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.

Sad Goodbye: Sion Sono's Himizu out in selected UK cinemas now

Himizu, the award-winning film from Japanese director Sion Sono has opened in selected cinemas across the UK. I saw this film at the Terracotta Film Festival and was transported by it's tale of the harshnesses of life and the little tendernesses that love can bring.

I have to confess to not making it all the way through director Sion Sono's 4 hr upskirt panty photo epic Love Exposure,so I was not really familiar with his work. The skill he shows as a director in Himizu did make me want to see his more recent serial killer film Cold Fish (more on that later).

Himizutells the story of two teenagers’ struggle to live in a dystopian future Japan destroyed by a natural disaster (the tsunami possibly). The 2 young lead actors give extraordinary performances coping in the turbulent, surreal and sometimes evil world which surrounds them (masochistic parents, dysfunctional relationships, violent yakuza gangsters). At times I found the relentless violence (lots of slapping and hitting) quite difficult to bear, I wondered if it was a metaphor for the way that nature has repeatedly brutalised the Japanese landscape with natural disasters. The ensemble cast are excellent too - especially Den Den (star of Cold Fish) who plays a yakuza with a penchant for garish 1980s' jumpers.
The only thing I would fault the film on is a sometimes predictable use of music to enhance the drama. Other than that it is easy to see why it won the audience award at the Terracotta Film Festival.
Go see at the cinema while you still can: http://thirdwindowfilms.com/films/himizu

The reason this post is entitled 'Sad Goodbye' is that Third Windows have announced that Himizu will be their last theatrical release. You can read more about why that is here at Twitch Film.



TWF will continue to distribute East Asian titles on DVD and Blue Ray and indeed Sion Sonos' Cold Fish is now out on DVD and Blue Ray. This stars the charismatic Den Den as a fish shop owning psychopathic serial killer. Den Den's performance is outstanding and the film is a cringe-making, creepy, beautifully harrowing, wonderful piece of film making.

Pork Curry & Quick Pickled Veg Dinner

Rustled this up for dinner tonight.
Thai style pork curry
Step 1 make the curry paste by chopping then crushing in pestle and mortar:

• 4 cloves of garlic
• half small onion (finely chopped, chop the other half into thin slices and set aside for later)
• tablespoon ground coriander
• teaspoon ground ginger
• 3 small chillies incl. seeds
• 2 anchovy fillets (normally I use shrimp paste but I'm worried I may have developed a shell fish allergy)
• dash of cinnamon
• dash of red chilli powder
• tablespoon fish sauce
• big dribble of veg oil

Step 2 slice up a nice bit of pork loin then sear it in a hot wok with oil and add a few dashes of soya sauce as cooking. Remove from wok.
Step 3 add curry paste to hot wok (no oil necessary as oil is in the paste. Turn flame to medium. Cook for a couple of mins then add a tin of coconut milk and then fill the empty tin with water and add that too. Bring to the boil.
Step 4 Rinse a decent amount of Thai sweet basil (it will shrink down in cooking). Roughly chop but set aside a few whole leaves for decoration.
Step 5 add the seared pork slices to the wok and the sweet basil. Bring to boil then set flame to simmering heat. Remember the little onion? Put the remainder of that sliced up into the curry too. Simmer for at least 20-30mins stirring occasionally.
Step 6 peel and finely slice some cucumber, carrots and mooli. Mix some rice wine vinegar, white sugar and water in a small bowl - taste to check balance. Then add the chopped veg and let it have a quick pickling whilst you wait for curry to cook.
Step 7 check curry has enough fish sauce. Serve with jasmine rice or quinoa with sesame oil, slice of lime and fresh sweet basil garnish. Have the pickles on the side.
Step 8 Chow down!

Lucky Cat Special - Radio Programme on the 2nd Chinese Visual Festival

Thursday 14th June 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4FM / www.resonancefm.com
I will be broadcasting a special edition of Lucky Cat previewing the Chinese Visual Festival. This is the second festival of Chinese visual culture brought to London by China Culture Connect. I will be joined live in the Resonance FM studio by the Festival's Marketing Manager James Mudge and the show will feature a live musical performance by Boulevard Productions (pianist Dr Zachary Dunbar and actor/singer Ming Qiang (Jeremy) Xie and friends). Boulevard Productions will be performing a Mandarin version of the classic musical Sweet Charity at the Festival's Music Night on 28th June.

The Festival opens on June 22nd, the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, at the Free Word Centre in central London and will feature the UK premiere of the film Dragon Boat by acclaimed director Cao Dan. Through the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing, the film tells the story of rapid economic development in modern China and the resulting disappearance of rural traditions. Cao Dan will be at the Gala for an audience Q&A session.

