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)
  

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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.