New Muse Baby!!!!!

Also courtesy of my beloved geek-friend (everyone needs one) Nat, is the information that the best band around Muse have had their unreleased album leaked onto the internet.

If you know me, you know I love Muse, and they bring the heat on this album. Titled 'Blackholes & Revelations' it is a real corker, with only two songs that are not burners. If you have the chance to catch them live I highly reccomend you do. They'll be here in August for the Summer Sonic festival, fuck yeah.

Its out in early July, and is an epic mix of influences ranging from classical (Beethoven-esque chords), various bands (Rage Against the Machine) and latin guitar music for the last three tracks. There is a continuous theme throughout the album; influenced by the state of the world and fear for it's future. Matthew Bellamy attacks president Bush on a few songs, is critical about the state of the world and it's apathy and calls for a revolution of sorts and pleads for people to take action. The cover art reinforces the themes of global warming, greed, the end of the world, etc. A little paranoid maybe, but it sures makes for some inspired tunes. Get into it.

A Bathing Dave (Thanks Nat!!!)

Here's a little Bathing Ape version of myself courtesy of the second best graphic designer from Sydney named 'Nat Jones' that I know. All jokes aside I love this little guy, custom made from a recent photo so the clothes are historically accurate (to a week ago). So here he is for all to enjoy, also over on the right you can link to Nat's OG Wigger page to see more BAPE rip-off characters. Thanks mate I owe you a couple!!!


















Also available in black. I retired my piano-key belt to be replaced by a skull and crossbones one, I'm also wearing my Red Converse kicks and the fondly nicknamed 'fag cardigan'.

Killer Weekend

Started the weekend by heading to this gig to see the nujazz & broken-beat keys player and producer Mark De Clive Lowe (from New Zealand) play live at Club Asia in Shibuya with my new roomate/buddy. He is a Bugz in the Attic and Dj Spinna affiliate and features in many, many killer productions. I thought he was going to play tracks from his album with a band; but instead he played an improvisational project called 'Freesoul' in which he uses an MPC to create beats and then he adds a bassline with a synth and improvises on the keys to build these spontaneous songs.

He had a female vocalist with him called Bembe Segue too, who frequently appears in broken-beat singles. I was suitably impressed, he made some crazy beats and basslines and did all the sequencing live as well. It was great but I didn't pay all that much attention to the show though because me & Ishmael were busy chatting to some Korean girls we met. Although communication was difficult, we had a good time.

On Saturday I had to return a a comb that I was holding for one of the Korean girls, so I met her for some Korean food in Shin-Okubo. It was a kind of spicy beef stew that is served in a hotplate on the table, and is to be eaten leisurely. A very enjoyable meal, indeed. Then it was over to Roppongi to try my hand at Salsa dancing with a girl I met the week before. We were not so good, but I was feeling the Latin vibe so I think more lessons are on the cards. It is a very middle-aged businessman/woman thing to do, but it is way more fun than dancing on your own at night clubs. Also when you look around and see a handful of men who are not good looking entertaining various pretty girls around the dancefloor, you know they're onto something.

Afterwards it was time to watch the Germany vs. Sweden game at a different bar; and then onto a little Brasilian club to meet my roomies, get drunk and enjoy a great Samba Trio. The place was mostly filled by Brasilians, I was unaware but there is a strong connection with Japan due to mass migration during the war. There is a large population of Japanese in Sao Paolo, and lots of Japanese-descendents returning to their home country. We also managed to catch a bit of the Argentina vs. Mexico game before the first trains for the day started.

Today I met my lady friend to go see the "Africa Remix" exhibition at the Mori Art Museum, which also includes entry to the observation deck on the 52nd floor for romantic night time views over downtown Tokyo. The exhibition was a collection of contemporary works from all over the African continent, including places like Morroco, South Africa, and Egypt; and it was excellent. Then it was off to Gaspanic for some cheap pizza, and the last train home.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, so satisfied. Now I can face Monday feeling revitalised. Reminds me why I came to Japan. There's nothing more depressing than working hard all week then having nothing to do when the weekend comes; 'all work and no play' and all that.

* Random information: 'The Da Vinci Code' is crap and 'X-Men III' is good.

Australia 3 - Japan 1 (So Friggin' Sweet!)

Never heard of Cahill before... but he's a legend in my books. Came through for us in the clutch.

Well done to the boys, they did us all proud. Especially us Aussie's representing in Tokyo. We were well outnumbered in an English pub in Shibuya. Couldn't help but feel patriotic... national pride and all that. When the national anthem started me and Bradley-san put our hands on our hearts and belted it out in defiance of the crowd.

After Japan scored, I thought they would have won it if they could manage a second in the half. But we held them out and dominated the possession. But no breakthrough till my man Cahill came through; and when he did it was so sweet. Hi five's all-round to the other unknown Australians. Then again a few minutes later, the third was overkill... but still sweet. I was a happy man, until the game finished and saw all the Japanese people looking so sad. They were all dressed up and ready to party with nothing to celebrate. I almost felt bad... but not quite.

