#DJ KEN GIFTED

[raccoonfallsharder]

let me love your OCs

to request a doodle, read and reblog this post. (currently CLOSED) art masterlist | navigation | fiction masterlist current queue | rocket art | my OCs

petra quill, j'me, petra again | moon, juno, rose ♡

doodle requests are currently CLOSED.

i reserve the right to choose & reorganize my queue based on wherever inspiration strikes (it's not that i don't like your OC ~ it's just that my creativity is a fickle thing). i do tend to most enjoy drawing humanoid femmes with reckless hair in the gotg fandom, so they will probably get priority.

avery, jolie, fleuret, chérie | ken, brita, star, akira | ember, mori, magril, dori

Akira (@bakaotakulife) look at this shiny blue-haired badass. she has such an interesting backstory and you'll want to follow her creator to find out more about what happens next, i'm just saying.

Avery Malloli (@evolvingchaoswitch) is a fuckin badass bar-owner with sexy arm-muscles and tattoos and both i and jolie have crushes on them.

Brita (@pretty-chips) is such a pure, delightfully fun character with record-store-clerk vibes. Thank you for letting me draw her. She is a glowing sunbeam-soul. ♡ another Brita wearing a terran t-shirt gifted to her by my oc, Jolie Spinner

Chérie (Cherry) (@aliasrocket) I have a crush. 10/10 would attempt to flirt with (badly). Thank you so much for creating her and letting me doodle her! Dori (@funkydancingdinosaur ) i have deeply loved having the chance to draw and paint tadoria. they are so rad and i love their bioluminescent fucken eyes. i may end up having to draw them again at some point just to play with those eyes again. so fuckin cool

Ember (@thirteens-lucky-tardis) this girl is a fucking dragon. she’s got such interesting background lore and she’s cool as fuck. i vow i will, someday, draw her wings. truly a rich and interesting oc with great interactions with rocket! thank you gif letting me doodle her!

Erit (@hipothermia) is a super-interesting cat-like alien with some mind-control powers, gorgeous patterning, and she's besties with rocket (i get it. they both like to annoy quill.) SUPER cool character, SUPER fun to draw! ♡♡

Fleuret (@elegant-fleuret) is my personal caffeine deity. i now pray to her for the ability to scrape myself out of bed and for deliverance from coffee crashes. she is also the dj of knowhere which is possibly the coolest fucking job in the universe and i would like to be her friend.

J'me (@caesarhamato22) is a badass babe and i loved getting to try some new things and make up some guns. plus making something for jay is like. making an offering to a god. such a fucken honor

Jolie (Window Across the Galaxy) - my gremlin child. just some scritchy-scratchy character concepts. feel free not to look if you want to imagine Jo in your own way. ♡ another series of low-rent jolies ♡ the "real" Jolie doodle - refined, finished, && in color ♡ a favorite scene of Jolie & Rocket (Chapter IV. Got There First.) ♡ i just wanted to add other folks' beautiful art of jolie here too. i am so grateful for these treasures ♡♡

very first portrait of jolie by @raccoonmybeloved ~ so fucking cute i died

sims of jo by @evolvingchaoswitch ~ particularly love her paint-spattered outfit

an absolutely drool-worthy nsfw of rocket & jolie by @lazarel-3000 that permanently has altered my brain chemistry and lives in my mind forever ♡♡♡

Juno (@lazarel-3000) is one of my favorite OCs ever. she is everything. i want to be her && i want to date her (unfortunately she only has eyes for rocket). ♡ a rough little juno sketch because i just love her that much (+ it was a birthday thing!) ♡ another juno [NSFW], covered in sparklies, per one of my fave scenes from The All of You ♡ my favorite juno so far ~ a lineless portrait. she's so fuckin gorgeous and i cannot get enough of her!

Ken (@thismonthshyperfixation) ken is a very rad-as-hell woodworker who meets pete on terra. they go on a space-road-trip to knowhere so ken can meet rocket. they have very cool hair and tattoos and i wanna hang out with them and talk about making stuff

Magril (@rxin3akamallory) i have so enjoyed getting to know magril over the months that rxin3 has been patiently waiting for this doodle. she's such a clever, resourceful, resilient little sweetheart, an opossum, and a halfworld refugee who escaped via a ravager ship. plus her eye is a camera?? i love her!!

Dr Meti Geer (@luci-j) look, if you wanna read a VERY charming and hilarious fanfiction series about a half-celestial feline(ish) genius and chief veterinarian of knowhere who almost break's rocket's junk by falling off a roof and then accidentally married my favorite raccoon, you need to check out meti's story. i love getting to try my hand at drawing the illustrious dr geer and i am grateful for the opportunity to try and practice my extremely-limited hand at anthropomorphic characters. HE'S SO CUTE

Moon (@glow-autumz) with Rose (see below). Thank you for letting me draw these two lovelies. You know I headcanon them as interdimensional besties ♡ ♡ another Moon (@glow-autumz) Thank you again for letting me illustrate some of Moon's rad powers. i am OBSESSED. I appreciate so much you bringing her to life! ♡ a Moon-Mermaid (@glow-autumz) because she has captured my imagination. Thank you for letting me continue to doodle your amazing, gravity-defying, gorgeous-haired girl!

Mori (@blueberrysquire) this adorable badass is an alien space psychologist who focuses on shepherding folks across the threshold of life and death. they live incredibly long and their lore is rad as fuck. i took way too long to draw this character but they are an absolute delight and you should read more about them!

Petra Quill [NSFW] (@hibatasblog) so this version of peter is rad as hell and i wanted to draw them in their seductive shi'ar lingerie. petra quill is the darling version of peter quill who features large in all of this author's rocket x fanfiction and i love them. this particular sequence is from casino royale and you should check them out on ao3! ♡ another Petra (+Rocket!), chilling on the eclector (@hibatasblog) a scene starring the two babies from hibata's fanfic entanglement. it's truly the warmest hug of a story and you should all read it ASAP. (this is actually a complete art piece, with like a background and everything lol)

Rose (@love-for-faeries-go-burrrr ) & Moon (see above) Thank you for letting me draw these two lovelies. You know I headcanon them as interdimensional besties ♡ ♡ Another Rose (@love-for-faeries-go-burrrr) because I love her so, so much. aka rose gets her wings back

Star (@cleo-is-babygirl) is a pure fluffy little sundrop and a brilliant self-taught medic/surgeon. she is also the first tanuki/anthropomorphic animal i have drawn other than rocket so i was very nervous but i did my best. thank you for letting me try something new and expand my experience, friend!

Tessa Udonta (@guardian-angel12) is a metallic badass, a survivor of the high evolutionary and the kree, and a ravager. i adored getting the chance to draw her, especially with her silver eyes ♡♡♡ absolute goddess.

[ohsoulymoons]

Beep Boop Cutie Post

Courtney: Her favorite stuffed animal as kid was a piggy that her father give her before the divorce and she named him with her father's help Charming Bacon and she would dressed up him up like Prince or Knight in secret to not upset her mother in her fluffy pinkish to purple forest enchanted theme princess room. Scott, Dj, and Geoff play dollies with her and Bridgette often to the disappointed of Duncan. He gets jealous of Scott being Courtney's protector over Charming Bacon before nap time starts.

Lindsay: Had only Barbies and only girl dolls no kens or anything male related things. She ended up crying in confusion when she visited Courtney's bedroom with Beth looking at boy Bratz, 2 ken dolls, and girl dolls set up having disco party. Courtney ended up demanding her mother get Lindsay, Beth, Katie, and Sadie after the play date get them matching boy Bratz or Ken dolls

Heather: So many ballerina costumes, shoes, and porcelain ballerina dolls that looked like her a lot. Gets it trouble stealing dolls or toys from others because her parents don't want to be distracted by nonsense like toys and just focus on her dream of being a professional ballerina end the date by her 5th birthday Courtney gifts her stuffed animal vintage kitty white and grey that when you move it purrs and has red lace collar named Heather Jr.

Gwen: Everyone respects her toys always! Her favorite toy is kid hammer trying fix up after Duncan, Mike, and Izzy. Everyone gives broken dolls and toys because she and Noah are like doctors for the place! Sometimes can't be save for she creates monsters out them!

[asolle]

Click here to download or stream Music Music Music spring 2024 episode 5: https://app.box.com/s/ag1db97zi49zlemljpc3qhj2i2w2s077

Playlist:

The B-52's - Private Idaho Rahill - Fables Man Man - Hunters Magdalena Bay - Top Dog Catbite - Call Your Bluff J. Navarro & The Traitors - Ghost Town Green Day - Dilemma Network - Money Money 2020/Roshambo DJ Shadow - You Played Me/Our Pathetic Age Malibu Ken - Purple Moss Portishead - Wandering Star Arlo Parks - Weightless Mumford & Sons - Good People Nirvana - Been a Son/Sliver Cage the Elephant - Neon Pill Phoenix - Tonight/After Midnight Goth Babe - Crocodile Norah Jones - Out on the Road Bad Bunny & Bomba Estereo - Ojitos Lindos Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine? The Mystery Lights - Wish That She'd Come Back The Rolling Stones - Mother's Little Helper The Arcs - Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore False Tracks - Wet Market PACKS - HFCS Adrianne Lenker - Sadness As A Gift Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Waiting Air - All I Need

[pluto01doesart]

Update continuation

April on Reiko's baby bother birthday.. they gifted everyone mini crystals.. radiant ones representing their each and every important place upon the family tree.. the grandparents believed in olden spirits and guardian that took us back thousand of years ago

Protecting the balance of each family in our small village and keeping us in check and harmony.

