In the Mood for Wong Kar Wai

Here's my latest mix, as promised it's WKW themed. I tried to capture the dreamlike quality of a WKW movie, I hope you enjoy my selection. Qi paos are optional, good quality Chinese tea is essential.

In the Mood for Wong Kar Wai by Luckycatzoe on Mixcloud

WIN Tickets to Lady Snowblood - Terracotta Film Club 24th April

Next Wednesday 24th April The Terracotta Film Club will screen the classic Japanese vengeance movie Lady Snowblood (修羅雪姫, Shurayukihime).  The 1973 film is directed by Toshiya Fujita and stars Meiko Kaji, based on a manga called Shurayukihime it tells the story of Yuki, a woman who seeks vengeance upon three people who raped her mother and killed her mother's husband and son.  The film is widely known to be the inspiration for Tarantino's Kill Bill movies.  

You lucky, lucky Lucky Cat readers have the chance to WIN 2 TICKETS to next Wednesday's screening in London (8.45pm, Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Sq)!  Thanks to the good people of Terracotta Film you can bask in blood splattered cinematic glory completely gratis!  

TO WIN all you need to do is email me: luckycatzoe@gmail.com and I will pick the winner at random when the competition closes at 7pm on Monday 22nd April.  Good luck!

 

The Terracotta Film Festival is going to be bigger and better than ever this year and I am super excited about it.  Not least because this year there will be a section dedicated to the films of Leslie Chueng and Anita Mui!  The festival will run for a magnificent 10 days across two venues: The Prince Charles and the ICA. 

I'll be bringing you more festival news soon but for now mark down 6th June on your calendars as that's when it all kicks off (insert martial arts film joke here).

 

Reggae 45s Mix Online

Well my vintage amp is finally mended and I can record from vinyl to mp3 again. First up I've recorded a mix of Reggae 45s for your listening pleasure. Some of these are Soul/RnB covers which I really love e.g. The Marvels version of The Ronettes' Be My Baby. Next up I think it's time for a Wong Kar Wai inspired mix....Watch this space....

Reggae Music Again! by Luckycatzoe on Mixcloud

Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha - Bruce Lee had all the moves!

Check out the rare footage of Bruce Lee dancing the cha cha at this blog:

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/presenting_the_1958_hong_kong_cha_cha_championship_winner_my_bruce_lee

I knew Bruce was the cha cha champion of Hong Kong in 1958 but I'd not seen all these pics and the video before. Roast Pork Sliced from a Rusty Cleaver blog has some nice early photos of Bruce and some stills from the 2010 film Bruce Lee, My Brother. The still pictured here is from that film.

Another Bruce Lee biopic is in the pipeline: Birth of the Dragon. Find out more here .

On a side note earlier this year I visited the Hollywood Costume exhibition at the V&A museum and saw Uma Thurman's yellow and black jumpsuit from Kill Bill on display. There was no reference to the fact that this was a homage to Bruce Lee's costume, disgraceful! Apart from that gripe the exhibition was wonderful btw.

A Tale of Two Connies

Here are my first two attempts at watercolour paintings inspired by my 7" record covers. First Up Connie Chan from The Magic Cat soundtrack record.

Connie no. 2 now, Ms Francis, from a French MGM 7" of Lipstick On Your Collar

Ming Wong

Whilst browsing online for images from the Douglas Sirk movie Imitation of Life I happened across the work of Singaporean artist Ming Wong.
Ming's art is influenced by cinema and he plays with notions of ethnicity, gender and identity. His cinematic work is a little reminiscent of Isaac Julien.

See his In the Mood for Love project here: www.mingwong.org/index.php?/project/in-love-for-the-mood/

Year of the Snake Mix

Year of the Snake 2013 by Luckycatzoe on Mixcloud

Happy New Year y'all.  Hope you had a lovely Spring Festival.  Here is my snake mix, which also contains some lunar new year and spring themed tracks.  Hope you enjoy.

2013 Year of the SssssssSnake!

Chinese New Year is nearly here and it will be year of the slithery, sneaky snake!  Still shown is from Tsui Hark movie The Green Snake starring Joey Wang and Maggie Cheung.