The Festival runs from 22nd June to 6th July 2012 across four central London venues and is themed Run, China, Run. The theme ties in with the Olympics; hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics has affected Chinese society and the festival looks at the ‘aftershock’ of the 2008 Beijing Olympics through a variety of Chinese films and art. The running also refers to China's race for modernisation.


The film section will feature 17 independent documentary films from China. As well as Cao Dan for Dragon Boat, other directors will be present for audience Q&A sessions, including Wang Bang for University City Savages on 27th June and Guo Xiaolou for Once Upon a Time Proletarian on 6th July.

The Chinese Visual Festival will present its first Directorial Retrospective on 30th June, Zhou Hao – The Constant Documentarian, with his two most influential films, Senior Year and Using being shown at the Birkbeck College Cinema.

The Festival also includes an art exhibition by Wu Xiaohai and a music concert by renowned Pipa musician Wang Ting.
The full programme and tickets for all events are available on the Chinese Visual Festival website: www.chinesevisualfestival.org

Do tune in for a preview of the Festival on Thursday 14th June at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM with me Zoë Baxter.
The radio show will also be repeated on Resonance the day the Festival begins (7pm Friday 22nd June).

Archiving Lucky Cat Series 1 on Mixcloud

Lucky Cat, Series 1 Episode 2 (14th Oct 2005) by Luckycatzoe on Mixcloud

Here's Episode 2 of my first ever series. Still on the lookout for episode 1, hope to add that soon. For the playlist and info see my original post from 2005.

China in Britain: Myths and Realities

Dr Anne Witchard at the University of Westminster is curating a number of events for the series China in Britain: Myths and Realities. An AHRC-funded research network project which investigates changing conceptions of China and Chineseness in Britain. The series hopes to connect up the important yet disparate work being done by cultural historians, literary critics, curators, archivists, contemporary artists, film makers and Sino-British organisations. The first event is China in Britain: #1. Film on Thursday May 10th, 2012 @ Brunei Gallery, SOAS, Thornhaugh St., Russell Square, London WC1H OXG Places are free but strictly limited so it is essential to register with the project’s Principal Investigator, Anne Witchard, at: anne@translatingchina.info

The Film programme includes:

• Peking at the Pictures: Early Cinema, the Boxer Rebellion, and Anglo-American Perspectives on China, Ross Forman (University of Warwick). The Chinese presence in British cinema dates from James Williamson's 1900 'documentary' film, Attack on a China Mission, a recreation of that year's “Boxer rebellion” in which nationalist militants attempted to expel Christian missionaries and other foreigners from China. It was actually filmed in Brighton and Williamson had never visited China. Ross Forman’s book China and the Victorian Imagination: Empires Entwined is forthcoming with Cambridge University Press.
• Po-chih Leong, Britain's Forgotten Filmmaker, Felicia Chan (University of Manchester) and Andy Willis (University of Salford). In the early 1980s British Asian filmmakers began to make inroads into the British film industry. The the first truly British Chinese feature, Ping Pong reached the screen in 1986. British-born director Po-Chi Leong (b. 1939) had already directed several features in Hong Kong. A survey of Leong’s career spanning 40 years across different commercial industries, national cinemas and diverse genres.
• Jo Ho’s Spirit Warriors Jo Ho created the hit BBC television show Spirit Warriors, the first British series to star a predominantly East Asian cast. Jo is currently working on several feature films.
• Xiaolu Guo, author and filmmaker will introduce a screening of her film She, A Chinese, followed by a Q and A.

For more detailed info go to translatingchina.info.
I will be giving a talk at China in Britain: #3 Theatre and Music on July 18th. More details soon!

London International Ska Festival this weekend!

The London International Ska Festival starts today and takes place across a variety of venues this year. The lovely Megumi Mesaku who was on my show earlier this year is playing with her band Ska Cubano. There are many great acts appearing including the Ska and Rocksteady legend Dandy Livingstone who has come out of retirement and is returning to the stage! Information on all the acts and how to get tickets can be found here: www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk/ or on Facebook:>http://www.facebook.com/londonskafestival My mate Jean-Paul, who is an excellent DJ, will be spinning Ska vinyl at the after party on Sat 5th May @ Islington Metalworks. More on the musical releases in collaboration with the Festival soon.........

Got my Cooking mojo back

Recently I haven't felt too great about my cooking abilities, mainly after failures at successfully mastering the art of potato cookery (raw/burnt chips, lumpy mashed potato). I felt as though I'd lost my cooking mojo. Happily, this week I'm back on track. Taking a break from pesky potatoes I went back to East Asia to try some new recipes.

For the starter we had steamed tofu with crunchy peanut, spring onion, sesame oil, sugar and Tean's gourmet chilli oil topping.  My daughter tried the tofu sans chilli: "It tastes like nothing, it's ok, but I don't want it".
Main course:
Baby sweetcorn, bamboo shoot and fresh turmeric curry
Jasmine rice
Golden meat - Chinese stir fried pork dish
Steamed tung choi (water spinach)

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.