Reiko was turning thirteen a year after and so the events of another family reunion approaches.. but before that lets do a quick flashback to that fateful day where Reiko met a young.. shy low self-esteem boy who was cursed (ofc none knows that yet)

The caretaker and the grandparents wanted to hold a lil banquet gathering to see if the two destined lovers would click from the first try

Well... They didn't at first

Reiko was too hyped and carefree in a crazy enthusiastic way ... And was kinda mischief in a playful manner

That terrified the poor little boy and freaked him out he.. of course ran away to hide 😅

For her age Reiko was a late bloomer.. as shy as the boy seemed .. he wanted to be like her more, with time he tried to come out of his shell

A week after the banquet came Easter, a holiday that the whole village celebrated.. inviting the betrothed family over.. some uncalled for events happened like.. takashi accidentally puking from his allergy to anything smelly

And with that Ken and Reiko argue yet again on about who should spend more time with Takashi

Ken doesn't know what the shy boy sees in the older girl child... Roasting marshmallows eating BBQ.. family and close friends enjoying themselves

Weeks pass and Takashi and Reiko grew closer

The shy boy started communicating more with his soon to be family members but first they became friends for life.. and made unforgettable memories.

There were sad and depressing rainy days in mid April.. walking home from afternoon walks in the playground .. the more day went on the curse grew to consume his energy

One day the shy boy gifted Reiko with a locket necklace that had their names on it .. the shape of it was not like any Locket it was a heart and a key saying in way ''you hold the key to my heart forever and always ''

Keep in mind they were just kids.. they didn't know anything about love.. true there was a bond but infatuation and love had to start growing and make progress.

Comes the night of Nicolas's wedding to his soon to be wife~~~ at the ceremony Takashi meets a flower girl ... Who was the bride's niece her name was Eclair and she was exactly his age.. a brunette girl with hazel alluring eyes.. the boy was almost pouting in a disgusted way from the way she smiled at him sweetly.

It made Reiko observe from afar and make a barf face.

Comes the after party.. everyone together with their family on different tables of course.. takashi was too worn out to take action and dance.

Reiko as the older girl and mature at times .. offered him a dance that was not slow whatsoever 🤣 .. she went from rowdy and party crazy to clumsy and whiney

Takashi helping her settle down after she tripped and fell on the dancefloor

The dj helped out a lil by setting the mood for the slow dance of the bride and groom at the wedding

Yuu teases his son and Reiko saying that this is gonna be them (you two 😏😉) in the future. Kids embarrassed 😮‍💨🤣

Takashi tries singing getting everyone in the moment along with Masami and Yuma(Reiko's little brothers)

Masami handing Eclair flowers

Kaya and Yuma dance

Ken is making Setsuko dance

A relative of the groom's family is dancing with Akari 😅 but he was clumsy stepping on her feet..she got mad so away he went

Night has passed peacefully.. going back home he spent the night at her grandparents house.. having a sleepover straight after the after party if the wedding... The two younger brothers wanted to join, Reiko putting her hand out to them.. gesturing for them to come along with a beam on ber face

That night where the two younger brother truly bonded with their older sister and the shy boy

One day Yuu comes home with news the he and his wife and son must move back to Singapore (cause his wife is from there) but also cause of his job that he got premoted on being boss of the surgery team at his own medical hospital .

That day Reiko never got to say goodbye... Everytime she thinks of that day... She feels gloomy and sad.... All cause she never got to say goodbye to Takashi

His pain grew more and so did his curse

Growing more with time as they were apart

[430box]

Dj Mix: DJ Ken Gifted - Retro Convoy (Mix)

Dj Mix: DJ Ken Gifted – Retro Convoy (Mix)

Nigerian prolific disc jockey D’Problematic DJ Ken Gifted dishes out an outstanding throwback mix tagged “Retro Convoy” which serves as his first mix of the year 2022. Retro Convoy contains hit songs from the early/the late 90s & 2000s which are strictly for good music lovers. Download & Enjoy!!! Download Dj Mix: DJ Ken Gifted – Retro Convoy (Mix)

[sayflexxyblog]

KJV DJ JAMES FT. DJ KEN GIFTED - LIFE IS A MIXTAPE (VOL. 2)

KJV DJ JAMES FT. DJ KEN GIFTED – LIFE IS A MIXTAPE (VOL. 2)

KJV DJ JAMES FT. DJ KEN GIFTED – LIFE IS A MIXTAPE (VOL. 2) Worldvibez Ent. Media Owner / Official Disk Jockey, KJV DJ JAMES Is Back After A Long Break With A Brand New Mixtape Tagged “LIFE IS A MIXTAPE VOL. 2“. In This Version Kjv Joined Collaborated With One Of Nigeria’s Fast Rising Dj, DJ KEN GIFTED Who Didn’t Dissapoint, This Mixtape Contains Top / Trending Songs From Nigeria, Ghana, South…

[ranty-ramblestein]

(captions~) Apr 17th: Bunny Day was here, and there was also a DJ K.K. concert!  (Too bad Zipper can’t go check it out.)

Apr 18th: I got invited to a fancy treasure island and got the rest of the sanrio items (including the sanrio villager’s photos+posters) much easier!  (I also got some duplicate kero items to gift Ken, despite him annoying me earlier in the day...)

Anyway, the April 19th photos will be below the cut!  Because I want you to see Croissant’s cute new outfit right away!!

pic 1: "Yeeeah, I don't care," Croissant yawned. pic 2: Meanwhile, Katrina finally sent me another zodiac figure!! pic 3: "Uhh, I'm not sure that's what that means... Also, you're not even wearing bunny ears," Croissant pointed out. pic 4: “Oh, I should totally get some bunny ears, you’re right!” Ken exclaimed. pic 5: Ah, he must not like sweets, just like my brother. pic 6: The bushes... they're watching... pic 8: ...Please stop. pic 9: I got invited to a fancy island where you use hex codes and a bot drops the things you put in! (I had to push it away from that underground item so she could drop 9 items, heh.) pic 10: I got Ken a bunch of gifts even though he annoys me, lol

Apr 19th: 

‘...Shoot, he might replace the table with that!’ Croissant realized, hoping the chicken didn’t.

The hot springs duck was visiting today!  Croissant showed her to the Secret Hot Springs (or whatever I called it before...) later on in the day, and she loved it!

Today’s outfit was all about going full My Melody!  (I’ll do an outfit with the mm boots and shirt at a later date, since they both have the same pattern, but using the non-patterned pink versions of those boots worked perfectly!)

The bag decision was either between the butterfly one above, or the pink mom bag... but I didn’t like the polka dot pattern on the mom bag, and both pinks of the butterfly bag matched the dress, so that one was the winner~

I almost went with the neon red/magenta flower shades, but the pink round glasses looked so cool in this outfit!  And for his hair: I liked the idea of just a little bit of hair falling out of place under the hood, so that one Harriet masc hairstyle worked perfectly~ ...Also, the ears have jiggle psychics as well, so Croissant continues to have two jiggling things on his head, lol.

I almost used the flower basket for his last outfit’s Idle-Tool, so it winded up working with this outfit!

Also: There’s two Idle-Tools this time!  (I almost went with the matching bug wand but I thought it was too much...)

...Actually, I didn’t even look at umbrellas this time?  Do I have a pink umbrella? *boots up* Yeah, but it matches with one of the tights I decided against, heh!