Here are a few CNY events happening in London:

China Culture Connect: films @ the BFI:
She, A Chinese  Feb 9th
The Opium War  Feb 10th
Ping Pong Feb 11th (matinee, free for seniors)
For details see:
http://www.filmingeast.org/


Family Play at the V&A The Boy Who Sat on the Dragon Throne
During February half-term, celebrate Chinese New year and find out about the boy emperor, Pu Yi and his giant throne.
As usual London Chinatown and Leicester Square will host celebrations, full schedule is here.

I will be uploading a Year of the Snake mix to my mixcloud channel soon.

Happy 2013! January DJ Gig with Chris Menist

Greetings kittens! Hope you had a lovely festive season. Happy 2013 to you all. This one is going to be slippery - it's the year of the sneaky snake starting in February.

I will be back at Mango Landin' on Friday 18th January alongside special guest selector Chris Menist.

Chris and I will be spinning vintage vinyl treats from all over the world for you. Chris has an amazing collection so I am really looking forward to hearing his crate digger's selection!

I recently purchased PB02 and PB03 45s on the Paradise Bangkok record label (little Xmas prezzie to myself!). A must for any collector of East Asian vinyl. Available at Soul Jazz or Boomkat.

Sadly there is a problem with my (admittedly ancient) amp so I cannot record vinyl at the mo'. Therefore no tasty New Year online mix for you, apologies. I hope you won't be too disappointed with an mp3 mix until I can get the amp fixed (or buy one of these)

So - got any new year resolutions? I am considering setting myself the task of watching all of the top 200 Lovehkfilm movies this year. What a great countdown, presume In the Mood For Love will be in the top 5.....

Hope to see some of you on the 18th @ Mango to chase away the January blues!

Christmas Party this Friday @ Mango Landin

See you on the dance floor....

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

Edine Returns! This time it's Vinyl - Hurrah!

Edine Kwok aka Tramgirl Clubber aka one half of The Marshmallow Kisses has a fabulous new record out!  And when I say 'record' I mean it - Edine has brought out a beautiful white coloured vinyl 7"EP.

You may remember Edine from series 6 of Lucky Cat when she contributed a super cool mix of her favourite songs plus her own music.  Edine has now teamed up with US based Lisle Mitnik and the partnership has produced great results.

Check out the lush retro-tastic video for her song with Lisle Mitnik et son Orchestre The West Coast:



This is out now on the Elefant Records label. Vinyl is 500 press limited edition.  Mp3 versions are available too.

Edine and Lisle Mitnik et son Orchestre also feature on the Elefant Records Christmas compilation with their lovely floaty retro-pop Spector influenced Xmas Day.

Like Edine on Facebook here.

British East Asian Atists Debate: RSC 'Orphan of Zhao'

Daniel York, Dr Benedict Chow, Dr Amanda Bear and Anna Chen discuss the recent casting catastrophe of the the Royal Shakespeare Company's The Orphan of Zhao. RSC declined to participate.

Thanks to Madam Miaow for posting these on youtube.

Lucky Cat S7 Ep10 24th Nov 2012 - Chris Menist Mix

Here is the super mix created exclusively for Lucky Cat by Chris Menist. Thank you Chris for the top notch selection.

Playlist:

• 01. Unknown Yemeni 7"
• 02. Kobkul Wongsawad - Lam Plearn Hug Num Ban Na (Phin Kaen 7")
• 03. Buppha Saichol - Roob Lor Thom Pai (Star Records 7")
• 04. Piya Takoonratch - Isan Ban Kong Hao (Petch Phin Tong 7")
• 05. Collins Oke Elaiho & His Odoligie Nobles Dance Band - Omoniyakioya (Philips 7")
• 06. Marcia Griffiths - Working To The Top (My Ambition) (Studio One blank 7")
• 07. Marion Black - Who Knows (Capsoul 7")
• 08. Mahmoud Ahmed (pictured above)- Yefikir Woha Timu (Mahmoud Records 7")
• 09. Sextette Camayenne - Kaniba (Syliphone 7")
• 10. Maneerat Kaewsadej - Kiew Choo Puen
• 11. Kana Petch Plachai Band - Lam Plearn Dok Koon Siang Khaen (CTL 7")
• 12. Montein Teinthong - Kor Kai (Phin Kaen 7")
• 13. Prince Alla - Their Reward (Dalphin 7")
• 14. Dillinger - Freshly (Prophets 7")
• 15. Orchestre Poly Rythmo - E Wa Dagbe (Albarika Store 7")
• 16. Chailai & Duangdao - Chak Mak Pai (Archer 7")
• 17. Plearn Promdan - Wan Maha Sanook (Mocking Bird 7")
• 18. Samsak Band - Pu Yai Lee (Three Cats 7")

Check out Chris and Maft Sai's record label ZudRangMa Records Thailand.

