New Music from China

On this week's show I play a mix of new music from China.  Tune in to 104.4FM www.resonancefm.com at 3.30pm (UK time).

Playlist:

From Genjing Records (http://genjingrecords.com/):

Golden Cage - The Fuzz (7")

Mirror in My Mind - Carsick Cars (7" A side)

Yoko - Carsick Cars (7" B side)

From Dalian the band Wang Wen:

Dalian Sky - Wang Wen (Eight Horse LP)

Welcome to Utopia - Wang Wen (Eight Horse LP)

Escape from Mother Universe - Wang Wen (Eight Horse LP)

From Beijing:

Tracks from Yang Fan's LP What Happened After 1001 Nights LP (cover pictured left):
Arabian Night
Arabian Princess
Blue Night River
The Fly Flies

http://genjingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-happened-after-1001-nights





From Metal Postcard Records we go to Hong Kong for a fantastic piece of Snoop inspired Hip Hop:
Low Profile (lower mix) - Little Albert feat Kwokin
https://metalpostcard.bandcamp.com/album/little-albert-low-profile
Then back to Shanghai:
Dark Show (Forrane remix) - AM444
https://am444.bandcamp.com/

Lucky Cat 13th June Playlist and Mixcloud link - Duck and Rice Review

On this show I review the new Alan Yau venture; Chinese gastropub and dining room The Duck and Rice on Berwick Street in Soho (pictured above, more pics below).
I also review a hidden gem in Puntey - Japanese restaurant Tomoe.

Listen here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-13th-june-2015/

Instagram pics: http://www.enjoygram.com/luckycatzoe

Spirulina - Chronixx (Dread and Terrible CD)

Lonely Soldier - Gregory Issacs (7" on Impact!)

Good Time Gal - Roza Eskanazi (Women of Remebetica CD)

River of No Return - Johnny Teo and the Stylers (I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha 7" EP Panda Records)

(1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days - Inez and Charlie Foxx (Greatest Hits LP Direction label)

Chicken and Rice - Young Tiger (London is the Place for Me vol 4 CD, Honest Jons)

Mockingbird - Inez and Charlie Foxx (Greatest Hits LP Direction label)

French Fried Potatoes and Ketchup- Amos Milburn and His Aladdin Chickenshackers (Rock, Rock, Rock LP, Route 66)

Love Wound - Lia Xiao Mei (7" EP, GMER)

In Your Arms - Roy and Patsy (7" on Bluebeat)

I Hear Hawaii Calling - Johnny Pineapple & His Orchestra (Hawaiian Holiday 7" EP, BRAVO!)

Photos of The Duck and Rice:
Some starters:

Behold!  Venison puffs (were 3, one escaped!).  DA BOMB as the kids might say.

Spring rolls.  Meh.

Salt n Pepper Squid. Ma ma hou hou (so so).

The mains:

Gai lan with sailfish.  YUM. Umami.

Half a roast duck.  Glistening.  Beautiful anise flavour.

STAR OF THE SHOW!  Slow cooked beef short rib.
Now I know what I want  on my last meal list.  Righteously unctuous and damn fine.

What no Huy Fong? Thai brand Sriraja Panich make an appearance at every table.
Not Huy Fong but pretty good :)

Beautiful ceiling tiles

Me and my best pal.  Very happy.

Tomoe photos coming soon...

Lucky Cat 6th June Playlist and Mixcloud link - Sriracha Sauce

Sat 6th June 2015

This week's show was dedicated to srirahca sauce. I concentrate on the story of the Huy Fong brand.
Pictured here with its soulmate mayonnaise!

Named after a coastal town in Thailand Sriracha sauce is now a global phenomenon.  In particular the Huy Fong brand has become an international cult favourite.  There have been songs, cookbooks and even a documentary about Huoy Fong brand sriracha sauce.

The brand is named after the Tawianses freighter ship that brought founder David Tran to Hong Kong as a refugee from Vietnam in 1978.  From Hong Kong David Tran went on to California USA and started making the now much beloved sriracha sauce.