[yungimmortals]

graves and kendall for both please i need it 🥺

🔮🃏 gravemore 🃏🔮

who is more aggressive in bed? i can't w this question yall askdjf umm i feel like they're both adventurous and that's all i can say

lights on or off? lights off electricity is expensive and natural light is where it's At

who does what chores? graves is surprisingly Great at doing chores and he will do them all so kendall doesn't have to. all except for remembering to take the laundry out of the dryer oops

who gets babied when they’re sick? graves is a wimp when he's sick. real pathetic, all sniffly and shit. but he's like nooo i'm fine! *sniffle* and he'll protest anyone taking care of him (but he likes it) but if kendall was sick, he'd get whatever she needed

who makes breakfast? i dont' see them being big breakfast people except maybe like...on weekends? graves is a southern boy so he's all about hash browns and eggs and biscuits. i hope kendall like biscuits. there'll be biscuits and jam, biscuits and gravy, ham/egg/cheese on a biscuit. he's not great at making waffles but he does love them. why do i picture kendall with like waffles and fresh fruit on top all cute n shit

where would they go on their honeymoon? hmm why can i see them traveling to lots of like super weird americana roadside places? but also roadtrip to salem????? magic magic magic!! also graves can drive the whole time unless kendall likes to drive bc i have no idea about that but she can just vibe and be dj

what are their quirks while sleeping? graves runs very very Warm when he sleeps so kendall never has to worry about him stealin the blankets from her

what is their favorite activity as a family? skatedates!!! skatedates!!!

who is the stricter parent? oof it has to be kendall i don't think graves would be able to be strict (but also i...don't see graves getting to a point where he has kids)

who would be the big spoon? it alternates!

who would wake up first? graves is a pretty early riser, i'm not sure about kendall but! if he was up first he'd turn on the coffeepot for kendall and go out for a morning run

do they have nicknames for each other? ken, kenny, darlin from graves and i feel like ken might call him honey?? babe? idk but he's about it.

what happened when they met each other’s parents? graves has a Type and it's witchy women askdjf;lksjf his mom would not hesitate to tease him about this after the fact. but cass (mom) and gran would absolutely love kendall. they'd get on famously, talkin about all kinds of witchy shit. i can't remember kendall's family situation but i think it is...cult? so they probably did not have that meeting and instead had a cute little night in with comfort food

how do they apologize after an argument? oh man graves avoids confrontation like the plague so i feel like their arguments are...about his avoidance of problems asalkjdlaj

what would they be like as parents? i don't know if graves wants kids so i'm not sure? sry

who is the better cook? i'm not sure but i love the idea of them cooking together. whether it turns out good or not, they're having a good time. dancing in the kitchen to old music and stealin kisses while they cook

who is more romantic? hmm.....kendall? i get the very dreamy romantic vibe from her idk but every once in a while graves comes home to surprise her with flowers and calls her darlin'

what sort of gifts do they get for each other? graves does tarot readings for kendall on special days and also surprises her with crystals. sometimes he forgets birthdays but he's big on lots of small gifts on random days. kendall makes him some spell jars and charms and wow they get real witchy together huh

who gets jealous easiest? hmm...neither?

who gets more excited for events? (e.g. birthdays, christmas…etc) ooh i think kendall? graves is all about events and he cleans up nice when they go to holiday parties but he's not about spending money on holiday decorations (that shit is $$$) but! i can see them making decorations by hand

who is the most adventurous? g...raves? he comes up w the hairbrained schemes and with a twinkle in his eye, convinces kendall to join him. and he's lucky!! so they stay out of trouble...mostly :3

who is the most protective? uhh graves? kendall feels like she could be too thought alskdjf

what would they have been like as childhood sweethearts? i think they would've been best friends who sometimes held hands and were both crushing on the other and didn't realize until one day it hit them and they kissed in the stands of the amphitheater at camp, but also graves was Trouble as a kid

song to sum them up? um low by the driver era idk

leaves their dirty clothes on the floor? oh no it's graves and he picks them up to smell them ;kjflskjf but! they're usually clean, he's just forgotten to put them away. the dirty floor clothes are never near the clean floor clothes

forgets to run the dish washer? hm i wouldn't say he forgets to run it so much as graves forgets they have one bc he grew up handwashing dishes

pumps gas for the car? kendall doesn't have to worry about pumping gas ever bc graves will pump the gas and clean the windshield and be super goofy while kendall's in the car waiting for him lmao

drives when they’re going somewhere? if kendall knows how to drive stick, she's trusted to drive loretta. but graves loves drivin and will gladly champ any drives they go on. i love the idea of them vibin on roadtrips together

rearranges the furniture? kendall 100000% and graves doesn't notice until she brings it up, at which point he goes "oh shit! i Knew something looked different!!" and proceeds to bump into things

falls asleep with the TV on? neither of them! i feel like if they're watching TV together its to watch a show or movie they're both really excited about so they would be awake

gets to use the bathroom first? whoever's up first i think? but also graves would let kendall

decides the temperature for the ac/heater? kendall can do as she likes with the temperature, graves will pull on a hoodie if he's cold (kendall is also welcome to his hoodies/flannels) or uhh be shirtless if he's too warm

sets up holiday decorations? again i think kendall is the one who gets more excited about holidays but if you think graves won't be there helping her with directions, you're wrong. he's right there passing her ornaments and idk string lights? holiday decorating is a party and they watch a fun movie after

leaves the lights on? i feel like their place would have so much natural light that they'd only turn the lights on when its dark lkjddfs and they'd both be good about turning them off

uses the bathroom with the door open? hm neither i don't think. graves will brush his teeth w the door open and leave it unlocked when he showers in case kendall needs to get in there for somethin'. but otherwise, it's closed i think

fixes the plumbing (or calls the plumber)? graves will fix it himself if he can! he's fairly handy, and anything he doesn't know, he'll look up online. kendall doesn't have to worry 'bout a thing

[sapphireglyphs]

[ bangtan short fic series ] jjk (feat. myg)

» Yᴏᴜʀ Vᴏɪᴄᴇ | ᴊᴊᴋ  sᴏʟᴏ ᴍᴜsɪᴄɪᴀɴ!ᴀᴜ (ғᴇᴀᴛ. ᴍʏɢ)   

Gᴇɴʀᴇ/Tᴀɢs: sʟɪᴄᴇ-ᴏғ-ʟɪғᴇ, ᴛɪɴʏ ʙɪᴛ ᴏғ ᴀɴɢsᴛ, ᴍɪɴ ʏᴏᴏɴɢɪ ɪs ᴀ ʀᴀᴅɪᴏ ʜᴏsᴛ, ɴᴏ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢs, ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠᴇs ᴀ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ sɪᴄᴋ/ɪʟʟ ʏ/ɴ sᴏ ɪғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ... ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ sᴋɪᴘ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ?, ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ɪs ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ʜᴀʀᴍʟᴇss, ʏᴏᴏɴᴋᴏᴏᴋ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅsʜɪᴘ ғᴛᴡ

Rᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ᴘɢ

Wᴏʀᴅ Cᴏᴜɴᴛ: ~1.5K

Sᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Jᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ ɢᴇᴛs ɪɴᴠɪᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜɪs ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ Mɪɴ Yᴏᴏɴɢɪ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴏᴛᴇ ʜɪs ɴᴇᴡ ᴀʟʙᴜᴍ ᴏɴ ʜɪs ᴡɪᴅᴇʟʏ ᴘᴏᴘᴜʟᴀʀ ʀᴀᴅɪᴏ sʜᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴛs ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʟʟ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ғᴀɴ.

Aᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's Nᴏᴛᴇ: ᴏʜᴍʏɢᴏsʜ, ᴏᴋᴀʏ, sᴏ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴍʏ ғɪʀsᴛ ғᴏʀᴀʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ Bᴀɴɢᴛᴀɴ ғᴀɴғɪᴄ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ sᴏ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ʙᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ. Iᴛ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛʟʏ ᴡᴀs sᴜᴘ��ᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴛɪɴʏ 500 ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴘɪʀᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ɪɴ ғʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴏᴡ. Tʜɪs ɪs sᴛɪʟʟ ᴜɴᴇᴅɪᴛᴇᴅ; I'ᴍ ʜᴏᴘɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴡʜᴇɴ I ɢᴇᴛ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ. Iғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴜʀɪᴏᴜs ᴀs ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴠᴇʀsɪᴏɴ ᴏғ "Sᴛɪʟʟ Wɪᴛʜ Yᴏᴜ" I ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴋ ʜᴇʀᴇ! Pʟᴇᴀsᴇ ʟᴇᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ғɪᴄʟᴇᴛ ᴏғ ᴍɪɴᴇ... I'ᴍ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɪᴍᴘʀᴏᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ sᴏ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ sʜᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ! Eɴᴊᴏʏ 💜 

“We’re back on in 2 minutes.” 

Jungkook shifted in his seat with a toothy grin. “I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a ‘producer’...” the singer-songwriter trailed off bashfully. 

“But that’s what this album was: self-produced. Your first, in fact.” Yoongi countered.

The young artist didn’t deny the fact, knowing that his old friend had already slipped back into his radio host persona, even before the one minute standby was called. It seemed that, at least for the time being, Yoongi didn’t press the issue but simply followed up with, “What’s something you’ve been working on that’s been giving you trouble lately?”

Jungkook tilted his head slightly as he thought. His overgrown bangs fringed across his bottom eyelashes, giving him a rebellious devil-may-care aura, which would have made Yoongi roll his eyes if the younger man was actually anything like that in person. The radio host knew that under that edgy haircut and emo hipster attire, Jungkook was still that soft, shy kid from Busan with big round eyes and an even bigger heart. 

He was glad to see his friend was still the same guy in all the ways that mattered. 

“There is this one particular track that I have a vague concept and melody for but-” Jungkook’s response was cut off by one of the producers calling the 30 second standby.

Yoongi, still relaxed as ever, pressed for him to continue, “But-?” 

“Oh, uhm, but the lyrics are still eluding me.” Jungkook finally murmured, fidgeting with his bracelet absentmindedly. 