Lucky Cat S7 Ep 9 17th Nov 2012 Podcast

For this episode I ramble on a little and play some vinyl treasures and new digital releases from the UK and China.

Do check out the new album on the hipster Hippos in Tanks label from Vietnamese/Hong Kong/British rapper Triad God aka Vinh Ngan from New Cross, South London. See: http://boomkat.com/vinyl/609720-triad-god-nxb

Playlist

• Police in Helicopter - John Holt(12" vinyl, Greensleeves label)
• Bruce Lee Funeral - Triad God, pictured here(from the album NXB)
• Four Seasons - Josephine Siao Fong Fong
• Kung Fu Battle Inna Brixton - Prince Fatty feat. Horseman(Prince Fatty vs The Drunken Gambler LP)
• Kung Fu Master - Solo Banton (Jahtari label EP Music Addict)
• 黑寡妇之爱 (Hei Gua Fu Zhi Ai) - AM444 (from the new album Rooms)
• Pok - Triad God (from the album NXB on the Hippos in Tanks label)
• Love Without End - Josephine Siao Fong Fong (from the LP The Rhythm of Fong Fong on the EMI label)
• Premier Qiu Spinning Cotton - (Tenor Solos by Li Shuangjiang, China Record Company 10" LP)
• Aint That Loving You - Alton Ellis and Hugh Roy(7" on the Treasure Isle label - B side)
• By the Rivers of Babylon - The Melodians (7" on the Beverley's label)
• All My Tears Come Rolling - Alton Ellis (7" on the Treasure Isle label - A side)
• Why Punish Me Kneel Down - Unknown Chinese singers
• I Feel Good - Roy and Shirley (7" on the Aladdin label)

Dr Anne Witchard on Lucky Cat this Saturday

This Saturday I am joined in the studio by Dr Anne Witchard of the University of Westminster. Anne is the author of Thomas Burke's Dark Chinoiserie: Limehouse Nights and the Queer Spell of Chinatown (Ashgate Publishing, 2009) and co-editor with Lawrence Phillips of London Gothic: Place, Space and the Gothic Imagination(Continuum, 2010).

I will be talking to Anne about her latest book >Lao She in London (Hong Kong University Press 2012) which details the time Chinese writer Lao She spent in london in the 1920s. The book reveals Lao She's encounter with British high modernism and literature from Dickens to Conrad to Joyce as well as his tiem spent in the notorious and much sensationalised East End Chinatown of Limehouse.

Along with her colleague Dr Diana Yeh, Anne has headed up the AHRC funded reserach prject Translating China which has hosted a number of workshops, discusssiona and events.

China in Britain #4 Aesthetics: Visual and Literary Cultures is on Saturday Dec 8th 2012 – Time 9:30:AM – 4:00PM. Entrance is free but booking is essential. For more information see: http://translatingchina.info/ This will be the last episode in Series 7 of Lucky Cat on Resonance 104.4FM.

Exclusive Chris Menist Mix on Today's Lucky Cat

Today's Lucky Cat features an exclusive mix from crate digger extraordinaire Chris Menist (pictured).

You may remember Chris came on the show last series to talk about his compilation of Vietnamese records for Dust to Digital. Chris is now, along with Maft Sai, bringing out vinyl releases of undiscovered nuggets on the labelParadise Bangkok: Zudrangma Reords.

Thank you to Chris for an astounding mix. Track listing to follow....