Terracotta Far East Film Festival 2012

This year the Terracotta Far East Film Festival is a little bit earlier: 12th - 15th April @ The Prince Charles cinema in London.
I'll be previewing the festival with a special programme on Resonance FM on Friday 30th March @ 8pm GMT. I will joined by festival organiser Joey Leung to discuss the films in this year's festival programme.

There are some exciting films on offer, including a special preview of the new animated classic From Up On Poppy Hill from the legendary Studio Ghibli.


Korean epic My Way opens the festival, with a pan Asian cast of Jang Dong-gun, Joe Odagiri and Fan Bingbing.
The first film ever to be shot in Burma shows on the Friday: Return to Burma / Gui lái dí rén, which depicts the story of Wang Xing-Hong who is living as an immigrant laborer in Taiwan saving his money to return home to Burma.
Friday night also brings some terror to Leicester Square with a special Terror-Cotta (geddit?) triple bill of spine tinglers: Gyo, The Grudge and Zombie 108.



I'm most excited about the European premiere of Daniel Wu & Kevin Spacey film Inseparable! A superhero dark comedy set in HK - with a Hollywood star (also London-lover, Old Vic director and all round nice guy!).

Japanese auteur Sion Sono (Love Exposure, Cold Fish) closes the festival with the UK premiere of 'Himizu'.
For all the details check the festival programme: http://terracottafestival.com/programme/2012

DJing @ China Inside Out event in London

I will be DJing from 6-7pm at this event at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon: China Inside Out.

English PEN and Free Word are hosting a fascinating day-long programme of debates, readings, film screenings, food and music which will aim to improve our understanding of the freedom to write, and the freedom to read, in China.

Hope you can join me on Thursday 29th March, for more info and how to book tickets see:
www.freewordonline.com/events/detail/china-inside-out

I'll be playing an hour long set of contemprary Chinese music (including AM444, New Pants and Mamer).

Electric Sheep Film Jukebox Selection

I was kindly asked to select my top 10 movies for the Electric Sheep Film Jukebox. It proved quite a hard task and I kinda cheated by mentioning other films! I hope you enjoy my selection, let me what you think...Did I miss anything? What are your top ten?

http://www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk/

DJing @ Mango Landin' Fri 16th March with Jean-Paul Séculaire

Next weekend (Fri 16th March) I will be joined by vinyl aficionado and creator of the London Dossier, Jean-Paul Séculaire. As always, entrance is free down @ Mango Landin' (40 St Matthew's Rd, Brixton).
Expect to hear some sweet Rocksteady, Reggae, Ska, Calypso, Rhythm n Blues, Asia Beat and Cha Cha Cha! Strictly vinyl selection 9 till 3am.

Lucky Cat S6 Ep 15 (25th Feb 12) Podcast & Playlist - Final episode of Series 6

For the last episode in the series I was joined by fellow Resonance FM contributor and HK film fan Ricky Lorrio. Ricky shared his passion for Godfrey Ho ninja films as well as bringing in a few favourite tracks.
The photo shown is a still from the Godfrey Ho film Ninja Terminator

• No More Doggin - Rosco Gordon (Jumping The Shuffle Blues: Jamaican Sound System CD)
  
• Seemingly the Old Friend Comes - Anita Mui (from the soundtrack of Rouge)
  
• Sonny - Betty Chung (from the LP Wild Flame EMI label)
  
• Give Me Back My Pork Pie Hat - Ronnie Gordon and the Constituents (from the forthcoming CD Ronnie Gordon Speaks His Mind)
  
• Theme to Yojimbo - Jason Moran
  
• I'm Gone - Shirley and Lee (Blank JA 7")
  

Vinyl Memories - The Herne Bay Playlist

Vinyl Memories - The Herne Bay Playlist by Luckycatzoe on Mixcloud

This is a recording of the project I developed - Vinyl Memories - which featured at last year's Herne Bay Giant Picnic. I advertised for people to bring their old vinyl (78,45 or 33) for Douglas Noble and I to play on the Wheely Groovy pedal powered sound machine (this is a bicycle sound system run by Douglas Noble and Dave Robert). We played the tunes why the public pedalled away to generate the electricity to power the deck. All the tunes were recorded and I interviewed contributors so that they could share their vinyl memories. Here are the results. Hope you enjoy listening, it was a great day.

For more info on the Giant Picnic see People United (organisers):
www.peopleunited.org.uk

For more info on Wheely Groovy:
www.wheelygroovy.co.uk

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.