Listen to the show here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-6th-june-2015/

Playlist:

Hey Boy Hey Girl - Derrick and Patsy (Nu Beat label 7")

Silhouettes - Frankie Lymon (Woo-Hoo! Roulette Story CD)

Chilli Was Hot

- Ruth Wallis (7" Party Favourites EP, Wallis Recordings) 

Pepper Sauce Mama

- Charlie Campbell and his Red Peppers (Barbecue Any Old Time CD, Old Hat Records)

I Get A Kick out of You

- Frank Sinatra (Songs for Young Lovers LP, Capital)

Little Red Rooster

- Sam Cooke (Greatest Hits CD)

Setting the Woods on Fire

- Hank Williams (40 Greatest Hits CD)

Dreamer of Love

- instrumental track from Taiwanese LP Dancing Music)

Promise of Return

- Yao Lee

Lucky Cat 23rd May Playlist and Mixcloud link - Damacha

New Music from China!  I played new tracks from Damacha from his new album Tuhaojin 土豪金 (translates as kind of 'uncouth nouveau riche people') on the Subculture label (album artwork by 33 above). Hold on to your bass bins folks!  Bass in your face sounds satirising post-Deng Xiaoping era Bling China.....

Listen here: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-23rd-may-2015/

Playlist:

·         The Toughest – Peter Tosh (The Toughest - LP on the Heartbeat label) ·         Tearing – Damacha (from the album Tuhaojin 土豪金)
·         Ming Ming Ai – Damacha (from the album Tuhaojin 土豪金)·         Scraping the Bear - Damacha (from the album Tuhaojin 土豪金)·         GeiNiDat - Damacha (from the album Tuhaojin 土豪金)
·         I’m Going to Like it Here – (Flower Drum Song soundtrack LP)·         Chop Suey – (Flower Drum Song soundtrack LP)·         Talk About Love – Pat Kelly and then Dillinger comes in with First the Girl   (12” on the Chanan-Jah label) Great extended DJ version!·         Stay - Li Xiao Mei (Chinese 7" EP)

I asked listeners to vote for their favourite Japanese street food and I cooked up the winning dish; yakisoba noodles!  I used a mixture of recipes:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jan/19/recipes-under-5-yakisoba-noodle

http://rasamalaysia.com/yakisoba-recipe/2

You can find a pic of the noodle sand lots of other lovely things on my Instagram feed: http://yooying.com/luckycatzoe

Silhouettes

If you've been listening to the show you'll know that I'm currently obsessed with the song Silhouettes, written by Bob Crewe. Here are some of my favourite versions.  If you know any others please feel free to leave a comment.

The original recorded by The Rays:




Little Frankie Lymon:


The Ronettes, (This features audio from the recording - Phil Spector giving direction.  Ronnie giving it back!):



In Reggae:

The Sensations:

The Crown Prince of Reggae Dennis Emmanuel Brown:

Jamaican keyboard player pianist Winston Wright (he played on the famous Liquidator by Harry Js Allstars:



This is NOT the song, or indeed the American Doo Wop group The Silhouettes (of Get a Job fame, named after the Bob Crewe song).  However I stumbled across this whilst searching for versions on Youtube and this is great, a Chinese cover of I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles:

Lucky Cat Sat 16th May - Kawaii Petit Koenji Special

Saturday's show was a Kawaii Petit Koenji Special!  I visited the wonderful shop Petit Koenji in Tooting Market and interviewed owner Sabrina Tobuchi, Gizmo also joined in!  

I reviewed Be My Baby, available 

Do let me know your favourite Japanese street food : luckycatzoe  at  gmail.com

Photos of Petit Koenji shop below courtesy of Stella Makinwa. 

Listen here: 

www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-16th-may-2015/

Playlist 

I Will Never Grow Old - Toots and the Metals (Coxsone LP)

Doraemon Theme - Doraemon OST

Unknown Japanese 80s Anime Pop 7"!

Unknown Japanese 80s Space Anime Pop 7"!
Una Sera Di Tokyo - The Peanuts (King Hit Parade vol 5 LP)
A-Ha - The Peanuts (EMI Columbia 7")
Poetry in Motion - The Peanuts (King Hit Parade vol 5 LP)
Ein Weiss Schiff - The Peanuts (EMI Columbia 7")
All I Have is Love - Gregory Isaacs (7")
Lovely Ginza - Atsumi Oomae (King Pop Parade LP)

Kawaii Special on Today's Lucky Cat

This week's show is a kawaii Japanese pop culture special! I interview Sabrina Tobuchi in Tooting's kawaii emporium Petit Koenji. Plus a review of Japanese indie youth movie Be My Baby, directed by Hitsohi One; and Japanese street food in the dim sum lunch box.