The host nodded sympathetically as he pushed a few buttons on the console in front of him before turning his head slightly to the window where the staff members were monitoring the phone lines and the clock as the show returned from its commercial break. “Welcome back to the show, everybody. I’m your host, DJ Suga with the sweet voice from Honey FM 06.13. My guest is the one and only Jeon Jungkook here to promote his brand new, self produced EP “Mixtape 1”. His single “My Time” was released earlier today and it seems as though the response is already overwhelmingly positive. Producer Jungkook?” Yoongi pauses for dramatic effect before quickly continuing, “Would you like to take some calls from your fans? I can see the switchboard lighting up like fireworks. What do you say, huh? Shall we take some calls?” 

Jungkook simply chuckled at Yoongi’s subtle ‘producer’ jab, ducking his head in embarrassment. "Yeah, let's get it." 

“We have Minnie on the line. Hi, Minnie, you’re on the air with DJ Suga and Jeon Jungkook.” Yoongi said.

“Oh my gosh! Hi DJ Suga! Hi Jungkook!” a cheerful voice filtered in through the headsets, “I’m in love with “My Time”. The lyrics seem so sad even if the song sounds so upbeat. What inspired you to write a song like this?”

Jungkook replied, “Thank you so much for liking the song. It’s a very personal piece to me and it means a lot to hear that fans are reacting so positively to the track.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “When I had set out to create this song, I had wanted to be as honest and authentic as possible with the lyrics while still staying true to my original vision for the song which was basically a bittersweet look at the last few years of my life and what it means to me as a young musician. I believe instead of seeing the lyrics as something sad, I see it as simply living life. Life has ups and downs, there are sacrifices but even greater rewards. A give and take, if you will.”

“Poignant.” Yoongi responded, “Thank you for calling in Minnie. Next caller we have is Ken. Ken you’re on the air with DJ Suga and Jungkook.”

“Hi guys. I just wanted to say that I really love both of your albums, Jungkook. “Euphoria” is on repeat daily for me.” a warm, tenor voice insisted on the other end. “When will we be able to hear you live in concert again?”

Jungkook gave a grateful smile and bowed unconsciously, almost hitting his head on the microphone in front of him. “Thank you so much for your support. I’m hoping to go on tour very soon, so please look out for tour dates on the official website. Until then, please enjoy ‘Mixtape 1’.” 

Yoongi efficiently thanked Ken for calling in and pulled up the next call in the queue, “Hi Y/N, you’re on the air with DJ Suga and Jungkook.”

There was silence on the other end. 

Unfazed, Yoongi tried again, “Y/N? You’re on the air.”

The unnerving silence permeated the air and just as Yoongi was going to move on to the next caller, a soft voice pierced through the quiet, “Hello? I-is it really you, Jungkook?”

Jungkook scooted forward into his chair. “Yes, hello.”

“I wanted to let you know that I truly love listening to you sing. Your voice is so beautiful and full of emotion. You truly have a gift...” There was a pregnant pause before the fragile voice rasped, “But I’m not sure how much longer I can stay to listen to you.”

Both host and guest were taken aback by the peculiar response but Jungkook recovered quickly and said, “Why do you say that? It isn't that late. Are you getting tired already?”

“I’m always tired nowadays.” The silence was heavy. When the voice returned, it seemed strained, as though simply speaking was becoming too difficult a task to bear. “Your songs used to be a source of such strength for me… but I’ve come to accept that it isn't going to be enough anymore. You see… I'm not doing too well.”

As the weight of the words sat palpable in the studio, Yoongi could see the panic in Jungkook’s eyes as he began to piece together what the caller was implying. Before he could jump in to save his friend though, the young musician simply asked, “How can I help?”

The voice returned this time with a quiet strength that masked the slight quiver of desperation, “Would it be too much if I could hear you sing for me… one last time?”  

Jungkook looked up at Yoongi, his mind racing with a million thoughts. His eyes flickered to the radio host’s black guitar that hung on the wall behind his booth. Standing to his feet with resolve, Jungkook strode over to the guitar and carefully pulled it down from it’s hooks. He turned to Yoongi. “Hyung? Would you mind?” 

Yoongi didn’t even blink. “Go for it, Jungkookie.”

Nodding his thanks, Jungkook made his way back to his seat and spoke softly into the microphone, “Y/N, please forgive me if this song is a bit on the rougher side as it’s still a work in progress.”

“I understand.” 

Upon hearing a reply from the other end of the line, Jungkook closed his eyes in relief. He didn’t realize he had waited for that response with bated breath. 

He began strumming a few cords before tweaking the guitar just a bit. “Now here’s the deal: I’ll be happy to sing this for you but you got to promise me that you’ll listen well to the very end, okay?” 

“I will.” 

Jungkook closed his eyes. Giving himself over to the music, his calloused fingers found its rhythm and began to strum a simple cord before taking a deep breath and allowing the song to take shape...

That faint voice of yours that grazed me Please call my name one more time I’m standing still under the frozen light, but I will walk towards you, step by step Still with you

Yoongi sat back, too stunned to actually respond to anything that had actually transpired over the course of the next few minutes as Jungkook began to croon over the gentle strum of his guitar, an acoustic ballad of longing and loneliness. Despite the lyrics holding such sadness in its tone, the song ends hopeful of a day where the vocalist could meet again with the person they had longed for. Yoongi imagines the final studio version of the song would sound nice with a piano in the mix, brushed drums for a percussion piece and maybe even some tinkling synths for character. Either way, he’s pretty sure he had just witnessed the creation of another major hit for the younger musician.    

The moon looks lonely Like it's crying in the bright night sky Even though I always know the morning will come I want to stay in your sky like a star

As the song wound down, the studio erupted into cheers, from the staff and Yoongi alike. Jungkook bowed politely before he spoke into the microphone, “So, Y/N, what did you think?”

There was no reply from the other end of the line. Yoongi looked towards the booth where the producers sat behind the glass window and took their nods as a sign that the line was still open. 

“Y/N?” Jungkook repeated. “Don’t leave me hanging now. We had a deal. Are you still there?” 

There was a beat of agonizing silence before a sniffle could be heard from the other end of the line. “Yes, Jungkook... I’m still here.”

[princess-havok]

Love Fast Los Angeles Readthrough: Chapters 7-12

I really should be writing a cover letter for a job I'm interested in but I am also terrified of applying for said job and so I'm going to do this instead. That seems like a reasonable use of my time. I will also maybe one of these days actually do these on a regular schedule but also this is post 3 of like 8 so... will? Who knows, not me.

We pick up with Sky and Al at a diner, where Al has ordered pancakes (again -- he also had pancakes at the diner with Score in the last section, and I think this might be like... the morning after that? Idk I have trouble following the timeline. The kid loves pancakes is what we're learning though) and Sky orders food but doesn't eat any of it, kind of a theme here.

We also learn that Alvin's birthday is December 25, and that the tattoo he got in the preface is actually a pun which I didn't even pick up on and am kinda glad it's spelled out here. It's a missile on his toe. A missile toe. I really hope Davey is proud of that one.

Anyway considering Sky doesn't eat and all we gather is that Al loves him some carbs I'm not sure this trip to the diner is, like, important. Sky says she can't be seen dating someone not A-List Famous so she doesn't want Al to kiss her in public. My sweet optimistic dumbass Al takes this in stride, his answer to everything is always unnecessarily drastic and I love his energy but also like...

(I actually wanted a gif of Wayne saying "Take about 30% off there bud" but couldn't find it, this one will do)

Oh and we learn what's in the gift Uncle Noah gave Alvin, and I feel like I didn't do Uncle Noah justice earlier with how bonkers he is but he's also a gun nut so he gives Al his own handgun, which Al then imagines shooting James Shannon with, like literally driving down the street pointing it at people and fantasizing and I feel like that should be more concerning but maybe LA is just Like That?

So Chapter 7 has minimal exposition and does nothing to advance the plot. I'm not sure Chapter 8 does either but we do find out about The Barbie's boyfriend, K3NNYDOLL. More importantly we learn that he is totally 100% not at all Skrillex, how dare you even think that, the fact that he became a DJ 2 years ago after being "Ken Kadaver," lead singer (or "screecher") of "false metal band Yesterday Starts Tomorrow" (67) is a completely original fact.

Also he cries all the time but anyway. The rest of the chapter is just Al antagonizing the crew of All F's when he's at the Eff House and dunking on them mercilessly.

Chapter 9 is just Score and Al talking about plans for the evening, Pink Corvette (The Barbie and K3NNYDOLL's electro project) having a secret show, James hanging out with another drag queen (Andy Kane), all while Score gets dressed in what quite literally sounds like Davey's wardrobe of the last 7 or so years -- long shirt-dresses, drop-crotch sweats, etc. If we want to interpret Score as a stand-in for Davey then it's an exceptionally self-aware one and I have a lot of thoughts there.