Lucky Cat S6 Ep14 Playlist & Podcast - Anna Chen Steampunk Opium Wars

Here's the podcast of last Saturday's show when I was joined by Anna Chen to discuss the upcoming event Steampunk Opium Wars. Anna and I discussed history of the Opium Wars, what Steampunk means and her plans for future radio and stage projects.













Playlist:

• Pipe Dream Blues - Hazel Meyers (from Viper Mad Blues: 16 Songs of Dope and Depravity Jass Records LP)
  
• Shanghainese Monodrama - from the CD The Sounds of Shanghai: a souvenir album of audio documentary from Shanghai
  
• Minnie the Moocher - Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra (Viper Mad Blues LP)
  
• Message to You Rudy - Ronnie Gordon and the Constituents (exclusive preview from their forthcoming CD)
  
• I Cover the Waterfront - The Ink Spots
  
• Poinciana - Ronnie Gordon and the Constituents (exclusive preview from their forthcoming CD)
  
• Shanghai sounds - new track from layabozi.com
  

♥ Resonance FM

Resonance 104.4 FM's annual on-air fund raiser runs from St Valentine's Day on the 14th February right up until midnight on Sunday 19th February. We'll have an auction of unique and wondrous items, special live events, celebrity guests, spontaneous competitions and much more.

If you love Resonance 104.4 FM and the broadcasts by Lucky Cat, please support us via a donation, pledge, bequest, gift or purchase from our shop: http://resonancefm.com/support

Resonance urgently need funds to continue its work and our goal is £30,000. Visit resonancefm.com to make a donation of any size. And do tune in! Thanks!

There will be a number of amazing items up for auction, details will soon be online http://resonancefm.com/auction-2012

My show on Saturday 18th Feb will be a fundraising special and I'll have a Lucky Cat goodie bag up for auction as well as some surprises so tune in @ 3.30pm this Sat. Podcast crew you will have an opportunity to join in too with an exclusive goodie bag!

Lucky Cat S6 Ep13 Playlist & Podcast - China Culture Connect

For Episode 13 I was joined by film curator Jingjing Xie and art curator Xuhua 'Sylvia' Zhan from China Culture Connect.
We discussed the upcoming documentary programme at BFI as well as future plans for the organisation which promotes new cultural awareness and understanding of modern China.

(image shown is from the Yao Songping film Tide)

• 神经末梢 (Shen Jing Mo Shao) - AM444
  
• Moon Watching - Shin Joon Hyung (Shin Joong Hyun Beautiful Rivers And
  Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound Of South Korea's Shin Joong Hyun Light in the Attic Records)
  
• Lost Tsingdao - Sig (from the CD LP Sad Mirror)
  
• Shade of Flower - Sig, as before
  
• The Sun - Kim Jung Mi(from Beautiful Rivers And
  Mountains, as before)
  
• Talk to Me - Cha Cha (Ghost Ark EP)
  
• False Rasta - Jacob Miller (on the CD Augustus Pablo Presents Cultural Showcase)
  

Alert:
Resonance FM is having a Valentines Fundraising drive (St Valentine's Day, 14th
February, to Sunday 19th February (inclusive). Many incredible items and intriguing experiences will be auctioned. Stay tuned to 104.4FM find out more or donate now:

Web:
resonancefm.com/support

Text Message:
Send RZFM14 £ followed by your donation amount to 70070

Shin Joon Hyung

http://lightintheattic.net/artists/363-shin-joong-hyun

This 2xLP is amazing! I played a couple of tracks on Saturday's show (podcast to follow). The sleeve notes are beautifully detailed, great photos and an interview with Shin Joong Hyun himself. A really wonderful collection of music from a country whose music history has not been widely documented. Well done to Light in the Attic for putting this out. Available to buy on vinyl too for all you fellow vinyl junkies!

China Culture Connect on Today's Lucky Cat

Today I will be joined by film curator Jingjing Xie and art curator Xuhua 'Sylvia' Zhan from China Culture Connect.
We'll be talking about the upcoming documentaries they are screening at the BFI. Unfortunately this event is now sold out! Hopefully there will be more screenings planned, I will ask about this.

Films showing at the BFI for Unseen China on Feb 25th:

Tide (Chao)
Documenting China's traditional Spring Festival (New Year) in 2008, when millions of people returning home faced the coldest winter in 100 years.

My Four-Fen Land (Wo De Si Fen Di) portrays peasant life oblivious to world turbulence.

Viewpoint (Guan Dian) illustrates the complexities of a labour market.

Water and Land (Shui Shang An Shang) is a dramatic portrait of a young woman struggling to realise her dreams.

Brave Father (Fu Qin) narrates the heart-rending efforts of a parent to support his son's future.

Tune in to Resonance 104.4FM today at 3.30pm (UK). Podcast to follow.

The Kim Sisters

Just discovered this group via youtube. Giant xylophones are always a winner.