Nikkatsu & TOHO 1960-1967: An exhibition of Japanese film photography

There is an amazing looking exhibition of Japanese film posters of the 60's that were made in Thailand.
Nikkatsu & TOHO 1960-1967: An exhibition of Japanese film photography

The collection belongs to Tanja Malo who writes:

"the photos I have were used to design film posters & lobby cards in Bangkok in the 60's, but as the film studios were making less and less money due t o the popularity of television, the work space shown in the magazine were eventually abandoned. Until this young Thai man Noi (found or inherited it? not sure) starting selling the posters on a little soi (skinny street) in Bangkok.

I was living in Bangkok at the time (2007) always looking for old unusual stuff in street stalls & flea markets, and was a regular to this stall of 60's posters. Noi spoke very little English and I speak little Thai, so our ways of communicating were extremely limited.

The exhibition (on a whim, we decided just a couple of weeks ago to do this) will be a bit of a discovery, hopefully someone who knows more than me about the actors will come. The composition and colouring (and style!) is what attracted me to them first, that rather than a particular interest in Japanese film.

Also the whole thing with abandoned places, how a treasure like that can survive in a humid Bangkok room for 50 years. Looking at the sad effects of innovation, I wonder how many more forgotten rooms like that are in the world, and how much is thrown away. First time I asked seller Noi what the pile of photos just sitting on the asphalted sidewalk were, he just waved and meant it was "just rubbish"."

The exhibition is at at MOKA, 5 Wightman Road, N4 1RQ London, UK.

Opens tomorrow 22nd November!

See http://tanjamalo.tumblr.com/ for more details.

Thanks to Tanja Malo for the images and info.

Lucky Cat S7 Ep 8 10th Nov 2012 Podcast - Soft Film Jukebox

Taiwan girl group Mimi Tsai & The Five Petals Band As featured on the the Soft Film Jukebox: Vintage Vinyl from Hong Kong, Singapore & Taiwan (1957-73).

Please see my previous post for the full track listing. The cover of Yesterday is phenomenal!

Dave will be posting a full liner notes on his blog soon so don't forget to check on http://softfilm.blogspot.co.uk/

For more beautiful 45 covers and images of featured artists see: http://softfilm.tumblr.com

A truly wonderful mix - enjoy listening! Thanks again DD.

Soft Film Jukebox Tracklisting

Soft Film Jukebox: Vintage Vinyl from Hong Kong, Singapore & Taiwan (1957-73)

• The Queen Envoy 王昭君 by Tong Pei Pei 董佩佩 (1957)
• The Choice of A Lover 愛的抉擇 by Lui Hung 呂紅 (1964)
• 情種 [The Affectionate Type] by Fong Sam 方心 (ca. 1967)
• 鼓舞新生 [Encouraging a New Life] by Chun Long 俊郎 (ca. 1967)
• Three Flowers of the Factory 工廠三小姐 by Ting Ying 丁瑩, Lydia Shum 沈殿霞 & Lee Chan Chan 李真真 (1967)
• 賣花姑娘 [The Flower Girl] by Josephine Siao 蕭芳芳 (1966)
• Chivalrous Girl in the Air 空中女殺手 by Connie Chan 陳寶珠 (1967)
• 愛情滋味 [The Taste of Romance] by Josephine Siao & Connie Chan (1966)
• You Are the One I Love 我的愛人就是你 by Josephine Siao 蕭芳芳 & Pearl Au 歐嘉慧 (1967)
• Sixteen Candles by Ruby Wah 華怡保 (ca. 1967)
• 為甚麼我們要分手 [Why Must We Break Up?] by Chang Lye Lye 張萊萊 (1967)
• 一路順風 [Have a Pleasant Journey] by Doris Ang & The Sandboys 洪佩佩聖童樂隊伴奏 (ca. 1968)
• 咪咪貓 [Mimi the Cat] by Mimi Tsai and the Five Petals Band 蔡咪咪與五花瓣合唱團 (ca. 1968)
• 風流郎君 [The Playboy Prince] Yang Li Hua 楊麗花 (ca. 1969)
• 多少思念無從寄 [Inexpressible Longings] by Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 (ca. 1973)
• 王昭君 [Wang Zhao Jun] by Yao Su Rong 姚蘇蓉 (1971)
• 想起你可愛的笑容 [Thinking of Your Lovely Smile] by Lena Lim 林竹君 (1969)

Thank you Dave!