More photos of Petit Koenji coming very soon....
3.30pm 104.4FM www.resonancefm.com

Lucky Cat Series 10 Episode 7 (2nd May 2015)

This week's show was co-hosted by my daughter Lina, we discussed the upcoming film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II and the Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival (7th - 18th May)

Listen:

https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-2nd-may-2015/

Playlist:

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon – Tan Dun and Yo Yo Ma (from the OST CD of same name)

Shanghai – Freddie Notes and the Rudies (Trojan label 7”, A side)

I Can’t Stand the Rain – Elaine Montague (Hums label 7”)

Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day - Freddie Notes and the Rudies (Trojan label 7”, B side)

Heigh Ho – from the 7” record of Disney’s Snow White and The Seven Dwarves

I’m a Bird – foxtrot from the Taiwanese LP Dancing Music

Penny Reel – Eric Morris (UK Island label 7”)

Mount Zion – Desmond Dekker and the Aces (UK Island label 7”)

Dark Show – AM444

Homeward Bound – cha cha from the Taiwanese LP Dancing Music

Dis Oh Dis! – Line Renauld (7”)

Gee Baby Gee - The Butterflys (The Red Bird Story Vol 2 LP, Charly label)

Karate Boogaloo - Jerry O 

PJ Rox, AM444 and KFC Lucky Cat Sat 25th April

Here is the track listing or last week's show which you can listen to here:

www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-25th-april-2015/

Lana - PJ Rox (CD/download single: http://www.reverbnation.com/pjrox)

Lian - AM444 (from the EP Dark Show)

Dark Show (Forrane Remix) - AM444 ()

Love Me or Leave Me - Nina Simone (7" Bethlehem label)

Send Me Some Lovin - Jeanette Simpson (7" Giant label)

Dearest - Dotty and Bonny (7" Treasure Isle label)

I Yi Yi Yi Yi - Carmen Miranda (Hollywood Sings LP)

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano - Billy Ward and His Dominoes feat Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson (King label LP)

Swallows Return when Willows Are Green - Lui Hung (Chinese Folk Songs LP)

I Cover the Waterfront - The Ink Spots (label 10" LP)

West Lake Under Autumn Moonlight - 

Lui Hung (Chinese Folk Songs LP)

Cool Water - Hank Williams (MGM label LP)

Drinking Again - Dinah Washington (from the Roulette LP of the same name)

The other KFC

After visiting a local Korean chicken restaurant I decided to have a go at making the finger licking' good chicken myself.  I found this fantastic blog:

http://www.koreanbapsang.com

There are many different types of fried chicken; garlic, plain, shredded spring onion style and so on.  I decided to try out this sweet sticky chilli chicken as I love to dip fried chicken into sweet chilli sauce anyway - these wings come ready-smothered in a delicious spicy sauce, yum!

http://www.koreanbapsang.com/2015/02/yangnyeom-chicken-korean-fried-chicken.html

The recipe did not fail me - possibly the best fried chicken I have ever tasted.   A bit of a palaver what with the double frying but good things come to those who deep fry twice as they say!

Recommended.  Finger smackin' marvellous!

Yangnyeom Chicken

'Dark Show' - New EP by AM444 is out now!

At last the dynamic duo of ChaCha and Jay Soul (AM444) have their new EP Dark Show out!  The new EP has more of an electronic and futuristic sound than previous releases with Cha Cha's smoky and hypnotic vocals weaving their spell over the listener.  They have a fantastic video for the title track Dark Show, which suits the mood of the EP perfectly, directed by American director Eric Ransdell (Fly Films):

 

AM444's track Guai Meng (weird dreams in Chinese) from their previous album Rooms, featured on the soundtrack to the Michael Mann film Blackhat (a Sino American thriller starring Chinese film starts Tang Wei, Wang Lihong and “Thor” Chris Hemsworth). Sadly the track couldn't save the film, not even the dynamic duo AM444 could manage that feat.

Dark Show is an EP full of atmosphere; the darker side of life in the metropolis of Shanghai, a futuristic noir, a Blade Runner for the ears!

AM444 plan to tour in the latter part of 2015...Watch this space....