Steampunk Opium Wars

Thursday 16th Feb, 6:30-10pm
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Lates: Anna Chen Presents 'Traders' : Steampunk Opium Wars

A satirical extravaganza about China, Britain, imperialism and drugs in the 19th century in verse & music. See narco-capitalists & Chinese lawmakers slug it out, take part in a poetry slam, and watch the weirdest tea ceremony ever.

I am going to be DJing at this fantastically eclectic evening. I'll be playing Chinese music from the 1920s and 30s (Zhou Hsuan, Bai Guang etc) and a few opium themed tracks.

Hope that you can come and play on 16th Feb. It's free but you do need to reserve tickets:
http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/events/lates-anna-chen-presents-traders

More info on the event:
Ann Chen's Blog
Facebook Page

Dragon Mix Podcast

Due to a technical failure the mix was not played on Resonance today. Here's the podcast, hope you enjoy.

Dragon Mix

Today's Dragon Mix Playlist:

• The Dragon King - from Monkey: Journey To The West "Instrumentals" CD promo track (Damon Albarn and co.)
  
• Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - Tan Dun and Yo Yo Ma fromt he soundtrack of the film of the same name
  
• Enter the Dragon - The Upsetters (from the LP King Fu Meets the Dragon a Lee Perry classic)
  
• Theme from Enter the Dragon
  
• Escape from Dragon House - Dengue Fever
  
• Pete's Dragon - Excerpt from the Disney Read-A-Long record
  
• Double Dragon - Soundtrack excerpt fromt he classic arcade game
  
• Riding the Dragon - Paul Robeson
  
• Dragon (Wood) - Shanghai Traditional Orchestra (from the CD Chinese Feng Shui Music
  
• Dragon Weapon - Don Drummond
  
• Exit the Dragon - The Upsetters
  
• Dragon Dance - Festical celebration - Han Shin Chinese Folk & Danse Ensemble
  
• Dragons Play With Pearl - track from Cantonese Mental Music LP
  
• Walk Like a Dragon - Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires
  
• OST Pete's Dragon - song from the Disney film of the same name (starring an old Mickey Rooney)
  
• The Final Sword Battle - The Dragon vs The Transience - from the Tsui Hark film Seven Swords
  
• Ba Xing Bao Xi He He Xi - Twins and friends
  

Dragon Mix on Today's Lucky Cat

On today's show I'll be playing my deadly dragon mix to welcome the Year of the Dragon. Remember the old arcade game Double Dragon? We also had this on the Atari, classic fighting game, happy times!

Tune in at 3.30pm UK time on 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere.

Podcast and Playlist RIP Etta James

Here's the podcast of Lucky Cat Series 6 Episode 11.
The show starts off as a repeat as for the first time in 6 years I was running late! I arrive about 8 mins in to pay tribute to the late great Etta James and wish you all Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Playlist:

• Tell Mama - Etta James (Chess LP Security)
  
• Tough Lover - Etta James (R&B Greats CD, Not Now label)
  
• Hey Henry - Etta James (Modern label 7")
  
• Security - Etta James (Chess LP Security)
  
• Pushover - Etta James (Argo label 7")
  
• WOMAN - Etta James (Chess 2XLP The Sweetest Peaches: The Chess Years)
  
• All I Could Do Was Cry
  
• Welcome Happiness- Tsui Ping & Friends (EMI label 7" EP)
  
• Year of Happiness from the of Folk Instrumental Music (China Records 10" LP)
  
• The Willow Plays Like a Zither from Chinese Opera Songs & Music (Folkways label LP)
  
• Down in the Basement - Etta James & Sugarpie De Santo
  
• Nula Dua Mumur Mumur from Sumatra of Today and Yesteryear (Claude Jannel LP)
  
• Please, Please, Please - James Brown (R&B Greats CD, Not Now label)
  

Happy Year of the Dragon

Gong Hei Fat Choi! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Gong Hei Fat Choi! Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!

Here's a free download from long-time Lucy Cat listeners Quadrilles.
Check out the cool accompanying video featuring the Yellow Dragon Lion Dancing group.

Red Light Revolution

I mentioned last year that Terracotta Distribution were going to release China's first sex shop comedy feature film Red Light Revolution. The time is now, the revolution is almost upon us and it will not only be televised but on the big screen too.

The film, directed by Sam Voutas (a Greek Australian who has lived in Beijing for many years), focuses on a group of guys who open a Beijing sex shop when their regular day jobs don't bring in enough cash. Apparently Beiijng really does have the most sex shops per square mile than any other city!
The comedy mainly arises from Chinese tradition colliding with modern sexual values.
The film was voted audience favourite at last year's Terracotta Film Festival and now Terracotta will bring the film back to The Prince Charles for one night only! Just in time for Chinese New Year, get yourself down to the cult Leicetser Square cinema for a few chuckles on Monday 23rd of Jan at 9pm.