Finally, Al goes to pick up Sky to take her to the Pink Corvette show. First he gets a tip from his pap friends about James premiering some milkshake or whatever so he swings by that event and Sky flips her shit when she sees him. So they leave and go to a diner where she orders a burger she doesn't eat and tells the whole story: her dad put Drop Dead Gorgeous together, and there is some subtext about him being protective and jealous about James and having him "sleep over" but only when Sky's not there, which she reads as him not wanting her around him but also... sounds like... more of a Lou Pearlman situation (is this the right audience for a boyband reference? Oh well I made it).

Sky (who was 15 at the time, like that's the key here) met James anyway at an MTV Movie Awards afterparty and then they secretly dated for a year. She says he "took her cherry" that night and I just really want Davey to know that nobody says that in real life. Do they? I don't believe they do.

Al is wildly unconcerned with how predatory that is beyond his hatred of James and is just upset that Sky isn't a virgin, but not as much as Score was about Becca in the last book because then they have this exchange:

"I'll be your second, right?"

"Sixty-second."

"That'll work." (83)

And just like that he's back to purely lusting over her. That's our boy.

Anyway James was abusive and Sky eventually got away from him after what literally sounds like the Rihanna/Chris Brown thing, where he assaulted her in a car and she had to claw him off.

There's also a further reveal about her father when he overhears her talking about the relationship and poisons her breakfast (????) and then she just casually says "I handled it better when I was a little girl" (86) and ???????.

To his credit Al immediately wants to murder both James (again/still) and Sky's dad but like, can just one traumatized person in these books PLEASE get some therapy?

So they finally go to the Pink Corvette show, they're in a private booth, and naturally James is there too. He comes over to their booth and gets really dramatic about missing Sky. I love the characterization of him where we learn that 1) Score was 100% right that James is stealing his look and 2) he does not talk like a person at all. He is, essentially, 100% fake, and we do actually see that objectively in his behaviour and not just in Al's jealousy and rage toward him.

Al and Sky make an exit, leaving the Mythicals behind with James (oh and we learned their names are Cam and Jaq also) with some suggestion that they might also fool around with him, which has me questioning their relationship with Sky and whether my girl has any like... real friends, or if the whole idea is "that's Hollywood baby!" and everyone is fake and no one is a true friend which is bleak as hell.

But there's still time to get bleaker! Can't wait!

[spinsxclusive]

New Mix: DJ Ken Gifted – Mixtery II

New Mix: DJ Ken Gifted – Mixtery II

South South breed, Nigerian disc jockey, DJ Ken Gifted kick starts the new Year with a popular demanded mixtape tagged “Mixtery II“.

The south south born disc jockey promises to unlock new projects, songs & videos in due course for his fans.

Download DJ Ken Gifted – Mixtery II

[thesunlounge]

Reviews 344: Oto No Wa

I’m overjoyed to write again about Music for Dreams’ “Serious Collector Series,” not only because this run of compilations has produced some of the best vinyl sets of the past few years in the form of Jan Schulte’s Tropical Drums of Deutschland, Moonboots’ Moments in Time, and Basso’s Proper Sunburn, but also because the newest such collection, Oto No Wa: Selected Sounds of Japan 1988 - 2018, features a trio of curators who have all influenced this blog in significant ways. Listed first on the breathtaking cover is Ken Hidaka, who in addition to having a storied career as a DJ, journalist, and international record label liaison, has had a significant hand in coordinating many of my favorite reissues from the past few years…things such as Gigi’s Illuminated Audio on Time Capsule and Yutaka Hirose’s Nova + 4 on WRWTFWW, not to mention facilitating serenitatem…that spellbinding collaboration between Yoshio Ojima, Satsuki Shibano, and Visible Cloaks released last year on RNVG Intl. Then there’s Max Essa, one of the premiere practitioners of the balearic beat, whether it’s remixing tracks into euphoric seaside cruisers or producing expansive original works such as “Panorama Suite” for Is It Balearic?, the Lanterns LP for Music for Dreams, or his recently concluded trio of EPs for Hell Yeah Recordings: Themes From The Hood, The Cad & The Lovely, Haz Zan Roc, and The Great Adventure. And finally comes Dr. Rob, a far-ranging musical adventurer and gifted wordsmith whose reviews, interviews, mixes, and stories spread across Test Pressing and Ban Ban Ton Ton showed me entirely new ways to write about music, with his expressive poetics, deep references, and inimitable sense of cleverness rising far beyond standard music criticism and going a long way towards inspiring the creation of this very website.

As far as the music comprising Oto No Wa is concerned, Dr. Rob gives some background at Ban Ban Ton Ton, where he speaks of the trio meeting after one of their Lone Star nights at Bar Bonobo and compiling an initial list of some 200 hundred fantasy selections, which was miraculously whittled down to just 20 tracks. But then, the typically unflinching Japanese record label ecosystem slashed that list to all but nothing, leading Ken, Max, and Dr. Rob to reconsider the entire experience. I like to think that this was ultimately for the better, for in reworking the concept and flow of Oto No Wa, our trio of selectors struck upon the brilliant idea to, in the words of Dr. Rob, ”plot a course from pioneers, through to younger generations who`ve picked up the baton,” resulting in a spectacular set of balearic eclecticism focused on the 90s and 00s, which are periods often missed in the world of Japanese archival reissuing. Indeed, in contrast to the environmental ambiance, city pop, fusion, and jazz so often considered, the sounds here lean much closer to the romantic seaside vibrations of Flower Records’ Silent Dream CD mixes and the Ibizan chill out comps of React, as house beats are repurposed for summer fusion sways, sun-dappled ivories seek out a panoramic horizon, strummed acoustics jangle in an island breeze, electric guitars slide across cinematic deserts, dubwise basslines stroll down white sand beaches, chamber strings play themes for impossible sunsets, and steel pans bring touches of Caribbean splendor. Elsewhere, balafons dance through tropical forests, oceanic soundbaths wash the spirit clean, deep sea explorations transmute into Berlin school magic, and ceremonial drum layers surround barely there violin reveries, with the entire experience being bookended by a pair of kankyō ongaku drifters.

Oto No Wa: Selected Sounds of Japan 1988-2018 (Music for Dreams, 2020) Yoshio Ojima’s “Sealed,” the sole track here from the 80s, comes from the second volume of the producer’s now legendary Une Collection Des Chaînons: Music For Spiral collection and sees glowing hazes moving in slow motion…these harmonious swells mimicking the motions of some celestial sea while textures of digital crystal twinkle overhead. The vibe is hopeful and soothing, though there are moments where the swelling drones turn minor key and melancholic and the glass and gemstone atmospheres get caught in hyperspeed delay trails. But we always return to the floating stretches of major key majesty, with the music perfectly suited to scoring the motions of clouds across the sky or leaves drifting down a stream. And like many of Ojima’s tracks, there is a false ending…a fade to silence preceding a rebirth, wherein the melodic textures from before are reconfigured into mysterious forms…as if the cerulean sky scene mentioned earlier has been washed out by moody grey rainclouds. The original mix of Olololop’s “Mon” revels in washy 90s post-rock atmospherics, with increasingly free ambient jazz drumming underlying cascading pianos and plucked harps. And while the “orte Remix” by Kumi Hayashi and Takaaki Suzuki preserves many of these elements, the vibe here is more oriented towards classical chill out. The beats are rigid and slamming as they lock into a mechanized seaside swing, with the original’s jazz drumming fluidity replaced by pounding kicks, panning ride taps, and sketchy shaker patterns. Piano and harp flow into the stereo field, dropping plucked rays of golden harmony and washes of ivory ethereality before settling into a balearic dreamdance, one carried by gentle trance electronics and layers of droning bass positivity. At some point the rhythms pull away and we find ourselves in an extended beatless bliss out, wherein melodies of ocean crystal pulse around melodious harp motions, abstracted kick taps flutter on echo breezes, and pan-pipes sparkle in the distance. And later, the mix reduces to an industrial downbeat drum sway and a ceremonial hum of subdued choral mesmerism as the piano continues merging vibes of new age fusion and beachside romance.

Among my favorite cuts here is Kazuya Kotani’s “Fatima,” coming from the 2007 CD Made in Love. Seed shakers and rainsticks roll through echo machines, oceanic string panoramas shift in phase, and bongos and congas beat out a seaside beat as a cooing voice whispers sweet nothings in a way reminding me of Sth. Notional’s “Yawn Yawn Yawn (Dream… Another Reality Mix)”. Bulbous basslines bring touches of gentle dub exotica and a glorious chill out breakbeat swings with infectious forward momentum even as it lands like air, while pianos shimmer and shine via wavering chord mirages and prismatic delay leads that presage Coyote’s use of the instrument. The way everything locks in is so perfect, with hand drums bopping alongside the seaside breakbeat cruise and angelic strings glowing beneath sparkling ivory dreamspells…the whole thing coming together like some prototypical cut from one of José Padilla’s Cafe del Mar compilations or a Phil Mison curated Real Ibiza collection. At some point the drums pull away, leaving behind soft piano flutters, breathy whispers, and overlapping waves of orchestral resonance. And when the beats return, they are joined by heartwrenching chamber string progressions…a sort of swooning dance of cinematic sunset majesty before the track effortlessly glides back towards beachside chill out perfection. The B-side opens with “N.I.C.E. Guy” by Scha Dara Parra, who Dr. Rob describes in the liner notes as “Japan’s answer to the Beastie Boys.” The “Nice Guitar Dub” of the track presented here takes us into the world of the Major Force dance collective, and sees house kicks, hand drum loops, and clipped snares underlying lysergic repetitions of “feel good / checking things out” before dropping into a summery groove led by walking sunshine jazz bass, Hiroshi Fujiwara’s acoustic guitar strums, and Hirofumi Asamoto’s piano…a sort of ambient honky tonk cascade scoring some lagoon adjacent saloon. Occasionally, heavenly strings blow through the stereo field to envelop the vocal samples and there’s a strange midtro given over to urgent stick clicks and rimshots while towards the end, b-boy drum cut-ups and turntablist flourishes disturb the flow.