Listen: https://soundcloud.com/am444/sets/dark-show-ep

Buy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dark-show-ep/id979196063  /  am444.bandcamp.com

See also:

http://am444.com

chachashanghai.tumblr.com

Chinese Visual Festival - Podcast Online

 

Art Curator Xuhua Zhan and Festival Director James Mudge with Zoe

Last Saturday I was joined by Chinese Visual Festival Director James Mudge and Art Curator Xuhua Zhan.  We spoke about the upciming Chinese Visual Festival (held at Kings College London and the BFI).
There are some fascinating films showing this year, including The Naked DJ (Singapore), 0.7% Salt (China), The Last Moose of Aoluguya (China) and Meeting Dr. Sun (Taiwan) .  For the full programme see:
http://chinesevisualfestival.org/

Listen to the show here: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-18th-april-2015/

Playlist:
Jaan Pehehan Ho - Mohd. Rafi (Ghost World sound track)
Picnic in Spring - Lui Hung (from the LP Chinese Folk Songs pictured above)
Jing Me De Hu Po (Lies) - AM444
Good Morning - from the Best Chinese Folk Songs LP (helf by James in the pic above).

Thanks to Xuhua and James for joining me.  To follow the festival on Twitter go to: @CVF_London

To follow me on Twitter go to: @luckycatzoe


 

China Visual Festival Guests on Today's Lucky Cat

For today's show I will be joined by CVF Director James Mudge and Art Curator Xuha Zhan.
We will discuss the upcoming China Visual Festival and the films showing this year; documentaries, features and experimental and art video from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

This year's line up has several strands / themes including comedy, transition into post-modernity and LGBT queer cinema.

For more information and to book tickets for the Festival go to: 
http://chinesevisualfestival.org

Lucky Cat Series 10 Episodes 1 & 2 on Mixcloud

Resonance FM have their own Mixcloud channel now and all episodes of Series 10 of Lucky Cat can be found there...

Bookmark my playlist page: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/playlists/lucky-cat/

Episode 1:

https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-21st-march-2015/

Sven Swords OST - Track from the soundtrack of the Tsui Hark movie Seven Swords

Cantonese Opera Song - 7" of Cantonese opera from Hong Kong

The Click Song - Miriam Makeba (London 7")

Secretly - Hortense Ellis (Studio One 7")

Rouge No Dengon - Yumi Matsutoya (OST Kik's Delivery Service)

Roob Lor Pu Ta (Rootikal remix) - Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band

Pigmeat on the Line - Memphis Minnie (from the CD Barbecue Any Old Time)

Nashville Woman Blues - Bessie Smith (Phillips 7" EP)

Jim Dandy - Lavern Baker (Atlantic 7")

In this episode I talk about the wonderful article on film star and Blues singer Olive Young written by David Wells for The Chiseler.  Read it here:
http://chiseler.org/post/76882863538/olive-youngs-great-depression-blues

Episode 2:

https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/lucky-cat-28th-march-2015/

Radio - Crying Nut (Korean punk band)

Yangon Calling - Burmese punks (from the movie of same name)

Chinaman Ska - The Dualers (Prince Buster Shakedown CD)

Silhouettes - Winston Wright 7"

Silhouettes  - The Ronettes (Little Eva and Her Girlfriends CD)

Polonaise - Shigeru Umebayashi - (2046 OST CD)

a track by Woo Ing Ing (The Nasal Queen)

Lonely Heart - Rita Chao and The Quests

a track by Woo Ing Ing (The Nasal Queen)

Shank I Shek - Tristan Palmer (Shank I Shek Vol 1 TADS Label LP)

Shanghai kids sing nursery rhymes (Sounds of Shanghai CD)

Feel So Fine - Derrick and Patsy (Bluebeat 7")

The Sheep / Ram / Goat / Spring Mix

Today's Lucky Cat is a sizzling bbq style mix of East Asian music, Reggae, Blues, Soundtracks and Lounge to celebrate the current Year of the Sheep / Goat and the arrival of Spring.

Tracks include:

Ram Goat Liver - Pluto Shervington

Nanny Goat - Larry Marshall

Skinhead Train - Laurel Aitken

Mary Had a Little Lamb - Sterling Holloway

The Four Seasons - Josephine Siao Fong Fong

Farmer's Song - Arrirang Korean Dance and Song Ensemble

Spring in Fairyland - Ivy Ling Po (pictured)

Full track listing up soon... Enjoy!

Lucky Cat is back on air for series 10 this Saturday!

Hello Hello Hello!  Happy Year of the Ram / Sheep / Goat!

I'm back on air this Saturday for the tenth (gulp) series of Lucky Cat! 
Tune you dials to 104.4FM or browser to www.resonancefm.com at 3.30pm for a heady mix of East Asian music, Reggae and Rhythm n Blues seasoned with East Asian movie news and culture info.

The marvellous illustration for series 10 is courtesy of the wonderful Fresh Brewed Illustration.