DVD release will follow in Feb.

I'll be giving my review of the film my Resonance radio show Lucky Cat (Saturdays 3.30pm 104.4 Resonance FM).

Lucky Cat S6 Ep10 (14th Jan 2012) Playlist & Podcast - Happy New Year!

Happy 2012 to you all. For the first episode of the year I was helped out in the studio by my daughter.
Hope you enjoy the podcast, here's the playlist:

• When Are You Coming Again - Miss Mary Leung
  
• Auld Lang Syne - Miss Carmelita Gevar
  
• Lady Lan Hua-Hua - Wong Ching (from the CD White Snow in Early Spring available here: www.hugocd.com)
  
• Maria - The Mighty Sparrow (RCA LP, pictured)
  
• Teke Song - from Discover Indonesia, Smythsonian Folkways CD
  
• Unchain my Heart - Nancy Sit (7" EP, Squirrel Records)
  
• Megumi Project - Miss Megoo & Yahman Allstars feat Derrick Morgan (10" Vinyl only) available here: www.johnjohnrecords.com)
  
• Gong Ensemble Piece - Sumatran song, Smythsonian Folkways CD
  
• Blue Lagoon - Miss Megoo & Yahman Allstars (10" Vinyl only)
  
• Leanna - Stranger Cole (PAMA 7")
  
• Pepito de Mallorca - Trio Guadalajera (7")
  
• Gondang si Monag-Monag- from Discover Indonesia, Smythsonian Folkways CD
  

Chinese New Year Films @ BFI London

The British Film Institute are showing some films to celebrate Chinese New Year. Quite a cool and diverse selection; I am really keen to see the award winning Ann Hui film A Simple Life. China Culture Connect will present a series of documentaries in the Unseen China screening which also looks really interesting. Most of all I am bowled over at the prospect of seeing Woman Basketball Player No. 5, a technicolor 1957 Shanghai film by director Xie Jin.
If you heard my on air review of Confucius starring Chow Yun Fat then you'll know I wasn't a fan. Beautifully art directed but overblown and rather tedious with scholarly name dropping a go-go.

Films are showing in February, details here: www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/events/chinese_new_year

Cha Cha's Chinese Bass Culture Music Picks

Happy New Year everyone. Already looking like this is going to be a fantastic year for my favourite Chinese singer Cha Cha!
Check out this fantastic playlist she has compiled for the Red Bull Music Academy web site:

www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/cha-cha-chinese-countdown

Cha Cha and MC Webber's new demo is out now, take a listen to some cool Chinese Hip Hop here:
http://soundcloud.com/chachachina/prod-chacha-webber

Cha Cha and Jay Soul have also been teaming up again so expect some killer beats and soulful singing in your lug holes pretty soon.

I'm still on an Xmas break from Resonance FM, will be back broadcasting Sat 14th Jan. Zaijian!

Woman of 2011: Carina Lau

Apologies for the break in blogging; down to cold/flu and seasonal festivities.
My Woman of the Year for 2011 has got to be Carina Lau. I really enjoyed her menacing performance in Tsui Hark's Detective Dee and also her comedic turn in Let the Bullets Fly. In her honour, here's a lovely song.

Lucky Cat S6 Ep9 (10th Dec 2011) Playlist & Podcast - Movie Special

This week it was a movie special. Virginie Selavy (Editor of Electric Sheep magazine & member of The Actionettes) joined me to discuss East Asian film releases of 2011. Virginie brought in some her 45s to play and it was great fun listening to her soulful selection.
Some of the films discussed were:
Villain
Sparrow
The Ghost Cat and the Shamisen
Gallants (Teddy Robin, pictured, gives an excellent comedic performance in Gallants)
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Woochi the Demon Slayer

• I Wanna Know - Sugarpie De Santo (Checker label 45)
  
• I Told You So - The Chantals (Carlton label 45)
  
• Take A Piece of My Heart - Mahalia Saunders (Hortense Ellis on Upsetter label 45)
  
• Something's Gotta Hold On Me - Don & Alleyne Cole
  
• The Entertainer - Tony Clarke (Chess label 45)
  
• Burnt Toast & Black Coffee - Mike Pedicin (Gusto label 45)
  
• You Don't Care - The Techniques (Treasure Isle 45)
  

Sat 10th Dec: East Asian Cinema in 2011

Electric Sheep Magazine editor Virginie Selavy joins Zoë Baxter in the studio to discuss the East Asian film releases of 2011. The Xmas TV schedule will also be scrutinised for any East Asian cinema offerings.
Zoë and Virginie will be playing 45s from their collections - expect Reggae, Soul and 60's girl groups.