Today was an interesting day, I started my junior high class by writing up the score on the blackboard. Hopefully it didn't come across as insulting, I was just trying to get the kids stirred-up, cause they can be a little hard to motivate. 'Apathetic' best describes the situation sometimes if the work is real dry. This theme of boasting continued throughout the day until one of my NOVA students said it was a sensitive subject and that if Japan does not progress I may be stabbed in class. So I stopped.

Here's a photo of a disappointed Japan supporter. Nothing breaks your heart more than a sad looking Asian guy. Especially when they bought a special hat and everything.

Living in Komazawa-Daigaku.

Good evening to all. I am writing this on the first night at my new place. It looks as though my new accomodation will be an interesting experience if nothing else. I've taken a small room in a gueshouse in order to be closer to my two jobs. My room is depressingly small, but being a young man all I really need is a place to crash. The house is not so big, but somehow they manage to cram 12 rooms into it, the other people living here are mostly Japanese and a couple of other foreigners. This is real Tokyo living; I have the highway sounds, tiny room, no window, and high rent. But I'm actually excited about it more than soberly depressed.

As with life; it's all about the people... and so far so good. Last night a Japanese girl from London (who is a model agent) took me to a party in Aoyama which was good fun. Halfway through the night a bunch of Samba drummers & dancers came out and pumped up the crowd. After that the party got real loose. Bottles of champagne were being passed around to guzzle on and for the rest of the night drunk Japanese dudes were running around without shirts-on. It was a pretty fun, but my new roomie got too hammered and passed out on the couch. The eastern-european models were nice girls but it was too loud to chat.

Tonight I met some more residents; an actor, a dj, a bar hostess, a student and a nice African lady in the next room. Everyone speaks some English but it's not the prefered language so I need to study/practice. My room is next to the common area so I will need to become accustomed to the periodic noise. It's ok though, it means I'll be more sociable... cause I can hear the friggin conversation from my room! We'll have to see how it goes, not sure how long I'll stay. There is a university nearby and an Olympic Park with a swimming pool which will be dope for summer. So I might stick around till then.

All last week I looked at places, most of them were better rooms, but it wasn't worth the extra money. They were all at least another 20,000 yen ($200USD) a month, just so I can walk a bit before I go lie in bed and look out a window for a view of another building wall; so it's the shitty room for me. I apologise to anyone wants to stay with me (sorry Trace) because it will be very cozy indeed for any guests I have.

No new camera yet, so I have posted a picture of a manga-promotion girl in Akihabara (the geek capital of the world). One love.

Fourtet / Rokakoen Junior High

Went to see Fourtet play live last night at a club called Unit in Daikanyama. He played with a jazz drummer called Steve Reid. Interesting stuff, but mostly atomspheric sounds rather than songs. While the chin-strokers were getting their fix, i would have been happier with a decent beat and melody; still I went to hang out with my American/Israeli buddy cause he is leaving soon.

Yesterday I also spent the day in a beautiful place called Kamakura with my lady friend. It's down on the coast and is famous for it's temples, buddha statue and the beach. Unfortunately my camera has broken again so I don't have any photos of Eri; the lovely lady I went with. But Idid steal some pictures from some other websites to post.

I also went to my first 'gyoza party' (the chinese dumplings) it was very cool. It was at Yoni's girlfriend's house with a bunch of her friends. The ladies made a variety of 'suprise gyoza' so you didn't know what you were eating. Some interesting ones had chocolate and banana; a couple had just pure wasabi as a joke. They gave some wasabi to the girl's bull terrier which was hilarious, more so because of the girls reactions than the dogs; these Japanese girls get very excited by furry animals.

Last week was the first week at my 2nd job at a Rokakoen Junior High School in West-Tokyo. The english teachers that I work with are great ladies. One of them is my age so I think we should get along quite well. The first day I was suprised by how many of the kids slept through class. It's not like at home where teachers lay down the law, here the kids are free to do as they please; they can talk, sleep, whatever. Generally they do the right thing and pay attention, especially the younger ones, but in the older grade they are about 14/15 and they are becoming more independent and less obedient, so you have to keep them interested or they go to sleep.

One unexpected side-effect of working long days 3 times a week is that I have grown accustomed to getting by on 5-6 hours sleep, which was unthinkable until recently. Ever since my uni-days I have required unhealthy amounts of sleep, wasting more hours than I care to think about. Now I'm sleeping less and doing more, perhaps my time is due to grow up and join the working-class society... and make some decent cash money!?! No, I'm not raking it in just yet, but soon I should be earning a respectable living.

Also been looking for new places closer to my job. I have found a few guesthouses in Sasazuka which is a great location, but it's not the nicest area. Too close to Shinjuku (central Tokyo) which means highways and crowds of people, but from that area I can ride a bike to all the key spots within half an hour: Shimokitazawa, Shibuya, Daikanyama, Harajuku... so dope.

That's it for me, hopefully I will fix my camera or have a new one soon. Here are some stock photos of Kamakura.