圣诞快乐 Merry Christmas! Podcast & Playlist for Lucky Cat S9 E7

Seasons Greetings everyone! Here is the last episode of Series 9 of Lucky Cat. Broadcast on Resonance FM on Sat 20th December 2014. I still have 2 more episodes to post from this season but thought I'd better post this one while it was still seasonally relevant!

• Merry Christmas from Beverleys - Alton Ellis and the Beverleys All Stars
• Hong Kong Christmas Carols - 45 bought in HK (pictured)
• White Christmas - Betty Chung
• Jingle Bells - Betty Chung, Mona Fong, Tsin Ting
• Jingle Bells - The Bunnies
• Let's Make Christmas Merry Baby - Amos Milburn
• He's the Man With All the Toys - The Beach Boys
• Would you Believe It, I Have A Cold - Huey Smith
• Lucy and Linus - Vincent Guaraldi Trio
• Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
• 2 tracks from the Calendar Girl OST
• Just Be Good - Horace Andy
• 2 Anita Mui Yim Fong tracks

Today's Show - The Lucky Cat Jukebox GOLD selection!

Ni hao. On today's show I'll be playing some tracks from the Lucky Cat GOLD selection .... Earlier this year I was asked to curate 30 tracks for the Duck and Rice jukebox. The Duck and Rice is a new Chinese gastro pub opening in Soho (previously The Endurance pub). This is an Alan Yau project (Hakkasan, Yautacha etc) and promises to be amazing! Downstairs will be for drinking and bar snacking and upstairs will be fine dining. I was so excited and honoured to be asked to be a part of this wonderful project. Hope to see you at the bar or by the jukebox in 2014! Ganbei! More news as I get it.... 

Tune in to 104.4FM or via the player at resonancefm.com at 3.30pm today (UK time).  Thanks for listening.

Track listing for today's show, which is sample of the jukebox tracks + 2 brilliant Japanese surf guitar numbers:

• Taiyo Yaro - The Bunnys
• Let's Go Shake - The Bunnys
• Why Should I Remember - Poon Sow Keng
• Couple and Pairs - Unknown Chinese Singer
• Bramble Bush - Rita and Sakura
• Theme from King of Chinatown - Hong Kong in the 60's
• Wrap You Up - Long Shen Dao
• I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha - The Stylers
• Season of Wind - Anita Mui Yim Fong (the Sour Beauty RIP, pictured above)
• Broke - The Marshmallow Kisses
• One Day You'll Know - Cha Cha and Ranking Joe
• Always Together - Stephen Cheng
• Sixteen Tons - Chang Loo
• 神经末梢 (Shen Jing Mo Shao) - AM444
• Seemingly and Old Friend Comes - Anita Mui Yim Fong (from the movie Rouge
• Where Have All the Flowers Gone? - Poon Sow Keng

LC S9E2 Nov 2014 - Chiang Kai Shek & Chinese Jamaican Reggae History

Kap Thum Laoy - track 20 CD 1, from Laos (from the CD Longing for the Past)

Shank I Sheck - Baba Brooks (King Edwards label 7" available to buy here)

Wa Do Dem - Eek A Mouse (7" Volcano Label)

Show it Off - Beres Hammond (VP triple LP)

All Nation Have to Bow - Ranking Devon

Ku Oonoh - Reggie Stepper (from the LP Three the Hard Way). This is on the Stalag rhythm.

9.58 - Shuga (Penthouse 7"). This is on the 9.58 rhythm. The rhythm was created to celebrate Ussain Bolt running the 100 metre race in just 9.58 seconds at the Beijing Olympics.

Check out this amazing newsreel of Madam Chiang Kai Shek addressing the US House Of Respresentatives: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/mme-chiang-kai-shek-in-u-s-a/query/chiang+kai+shek

Lucky Cat S9E1 Nov 2014 - Podcast

Track 1 (from the CD box set Longing for the Past on the Dust to Digital label)

Strange Things - John Holt (Sun Shot label 7")

Do You Love Me - John Holt (Bamboo label 7")

Stick By Me - John Holt (Jackpot label 7")

神仙药 (Shen Xian Yao)

 - AM444 (from the CD album Eye Wonder)

Orphans - Dalida (Barclay label 7" EP)

Kentucky Home - The Vic Brown Combo (Rio label 7")

Don't Stay Out Late - Lord Creator (Randy's label 7" reissue)

RIP John Holt, Reggae Legend