This week's dim sum lunch box will contain a new twist on a British classic; the bacon sandwich.

See also: www.electricshe​epmagazine.com

Set your dial to 104.4FM this Saturday at 3.30pm or tune in via www.resonancefm.com

Lucky Cat S6 Ep8 (3rd Dec 2011) Playlist & Podcast

Last Saturday I was joined by the fabulously flamboyant saxophonist Megumi Mesaku. We talked about Ska in Japan and Megumi's musical journey; from playing the sax in a marching band as a youngster, playing with Ska bands the Top Cats, the Trojans and Latin/Ska combo Ska Cubano to releasing her own material. For her new 10" 45 vinyl record Megumi has collaborated with some legendary Reggae musicians.
We also talked about Megumi's home town Soma City which is in Fukushima. Megumi has been raising money for Soma City since the Tsunami hit earlier this year. So far she has raised an impressive £7,000 and last month she returned to Soma City to see the effects of the Tsunami for herself and to give the Mayor the donations. Megumi is still fund raising and needs your help! This Saturday 10th Dec please go along to the Kimono Girls' Jumble Sale this Saturday to buy some lovely hand made gifts for Xmas and support a very worthy cause. 11am - 6pm Pacific Social Club, No 8 Clarence Road, London E5 8HB.
Facebook Event Page.

Miss Megoo and the Yahman Allstars' 10 45 is out now and available from JohnJohn Records.

• Feel So Good - Shirley and Lee
  
• Tokyo Shot - The Ska Flames
  
• Piel Canela - Ska Cubano
  
• What a Wonderful World - Miss Megoo and the Yahman Allstars(Miss Megoo (Megumi) with Rico Rodriguez)
  
• Soma Bota - traditional music from Soma City
  
• Blue Lagoon - Miss Megoo and the Yahman Allstars
  

Megumi Mesaku (Miss Megoo) on this Saturday's Show

This Saturday (3rd December) I will have a special guest live in the studio: Megumi Mesaku aka Miss Megoo. Megumi is a fantastic saxophone player who has played with Ska Cubano, the Trojans and the Topcats. She has now embarked on a solo project, composing music and collaborating with different artists for The Megumi Project.
I will be chatting to Megumi about her new project, playing her brand new 10" record (which is a collaboration with the legendary Rico Rodriguez) and asking her more about the Kimono Girls' charity work following the earthquake in Japan earlier this year.

Links:
Megumi's Facebook page, Myspace and Youtube.
See also: Big Jay McNeely (a big musical influence of Mehumi's).

Tune in on Saturday 3rd December @ 3.30pm (UK) via 104.4FM in London or www.resonancefm.com anywhere.

Lucky Cat Christmas Party 16th Dec

Continuing my regular DJ spot at Mango Landin' I am throwing a special Christmas Party with a guest appearance by the fabulous Black Elvis! Should be a real treat. Hope to see you there (it's free so what are you dithering about?!).

Facebook event Page
Mango Landin' web site

Lucky Cat S6 Ep7 (26th Nov 2011) Playlist & Podcast

Photo taken Shanghai 2011, myself and Cha Cha, copyright ZB.


Here's yesterday's show which features my interview with the amazingly talented singer and musician Cha Cha. I really enjoyed speaking with Cha Cha - the original interview was about an hour and a half so I had to cut to a lot of material but I hope I kept in the essence of Cha Cha's creative positivity and passion for music. Cha Cha also made some insightful comments about life in China, especially in a big city like Shanghai. It was truly a pleasure speaking wither her, I hope that you enjoy listening.
I think I'm a bit of a superfan now! Will bring you all the Cha Cha news as and when I get it, big tings a gwaan for this lady...

Playlist:

• Uprooted Sunshine mix track - Cha Cha
  
• Money Slaves - Cha Cha with Disrput (Bass Shelter EP on Jahtari label)
  
• One Day You'll Know - Cha Cha & Rankin Joe (Randys label 10")
  
• Love is the Drug - Kode 9 Spaceape feat Cha Cha (from the album Black Sun)
  
• 神经末梢 (Shen Jing Mo Shao) - AM444 (from the CD album Eye Wonder)
  
• Eye Wonder - AM444 (from the CD album Eye Wonder)
  
• Eye Know - AM444 (from the CD album Eye Wonder)
  
• 末日前相见 - Along with Cha Cha (exclusive)
  
• Love song - Cha Cha (Clive Chin production, unreleased)
  

Exclusive Cha Cha Interview on today's show

On today's show check out my exclusive interview with China's premier Reggae and Soul singer Cha Cha.

Based in Shanghai, Cha Cha has collaborated with a variety of international artists - The Bug, Kode 9, Rankin Joe (for Clive Chin's Randys label), Adrian Sherwood and Vibronics. Earlier this year Cha Cha teamed up with Dutch producer Jay Soul to form AM444 for the excellent funk/soul/dub album Eye Wonder.