Little Tempo is an ever shifting group of dub and reggae explorers led in part by Takeshi “Tico” Toki and his shimmering steel pan. The collective has played the world over and released an impressive number of albums since the mid-90s, one of which is Ron Riddim, a 2xLP from 1999 containing the track “Frostie.” A stoner beat moves beneath a tropical panorama of steel drumming, with hi-hats occasionally opening, shekeres scraping, and snares pushing through granular reverb, and as we drop into the groove, liquid dub basslines pulse and slide while a piano glistens in the moonlight. The ivory performance is powerful and awash in twilight romance and noir mystery, sometimes dancing in solo and other times accented by glimmering steel pan flourishes. Elsewhere, the pianos are replaced by electric guitars, which let loose bluesy slides and space western leads…the mixture of desert twang and equatorial riddim strongly evoking the dubbier sides of Tortoise. There’s a moment where the track gives over to martial snare intensity as amphibian lasers and telephonic tracers fire across the sky, with the latter sound pulling my mind to the work of Eddie C. And eventually, the track settles into a sort of bluesy reggae zone out, with subsonic basslines skanking and dubwise drums smacking while wavering steel drum mirages surround spaghetti western slides in the style of Doug McCombs. Karel Arbus & Eiji Takamatsu will of course be well familiar to readers of this blog, both for their amazing Some Backland Plaze tape on Max Essa’s Jansen Jardin and for that completely stunning rework of Cantoma’s “Kasoto” from last year. “Coco and the Fish,” taken from the aforementioned cassette, sees idiophones splashing through sea spray while enigmatic electronics swirl in the background…like a vortex of kosmische wonderment pulsating in colors of deep purple and blue, one that occasionally opens up to reveal deep house chord stabs. It’s hard to say whether the main instrument played is marimba or balafon, but either way, it’s a hyperkinetic performance exuding an energy at once meditative and ecstatic...all while phaser wisps, starshine sparkles, and hidden voices swirl in the distance.

I first heard globetrotting DJ and Flower Records alum Kentaro Takizawa courtesy of Phil Mison and his Pure Ibiza 2xCD set released by I Label in 2008, which included the “Silent Dream Version” of the song taken from the aforementioned Silent Dream compilation. Originally though, the track closed Takizawa’s album Gradual Life from 2006, and this is the version included here. Ride cymbals shine amidst glorious murmurations of ambient synthesis while percussive eco fx mimic the songs of lizards and toads. Elecrosnares rocket across the spectrum, beauteous acoustic guitar arps fall like summer rain, and further six-string solos move in counterpoint, with subdead leads mesmerizing the mind. As psychoactive threads of static surround decaying triangles, sundowner string orchestrations ascend towards the clouds, causing the heart to soar in that Sacha Putnam or Vangelis kind of way, and when the beat drops, it’s a lackadaisical sway led by rolling bongos and tapped cymbals. Guitars dance playfully over a backdrop of fourth world alien magic and ever so often, filmic string themes diffuse into the spectrum. Elsewhere, the drums wash away, leaving e-pianos to execute breathtaking descents before disappearing into a synthesized mirage. Rainsticsk flow over the stereo field as the track evolves even further towards new age bliss, with a harmonious conversation of acoustic guitar sunshine proceeding in a fantasy jungle, wherein sunlight reflects off of glistening palm fronds and tropical birds sing intoxicating songs. And after returning to the bopping rhythms and tapestries of chill out exotica, the tracks ends with guitars being replaced by pianos while mermaid pads whoosh through a sunbathed rainforest setting. Mystical percussionist Yoshiaki Ochi inhabited similar circles to Yoshio Ojima, releasing through NEWSIC and seeing his music played, like Ojima’s, at the arts center of Wacoal lingerie company, otherwise known as Spiral. In “Balasong,” taken from 1990’s Natural Sonic, balafons bounce playfully while executing Steve Reich-style pattenrs of minimalist exotica. The drunken daydream motions and otherworldly idiophone polyrhythms are occasionally interspersed by fast motion twiddles and rapid fire rolls, while at the edge of the mix gourds buzz and textures of metal sparkle…perhaps the ghostly chiming of temple bells.

Kaoru Inoue is a hugely influential figure who for decades has been perfecting his own esoteric combination of house, techno, ambient, and spiritual world music. “Wave Introduction” was originally released on the artist’s 2006 album Slow Motion before being repurposed as the opener for one of my favorite albums ever released: Inoue’s horizontal masterpiece Em Paz released in 2018 on Groovement Organic. The track features the relaxing sounds of waves crashing to shore, joined by twinkling synths, distant foghorns, and psychosonic liquid drips, which eventually transmute into a Reich-ian dream sequence awash in textures of mermaid crystal. Undulating bass arps support slow moving pads that drift like cosmic fog while rhythmic wisps of laser static tickle the mind and the whole thing takes on the feeling of a drunken dream dance that slowly moves towards ambient rapture. The influential Flower Records and its founder Eitetsu Takamiya are represented here by the highly sought after “Scuba” under Takamiya’s Little Big Bee alias. Psychedelic bubble clouds blow over Kenji Jinguiji’s slithering bass guitar romantics and the e-pianos of Plaza Fujisaki glow with a sort of new age spirituality while Hawaiian guitars slide across a sunburst sky. A hushed house beat is accented by gentle clacks and seed shaker pulses as Jinguji’s lowslung basslines lock into a balearic fusion dance replete with vocal slides up the fretboard and as the pacific breeze guitar slides swim between solar organ dub chords, spaceage arpeggiations flitter all around. I detect a definite lean towards The Orb’s early merging of dub, ambient, and techno, with a stereo field colored through by cut-off motions, resonance flares, and whalesong pads that settle into a haze of golden light. The beats cut away momentarily, leaving filtering cosmic synthetics, pulsing organ accents, and emotive basslines while stick clicks build a rainshower rhythm. Seafoam siren synths swell in strength and subsume the entire mix as angels breath rainbow mist across universal expanses and eventually, a liquid guitar slide reintroduces the south pacific chill out groove, which now features hyperkinetic click cascades.

Coastlines, the duo of Masanori Ikeda and Takumi Kaneko, are huge favorites around here and given that I reviewed their cover of Ralph MacDonald’s “East Dry River” when it was originally released as a 7” back in 2018, I’ll present a modified version of my words from that time: Joyously ascending piano chords and deep vocal bass percussions set the scene before we smash cut into a smooth coastal fusion jam, as tambourines and toms pound beneath radiant piano strokes and synthetic steel drum dances while four four house kicks and luscious sub-basslines move the body. Angels bring touches of pure euphoria as they rain down from the sky, and elsewhere, fretless bass solos wiggle above the island rhythm dreamscape…the Motohiko Hamase-style note clusters and liquiform slides trailing under subtle ping-pong delays while colorful hand drum accents evoke slow-motion dancing on some fantasy beach. There’s a brief moment where everything washes away, leaving lush piano chords and sparkling steel pans adrift in solitude, and later, after returning to the seaside house rhythms and melodic textures of jazz fusion fantasy, we are treated again to a crazed fretless bass solo, one that grows ever more frantic and chaotic before finally dispersing. Though beloved producer Susumu Yokota is no longer with us, his memory lives on via his profound influence and his intrepid bridgings of academic ambient and techno body pressure, not to mention archival projects such as the Jon Tye-assisted Cloud Hidden from 2019. “Uchu Taniyo” is taken from Yokota’s 1999 album Sakura and begins with a voice pushing through clouds of reverb as ritualistic percussion builds from the depths. Hand drums and wooden clacks lock into a ceremonial dance kissed by cosmic fx and growling ambient forms swirl into the stereo field…these morphing tremolo gurgles imbued with atmospheres of melancholy. Voices continue babbling as a violin enters the scene, letting loose folksy melodies and post-classical whispers that barely break through the layers of rhythmic repetition. And as the track comes to an end, the exotica drum webs fade out as frogsong electronics decay into the void.

