play list

Here's last Saturday's show.

Playlist:

• London is the Place for Me - Lord Kitchener (used as backing audio for the Between East and West oral extracts then played).
• Lies - AM444 from the Shanghai duo's new album Rooms
• Worried Over You - Keith and Enid
• Ten Commandments of Love - Harvey and the Moonglows
• Cow Cow Boogie - Ella Fitzgerald And The Ink Spots
• I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha - The Stylers With Johnny Teo
• How Long Do I Have To Dub For You - Sharon Jones And The Dapkings Remixed By Ticklah
• I Wanna Love Him So Bad - The Jellybeans
• Baar Baar Dekho - Mohd. Rafi
• Solider Baby - Candy And The Kisses
• Go Go Track - Josephine Siao Fong Fong
• Vietnamese track - from Hot Women Singers from the Torrid Regions Robert Crumb compilation CD)
• Song of the Fisherman 漁光曲(一) - Wang Ren-mei王人美

Lucky Cat S07 Ep 6 - Alex and Virginie Movie Special

Sadly I was unable to host this week's show due to illness.
Thankfully fellow Resonance FM presenter Alex Fitch stepped in. Alex is also the assistant editor of 'Electric Sheep' film magazine and was joined by the editor of the magazine Virginie Selavy to discuss East Asian films showing at the London Film Festival - e.g. 'The Samurai That Night', 'Nameless Gangster', 'For Love's Sake' and 'Helpless'(still from this film is pictured here). 
Alex and Virginie also discussed Filipino cinema - in particular Virginie recommended 'Mondo Manilla' by independent filmmaker Khavn and 'The Woman in the Septic Tank' dir. by Marlon Rivera.
UK DVD releases from Third Windows were also highlighted: 'Kotoko' and 'Tetsuo I & II' by cult director Shinya Tsukamoto. The Terracotta Festival tour was mentioned too (currently at the Genesis cinema in Mile End London).
Vintage northern soul vinyl was supplied by Virginie and Alex kindly provided dim sum lunchbox snacks (blueberry oreos and sweet potato crispy bars).
For all the Electric Sheep reviews of East Asian films at the 56th LFF see: http://www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk/news/2012/10/22/east-asian-films-at-the-56th-london-film-festival/

Virginie is a member of the fab all-girl dancing troupe The Actionettes.
'Kotoko' and 'Tetsuo I & II' by cult director Shinya Tsukamoto are covered in my next blog post where reviews are contributed by writer Calum Syers…..

Playlist

• Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - Santa Esmeralda (The Good, The Bad and The Weird OST)
• Dance theme - Koji Endo (Sukiyaki Western Django OST)
• Violent Love (Ai to Makoto) - Satoshi Tsumabuki
• Twiggy Twiggy - Pizzicato Five (Austin Powers OST)
• Humpty Dumpty - The Vogues
• Here Comes That Feeling - Brenda Lee
• What Shall I Do - Frankie and the Classicals
• Theme from The Godfather - Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Lucky Cat S7 Ep 3 (29th Sept 12) Podcast & Playlist

In this week's show I review the Ai Wei Wei documentary feature 'Ai Wei Wei Never Sorry' (out on DVD Oct 8th). The dim sum lunch box returns with a review of Haozhan in Chinatown, iced matcha shakes and Burmese chilli sprinkles.

Playlist:

• Kung Fu vs Kung Fu Hustle - Dillinger 45 plus audio from the Stephen Chow movie
• Chinese Charleston - Josephine Siao Fong Fong()
• Sunday Girl - Ourself Beside Me
• Shanghai to Hangzhou - audio from my train journey in 2011
• Slowly Fly - Long Shen Dao
• Wrap You Up - Long Shen Dao
• Ghosts of Bush House pt 1 Cantonese subs - from Ghosts of Bush House LP
• Ghosts of Bush House pt 6 Haunted Handle - as above
• Elenurhan(Missing) - music from the Xinjiang/Uyghur region of China
• Moonlight on the Ching Yang River - The Chinese Cultural Theatre Group
• Pussy, Pussy, Pussy - Light Crust Doughboys

Lucky Cat S7 Ep 2 (22nd Sept 12) Podcast

Hong Kong in the 6o's pictured, skilfully avoiding the camera lens. Hey over here you guys! Hope you enjoy the podcast.Feel free to comment. Thanks again to the band for an incredible mix!

Lucky Cat S7 Ep 1 (15th Sept 12) Podcast & Playlist

The Lecture - Jo Jo with The Fugitives (7" 45)

Lucky 7 - The Skatalites with Prince Buster (Tojan Mod CD)

Chinese Title - Rebbeca Pan Wan Ching (Diamond label coloured vinyl LP)

Touching the Ch'In - Madame Tsa Teh Yun (11th Centuries of Chinese Classical Music LP)

Water and Clouds of the Rivers - Madame Tsa Teh Yun (11th Centuries of Chinese Classical Music LP)

(Bangkok Paradise label 7" 45)

Kati Sorn Jai - Nung Lamyong Kularbseemung (Maft Sai and Chris Menist's Bangkok Paradise label 7" 45)

Ripe Cherry - Dennis Alcapone (Jaguar 7" 45)

Kung Fu Master - Solo Banton (Music Addict EP, Jahtari label)

Put It On - The Wailers (Coxsone 7" 45)

Chinese Visual Festival Podcast

Here's the podcast of last week's special edition of Lucky Cat when I was joined live in the studio by Jing Jing Xie, Candy Ma, Ming Qiang Xie (Jeremy) and Zach Dunbar (all pictured above).

A wonderful show to record, featuring live performances of Mandarin versions of songs from the musical Sweet Charity by Boulevard Productions. Music from reknowned pipa player Wang Ting is also featured.

Both Boulevard productions and Wang Ting will be performing at the Chinese Visual Festival.

Please see previous post for details. Enjoy listening!

Zoë interviewing Jing Jing Xie at Resonance FM.

The talented Candy Ma belting out Hey Big Spender, fabulous!

Ming Qiang Xie (Jeremy) and Zach Dunbar of Boulevard Productions.

Thanks to James Mudge for the photos.

Terracotta Far East Film Festival Podcast

Last Friday Joey Leung, curator of London's Terracotta Far East Film Festival, joined me on Resonance FM to discuss the films in this year's programme. From Anime to horror to Korean musicals!
Music featured includes Anita Mui, Rita Chao, Rita & Sakura and AM444.

Terracotta Festival: 12th - 15th April @ The Prince Charles cinema in London.

Lucy Cat S6 Ep 15 Podcast - Win Your Own Personal Lucky Cat Mix

Here's this week's fundraising special. I was joined by Resonance FM stalwart Robin the Fog for this episode.

PODCAST LISTENERS WE NEED YOUR HELP:

Please bid on any item in the Resonance FM auction (http://resonancefm.com/auction-2012) and cc me (luckycatzoe@gmail.com) on your email bid to auction@resonancefm.com. I will then send you an exclusive Lucky Cat goodie bag including DVDs, kawaii items, a TVB Journey to the West phone charm, AND if your bid is £50 or more I will make you your own personal Lucky Cat mix. Yes that's right - your very own 1 hr mix made by yours truly for your ears only. You choose the theme and I shall go into the vaults of my vinyl collection and make you your own mix!

Please show your support for Resonance - if we're not on air you will miss us. Thank you.