Currently Cha Cha is at the Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid - the first ever mainland Chinese participant!

Recent collaborations have been with Chinese Hip Hop MCs and producers.

Earlier this year Cha Cha visited the UK for the first time and I recorded an exclusive interview where Cha Cha talks about her musical roots and the emerging Shanghai bass culture music scene.

Listen Live today at 3.30pm (UK) on Resonance 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere.

See also:
Subculture Shanghai
Cha Cha on Red Bull Academy Radio

In Berlin? Cha Cha is performing at the Worldtronics Festival on 1st December with Disrupt - Reach!

Playlist & podcast for today's show uploaded shortly....

Lucky Cat S6 Ep6 (19th Nov 2011) Playlist & Podcast

For Episode 6 I am joined by musician, journalist and crate digger Chris Menist to discuss his forthcoming Dust to Digital compilation of Vietnamese music. Chris kindly brought in a killer selection of 45s. The 2 Vietnamese tunes are particularly beautiful, really looking forward to the compilation (should be out on vinyl - yey - in January 2012). Check out Chris' blog for info on upcoming DJ dates.



Playlist:

• Hala Hala A Go Go - Wong Ching Yian (Singapore 7")
  Chris Menist's 45s:
  
• Black A Black - The Eathopians (Crab Label 7")
  
• Expensive Gasoline, Again! - Ream Daranoi (Thai 7", answer record to Expensive Gasoline 8 Announcers label)
  
• Neu Co Xa Nhau - Phuong Tam (Continental label, Vietnamese 7")
  
• Doc Chiec Tung Cau - Doc Tau (Continental label, Vietnamese 7")
  
• Beyond the Last Mountain OST - Sohail Rana (EMI 7", Pakistani film score)
  

Paul Au's Vietnamese 45s

When I interviewed Paul Au at his record shop in Hong Kong I found out that he was originally from Vietnam. Paul was one of the many refugees who fled Vietnam for Hong Kong during the war in the 1970s. Paul had already been collecting records in Vietnam but had to leave them all when he left for Hong Kong. Over the years he has managed to collect all the records back again. These were not for sale but Paul was keen for me to take photos of the 45s to share online.
This Saturday crate digger, journalist, and music compiler Chris Menist (Soundway, Finders Keepers) will join me on Lucky Cat radio show. Chris is currently preparing a compilation on Vietnamese music for Dust to Digital and I hope he will bring some Vietnamese music to play on the show.
For now, here are Paul Au's recollected Vietnamese vinyl treasures:

Lucky Cat S6 Ep5 (12th Nov 2011) - Edine Kwok's Mix

Here's Saturday's show. Please see my previous post for the playlist. Edine Kwok pictured. Thank you Edine for a lovely mixture of music for Lucky Cat.
Check out the Tramgirl Karaoke Facebook page here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tramgirl-Karaoke-Club/291404880888315


In this episode I blathered on about food I sampled in Shanghai. Highlights were Taiwanese peanut butter ice cream and Xinjiang lamb skewers (pictured above).
I also frequented bubble tea / crazy drinks emporium Happy Lemon. Cute graphics + ice milk tea with taro = happy.

Lucky Cat Sat 12th Nov Playlist

Today Edine Kwok of the Marshmallow Kisses and Tramgirl Karaoke Club contributes an exclusive mix for Lucky Cat! Edine has has chosen some tracks which reflect her musical influences and she also shares some new tunes from her latest project Tramgirl Karaoke Club.
ZB's selection:

• ChaCha riddim - Vibronics & Cha Cha (exclusive mp3) HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY Uprooted Sunshine crew!
  
• Nanjing Rd 2011, Shanghai soundscape recorded by ZB 2011
  
• Echoes of the Old Lanes - from CD The Sounds of Shanghai
  
• The Alphabet - Astley Dixon (from the CD Noah Found Grace Jamaican Gospel, Social Music Records)
  

Edine's Mix:

• Maskopet Movie - Tramgirl Karaoke Club feat Maskopet
  
• Lalala I love your wongkarwaiish - Tramgirl Karaoke Club feat Emilio Jose
  
• 回忆旋转舞步 － The Marshmallow Kisses
  
• 爱的开始 － 姚莉 (Yao Lee)
  
• Ce petitie coeur - Francoise Hardy
  
• Shine - Dahlia
  
• 爱情 I Know - Pink A
  
• Talk to her - Tramgirl Karaoke Club feat - Treasure Teeth
  

ZB again:

• It's Soon Be Done - Otis Wright (from the CD Noah Found Grace, compiled by WFMU DJ Kevin Nutt)

The Grand Masters