The vibe continues to spread out towards horizontal ambiance in “Time and Space,” a track exclusive to this compilation from the duo of Isao Kumano and Kenichi Takagi, who are often found working with Alex from Tokyo in Tokyo Black Star, but who here appear in their “secretive” Chillax guise. Crystallized sequences, smoldering static waveforms, and hazes of ocean either intertwine as chiming melodies ascend on unseen currents towards a sun soaked sea surface, and I can’t help but think of the underwater kosmische of Iury Lech and Miguel Noya, as well as the seafloor ambient excursions of Shelter on Profondeur 4000 and Private Agenda on Île de Rêve. Soft focus chord bursts breath ambient house ether into the mix while tick-tocking arps build slowly in the background, eventually growing in strength and taking over the mix as the vibe flows from deep sea drifting to Berlin school melodrama, wherein searing filter motions surround the spirit and vocoder cyborgs chant amidst subsuming chord decays. I’ve said much about Takashi Kokubo across this blog, though thus far everything has been focused around his hugely influential Get at the Wave. And given how well mined that album is by now, I’m quite thankful that Ken, Max, and Dr. Rob have opted instead for “Quiet Inlet,” a track appearing on Kokubo’s Eternity from 2006. Waves lap gently against the shore of some hidden island scene...a place of peace and picturesque beauty known only to the fish, reptiles, and birds. A calming piano lullaby enters the scene, marrying Satie-like ambiance and Riley-ian minimalism while digital colorations and e-piano bubble clouds flit all around. A choir of angelic sirens bathe the mix in vocal radiance while bell trees mimic sunlight refractions on the ocean’s surface and after a false ending, the dreamscape ivory cascades, pointillist e-piano melodies, and heavenly choirs return, with everything shrouded by pearlescent pad layers and gaseous blankets of reverb. Windchimes blow on a sea breeze and periodic swells of mermaid magnificence work into the mix and as the sampled waves continue their motions, they lull the mind towards daydream visages of the titular seaside paraiso.

(images from my personal copy)

[430box]

DJ MIX: KJV DJ JAMES FT. DJ KEN GIFTED - LIFE IS A MIXTAPE (VOL. 2)

DJ MIX: KJV DJ JAMES FT. DJ KEN GIFTED – LIFE IS A MIXTAPE (VOL. 2)

Worldvibez Ent. Media Owner / Official Disk Jockey, KJV DJ JAMES Is Back After A Long Break With A Brand New Mixtape Tagged “LIFE IS A MIXTAPE VOL. 2”. In This Version Kjv Joined Collaborated With One Of Nigeria’s Fast Rising Dj, DJ KEN GIFTED Who Didn’t Dissapoint, This Mixtape Contains Top / Trending Songs From Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa And Beyond. Listen, Download & Don’t Forget To…

[isitgintimeyet]

The Ties That Bind

This is my first attempt at fiction, so posting nervously... thanks to @mo-nighean-rouge for the beta.

Trying to start on a new relationship isn’t easy, specially when you’re dealing with the baggage for previous ones. You might look for simple, but there’s always complications. It’s how you handle them that counts

Chapter 1: A Summer Wedding

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Now, whilst not exactly in possession of ‘a good fortune,’ Jamie Fraser certainly had reached (at the age of thirty two) a point in his life where he was what people refer to as comfortable - good job as Chief Financial Officer in the family’s long established distillery business, his own home in a smart but not too elite suburb of Glasgow, new car every three years, with enough spare cash to enjoy both summer sun and winter skiing holidays.

Not that he was complacent.  He worked hard and enjoyed the benefits. It was just… not as satisfying as it once had been.

******

Jamie woke at his usual time, even though it was Saturday morning and a three day bank holiday weekend stretched out in front of him. He showered quickly, wrapped the towel neatly round his torso and made his way to the kitchen, picking up the newspaper from the front door en route.

Armed with a cafetière of strong coffee, orange juice, a pen and his newspaper, Jamie made his way into the conservatory that looked onto his back garden. Already, at 8 am, the sunshine streamed into the room, a promising start for Rupert and Fiona’s wedding day. He sank down into his favourite chair, old and well-worn, sipped his coffee and turned to the crossword, enjoying a few minutes of peace and quiet before the frantic activities of the day.

The clatter of the letterbox disturbed the contemplation of 13 across (River, run - 4 letters). Depositing his coffee cup in the dishwasher, Jamie picked up the post, quickly sorting through the pile- broadband deals and ‘epic’ coach holidays straight into recycling, brown envelopes set aside for perusal later and one thick, cream envelope opened immediately.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Duthie request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter Kirsty Ann to Mr. Angus Mackenzie...

Another raucous stag weekend beforehand no doubt. Jamie chuckled, thinking of the five (five, really?!) weddings he had been to in the last eighteen months. With most of his close friends settled, that left, well, him in the minority, unattached, unhindered, not tied down, fancy free, uninvolved… on his own. Realistically, Jamie knew he could ‘get a girlfriend,’ that wasn’t the problem. Wanting to keep said girlfriend, now that tended to be the issue.

But I’m no thinking on that today, he told himself. Jes’ focus on the job at hand and get a move on afore Jenny starts mitherin’ to see where I am.  

And with that, he headed upstairs, mentally preparing for the duties expected of him that afternoon.

******

From his vantage point at the front of the church, Jamie had a good view of the wedding guests.  All the usual suspects of course, his friends scrubbed up nicely, all wearing their dress kilts, their wives and girlfriends sporting a complicated array of hats and, what did Jenny call the wee, poofy ones? Aye, fascinators that was it. The only fascinating thing about them, Jamie mused, was why the hell anyone would want to wear some of them in the first place.

Jamie turned his attention to Rupert, who was standing next to him. The pale green of Rupert’s face matched nicely with the floral arrangements strewn around the church.  Jamie noticed he was sweating profusely.

“Dinna fash,” he said, trying to be comforting. “Ye ken she’ll turn up. ‘S’all part of the ritual, turning up late.”

Rupert gave a hesitant grin. “Aye, but what if she changed her mind? What if she’s driving ‘round now thinking of the quickest way tae the airport? I dinna ken…”

Jamie interrupted. “Now why would she do that? She kens exactly what she’s getting into. Remember she was the one who cleaned you up after the projectile vomiting incident of 2016. She kens not tae talk tae ye fer twelve hours after a Scottish rugby defeat, she puts up wi’ yer snorin’ and fartin’ in bed, and she knows when ye say ye’re off tae the gym, you’re really headin’ out fer coffee and doughnuts. Nah, she’ll be here.”

Rupert smiled. “Aye, reckon ye’re right. I got meself a good one. I canna tell ye what she means tae me. What would I do wi’out her?”

And as the organ started up the opening bars of Trumpet Voluntary, Jamie watched Rupert discretely wipe his eyes and move to take his place at the altar.

******

Several hours and several whiskies later, Jamie felt himself start to relax. The reception was now in full swing, the hotel function room full of wedding guests becoming noisier as the alcohol flowed. In the corner he could see the DJ setting up for the evening disco. He wandered from group to group, accepting praise for his best man speech.

“Och, I never kent it was Rupert who painted the neighbours’ dog that time...”

“Weel, now I know how he got that crescent scar on his hand...”

“Good job, Jamie. I guess it must be yer turn soon. Are you no’ courting jes’ now?”

Jamie smiled and shook his head, politely extricating himself from the group of Rupert’s elderly relatives. He started to cross to his sister Jenny who was sitting, no doubt with her shoes already off, a bowl of trifle balanced on her seven month pregnant belly. Beside her, wee Jamie, red faced and sweating, gulped at his lemonade. Jamie’s heart swelled with pride at the sight of his wee nephew and namesake. He thought that…

“Hello there. Good to see you. Nice speech you did there”

Jamie turned slightly to the woman who had just spoken. “Geneva! How are ye doin’? Enjoyin’ yerself? Ye’re looking well.”  

Not just idle pleasantries, Jamie thought she was looking well, not to say glamorous.  Geneva had always managed to maintain a well-groomed air, her sleek black hair never out of place, even when throwing the television remote control at his head, never breaking into a sweat even as she paced frantically round his living room listing some of his many apparent shortcomings.

“Yes, well, it’s nice to have something to dress up for. And you, you’re looking, er, well too. That kilt always suited you.” Her hand brushed the tartan fabric, so lightly that Jamie wasn’t sure whether he had imagined it.

“Aye, thanks. So, er, well…so, how long has it been since I’ve seen ye?”

“Seven months,” Geneva replied, not missing a beat. “Seven months since you, er, that is, we broke up.”

Jamie felt his ears start to flush at the memory.  “Geneva, I…”

“No, it’s fine. For the best. We did have some good times though. Remember that huge slide at the water park?”

“Oh aye,” Jamie grinned at the memory. “That was such a good day. Apart from the wee bit of nausea on…”

“...The lazy river ride,” Geneva laughed.

“Well…” Jamie hesitated as he felt a sharp tug on the sleeve of his jacket. He looked down to see his nephew smiling up at him.  

“Unca,” his nephew began, still pulling at his sleeve. “Unca, I need pee, now.”

Jamie shrugged apologetically at Geneva. “Can yer Da not take ye?”

“Nah, Unca, Mam says ye do it. Do it now!”

Wee Jamie’s hand snaked into his uncle’s large hand as he forcibly pulled Jamie out of the function room and into the hallway beyond.  

As soon as Jamie was through the door, another hand tightly grabbed his elbow and pulled him into the wooden panelling. For all that she was tiny and seven months pregnant, Jamie knew that Jenny was a veritable force of nature, and from the look on her face, she was gearing up to give him a piece of her mind.  

Her face softened briefly as she looked down at Wee Jamie, still holding his uncle’s hand.  “Thank ye, mo bhailach beag, now go tae yer Da. He’s right over there. And walk, don’t run.”  She called after her over excited son.

“I dare say Wee Jamie will be keeping ye up tonight. He’s that excited…” Jamie started.

Jenny stared at him. “And what do ye think ye were doin’ in there? Just now?”

“In celebrity circles, do they no’ call it ‘working the room’?” Jamie tried, but Jenny was not in the mood for levity.

“You ken fine well what I mean, bràthair. I have eyes, I could see ye laughin’ and jokin’ with Geneva. And she lookin’ at ye like ye were a tall glass of water in the desert. Ye’re a catch and she means to reel ye in again.”

Jamie shook his head. “Nah, ’twas just being friendly. We’ve no’ seen each other fer seven months, since we broke up.”

“And remember, there was a reason YOU broke up with her,” said Jenny, jabbing her finger into his chest. “What was it ye told me, about the clinginess, the snobbishness, the, and I quote ye, the inane drivel that comes out of her mouth?”

“Perhaps I was a bit harsh in my opinions, Jenny, she’s no’ a bad lass really.”

“Aye, and a crocodile’s no’ a mean spirited killing machine, either. I warn ye, Jamie Fraser, dinna go down that road again. Remember ye had reasons to break it off with Geneva.”

“But did I?” Jamie looked directly at Jenny. “Did I really? Or did I no’ give it a chance?  Did I just run when the first little thing pissed me off? Is that what I do? Was she just frustrated with me, no’ trying to make it work?” Jamie sighed. “Jenny, look around, look at all our friends, look at ye and Ian. Ye’re all complete. Ye’ve all found yer other halves. And I havena … Or what if I have, and I just havena recognised it.”

Jenny reached up to stroke Jamie’s cheek gently. “Believe me, ye’d recognise it.” she said softly. “It’s out there fer ye. Ye just need tae find it.”

Jamie sniffed and kissed his sister’s cheek. “And on that note, I think it’s time fer a piss, meself”.

**************

Claire Beauchamp certainly appreciated the sentiment behind the birthday gift from her closest friend, Geillis - a relaxing night away at a hotel and spa, leisurely dinner, couple of drinks in the hotel bar followed by a day of pampering treatments seemed ideal. Claire had, as usual, been working far too hard at the hospital and, in Geillis’s opinion, Claire’s ‘me-time’ was in seriously short supply.

On paper, the hotel looked great. The spa facilities were excellent and Claire could not remember the last time she had tasted such wonderful food. Now, sitting in a leather chair in the traditionally styled hotel bar with Geillis, sampling some of the hotel’s wide range of whiskies, the downside was clearly apparent - the wedding that the hotel was hosting.

The plan had been to spend the evening in the bar, watching the flames in the huge stone fireplace, the only noises a calming murmur of voices and the tinkle of drinks being poured.  The reality was that the overspill from the nuptial celebrations resulted in numerous male guests taking root at the bar recounting, in loud voices, tales of rugby hangovers from hell, Calcutta Cup matches through the ages or the questionable songs wedding DJs seem to play (“C’mon, man, gi’e us a wee bit of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, no this disco shite!”).

Geillis touched Claire’s arm to attract her attention.

“Claire, ye have tae admit, there is something about a man in a kilt. Is that no’ one of yer reasons for staying up here even when Frank moved back tae England?” She nodded her head in the direction of the group of kilted men propping the bar up and laughed. “And what better reason could there be? Best way tae get over a man is tae get under a new one, ye ken.”

Claire looked around the bar and laughed. “Well, G, about the kilt situation, I’m not convinced in all cases, but…” Through the door into the foyer, her eye was caught by the rather striking rear view of a tall, broad, red haired Viking stooping down to kiss the cheek of a petite brunette “...there are certain attractions to it, I dare say. About the Frank situation, I’m over him, just not sure I’m ready for a new relationship yet.”

“Who mentioned a relationship?” Geillis winked. “No’ me…just a wee bit o’ fun. And speakin’ o’ fun, I’ll be getting us two more whiskies, then.” Geillis rose and headed for the bar, firmly wedging herself between two of the burliest men there.  

Claire smiled and shook her head at her friend. She looked back to where that Viking had been standing but he was gone.

For the rest of their time in the bar, Claire kept a surreptitious look out for ‘her’ Viking . She chose not to mention it to Geillis - much as she loved her, Geillis would have boldly dragged Claire straight into the wedding party making her walk past every guest until she found him.  Geillis had many endearing qualities, but discretion was not one of them.

**************

It was reaching that time of the night. The more elderly guests and the children had already retired to their beds (Wee Jamie included, protesting loudly all the way), and the alcohol imbibed by the remaining guests ensured that everything was lit by that rosy glow of sentimentality. Rupert and his bride stood together in the middle of the dance floor, swaying gently to the music.

“And now,” the DJ’s muffled announcement came through the speakers. “all you lovers out there, it’s time for the last song, so come and join Rupert and Fiona on the dance floor with ‘I Will Always Love You.’”

As the opening bars of the Whitney Houston rendition sounded, Jamie became aware of Geneva approaching. She held out her hand to him. “Come on Jamie, for old time’s sake, yes?”

Jamie took her hand and together they walked to the dance floor. As they started moving in time to the music, Jamie could feel Geneva’s hands on his shoulders, her fingers lightly stroking his neck, her chest pressed tightly against him, her hair tickling his nose as he breathed. God, she smelt lovely. He closed his eyes and thought about his conversation with Jenny. Perhaps he had been a wee bit hasty seven months ago… perhaps he needed to put more work into a relationship… perhaps he should try again with Geneva. He wrapped his arms around her, his hands resting at the base of her spine, pulling her closer still.

The music died away and the harsh overhead lights switched on, abruptly ending the cosy intimacy of the wedding party. Laughing and shouting (dubious) words of encouragement, everyone followed Rupert and Fiona out to the grand staircase, sending them on their way to the bridal suite.

**************

Claire heard the whoops and shouts from inside the now peaceful bar.  Once they had died down, she stood up. “I think that's our cue for bed, need to get our money’s worth in the spa tomorrow.”

Together, Claire and Geillis headed up the grand staircase to their rooms.

**************

Geneva stood in front of Jamie in the foyer. Tentatively, she took a step towards him tilted her head up to his, lightly running her tongue over her lips. “I guess you’re staying here tonight, aren’t you?”

Jamie nodded.

“I wasn’t planning to,” she continued. “But I could be persuaded…”

“Best not, lass. We’ve both had too much tae drink tae be making wise choices. I still have yer mobile number.  I’ll give ye a call.”

Wrinkling her nose up in mock annoyance, Geneva pulled his head down to hers. Jamie closed his eyes as Geneva pressed her lips to his, her tongue gently sliding into his mouth.  As she lengthened the kiss, moaning slightly, Jamie opened one eye.

Over Geneva’s shoulder he caught a glimpse of a woman ascending the stairs. Wild brown curls cascaded over her shoulders and onto her back. Her long, shapely legs, clad in blue jeans, looked amazing and the way her hips rolled with each step seemed to ignite a spark within him. He broke away from the kiss as the vision disappeared from view.

[lyrical4ces]

DJ Ken Gifted - Freestyle Mixtape

DJ Ken Gifted – Freestyle Mixtape

The problematic Disc Jockey, DJ Ken Gifted comes through with another mind-blowing mix tagged 1:18:30 Freestyle Mix which was recorded while testing a Dj gear.

‘1:18:30 Freestyle Mix‘ contains the latest hit tracks from your favorite artistes ranging from Reekado Banks, Tekno, Davdo, Wizkid, Kizz Daniel, Wurld and many more as listed above. Check it out and tell us what you think about this…

[naijakingspromo]

DOWNLOAD DJ Ken Gifted - Rush Us Ft. Charles Inojie, Melody, Tari T & Mickey

DOWNLOAD DJ Ken Gifted – Rush Us Ft. Charles Inojie, Melody, Tari T & Mickey

DJ Ken Gifted joins the Na Dem Dey Rush Us trend invented by nollywood comic act Charles Inojie with a catchy brain bursting song entitled “Rush Us” featuring south south fast rising acts Melody, Tari T & Mickey.

The song “Rush Us” which was produced by Melody, Mixed & Mastered by Snappy Mix is a follow up to his recently released “Nwa Baby”. Listen Up!! https://naijakings.com/wp-content…