A small mixtape that I put together quickly; I'm working on a bigger one (with a different theme) that will probably be the next rotation as well as a continuation of the first mixtape I posted here, don't mess with me (if you follow the link you'll have to click the entries icon to get to the entry). Sorry if you're not a mixtape fan as you'll probably be seeing a lot of them soon. Enjoy the songs!

- Haruhi

*mix: dance, dance, dance

tracklist;

001 Seventeen Years Ratatat
002 Starstrukk 3OH!3
003 FLASH BACK capsule
004 A Plus D / Stardust Kids David Bowie vs. MGMT
005 美人計 Jolin Tsai
006 Pop (Feat. Saphfire) House Rulez
007 히비예 히비요 (Hibiye Hibiyo) Moon Ji Eun
008 I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance (The Twelves Remix) Black Kids
009 Girls on the Dance Floor (Feat. 24/8) Far*East Movement
010 Not Myself Tonight Christina Aguilera
011 Dirty Ice Cream Lady Gaga

download;
Mediafire

Some of these are songs that I only like when I'm in a certain mood and otherwise would not really be fond of (Starstrukk, Girls on the Dance Floor, Dirty Ice Cream) but others are pretty good no matter what mood you're in - Seventeen Years is an awesome electronica-meets-post-rock track that is incredibly catchy, and I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance is also pretty catchy. I'm not a Jolin fan, but 美人計 is a really danceable song. A Plus D / Stardust Kids is a lovely little mash-up, and of course you can never go wrong with capsule, featured here with their song FLASH BACK.

Labels: Black Kids, capsule, Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, Far*East Movement, House Rulez, Jolin Tsai, Lady Gaga, MGMT, mixtape, Moon Ji Eun, Ratatat

I uploaded and reviewed this album for the LJ community music envy that I'm a reviewer at, I thought I'd post it here too. If you have a LiveJournal account you should check the community out; membership is moderated but there's hardly any requirements. I've posted a lot more full albums and full-length reviews there.



하우스룰즈 (House Rulez) - Magic Television
Release Date: July 30, 2010
Genre: Electronic Pop, Acid Jazz
Language: Korean, English

Tracklist:

01. Channel Guide
02. Good Morning (Feat.Kholo Masafu)
03. 보물섬 (Feat.웨일/Whale)
04. 서핑 웨이브 (Surfing Wave)
05. My Fantastic Island (Feat.evabossa)
06. This Corea (Feat. Chris & Jelly.L)
07. Michael vs Jackson (Feat.사파이어)
08. Pako (Feat. UV)
09. 보물선 (Feat.제이슨)
10. Pool Party 2010
11. 니가필요해 (Feat.채연)
12. Ennes Episode (Feat.엔느)
13. My Daddy (Feat.애니)
14. 달 (Feat.호란/Horan)

Download @ Mediafire

House Rulez blends many genres, most prominently acid jazz, electro-pop, house, and lounge. While their previous releases are strong, their latest album, the vibrant, summery Magic Television is the highlight of their discography in my opinion.

Let's start off with Channel Guide, a quick just-under-two-minute taste of what you'll hear in the rest of the album. It's deceptively simple, layering fragmented spoken phrases over a delightful blend of synths, jazz-style brass and sax, piano, and, perhaps most surprisingly, strings. Filled with fluid transitions, it's a perfect opener.

Good Morning is signature House Rulez, throwing a dance beat together with brass shots and playful guitar riffs. The smooth, light vocals practically blend right into the accompaniment, the two are so intertwined. I love the slower bridge, which is paired with light piano melodies and chords. Just as the percussion picks up, there's a lovely, smooth sax feature. Very sweet and light.

보물섬 features Whale of popular group W & Whale. The quick keyboard chords bring an infectious energy. The sweeping electronic strings are not your typical string section, but they make their subtle appearances nonetheless. The transitions at the bridge are impeccable, they leave the listener unsure of where the song will go next. Youthful, optimistic, and for the most part quite repetitive, I'm not sure how well it would stand as an individual song but in the context of the album, I like it.

서핑 웨이브 is one of my favourites from this album. It's vibrant and very summery; it makes me think of a day at the beach. The jazz elements - mostly electronic sax from what I can tell - lend a richness to the song, and are indeed the leading melody. The bright synths and occasional sung phrases and shouts as well as the sensitive percussion add additional layers of detail. Skillfully executed.

My Fantastic Island features finessed synths, a dance beat, and a light but growling bass line. I love the way the vocals match the rhythm of the rapid-fire synths. The occasional shouts of "Let's go!" add to the energetic atmosphere and I love the transition about halfway through that culminates with a crashing wave that somehow doesn't sound out of place at all, a record scratch, and a return to the previous motif. There are touches of jazz but they're not as prevalent as in some of the other songs. Innovative, confident, and breezy, My Fantastic Island is quickly becoming another favourite of mine.

This Corea pulls in strands of hip-hop. For the first time, we hear some rapping. House Rulez's use of guest vocals is really quite genius: each guest artist lends a touch of their own signature style and House Rulez manages to make it fit with their own unique sound. This Corea is a perfect example of this. I love the way everything slows down at the chorus with a laid-back edge and slightly more melodic hue. The male rapper and female vocalist sound great together.

Michael vs Jackson uses an addictive bass line to root bold sax riffs, atmospheric synths, and a fairly standard female vocalist. The harmonies created within the synths are worth noting. The busy sax solo starting at 2:53 brings a burst of energy and enthusiasm, not that the song was lacking it.

Pako's opening, which features various rhythmic repetitions of the song's title, creates an addictive hook. The guitar riffs are light and breezy, and the build-up leading to the incorporation of a stronger beat and synths is wonderfully executed. The song blends heavy electronica with a catchy jazz-rock sound and touches of dance, a difficult feat.

This alternate version of 보물선, featuring a male vocalist instead of Whale, is a nice throwback to a song heard earlier in the album, but House Rulez cuts no corners: it's not simply the same song with a different vocalist; this version has a different sound. It's more atmospheric and less youthfully bright than Whale's take. Although there are some saxophone riffs near the beginning and sprinkled throughout the song, it's one of the more purely electronica songs on the album.

Pool Party 2010 is, as the title suggests, another take on their song Pool Party released as the title track of a mini-album. The opening with the chipmunk-voice-like synths is basically untouched, but while the older version takes on a smoother, synth-fed beat, the 2010 version brings in some edgier electronic guitar sounds. While it keeps the flavour of the original, it's a little more defined.

Light and airy, 니가필요해 consists of soft vocals, creamy synths, and a faint Latin vibe. It's more laid-back and relaxed than the songs preceding it, which is a nice change of pace. It's a solid track, but a bit forgettable.

Ennes Episode is another slower track, but more mature in atmosphere than 니가필요해. It has an air of mystery set by the light vocals and mixture of effects on the guitar - sometimes very clean, sometimes distorted. It's quite soothing and downtempo.

Picking up the energy level again, My Daddy is heavy on the acid jazz, with lots of bright sax riffs. It has a more sophisticated, reined-in feel than the other songs on this album; it's not quite as dynamic.

달 is a song that I was looking forward to seeing as it features Horan. Horan delivers a light, almost whispery vocal performance that brings the lush, full-bodied synths to the spotlight. 달 takes a while to establish itself, but about halfway through it picks up a little with the incorporation of a minimal beat and stylized harmonies.

House Rulez's use of guest vocalists and their own impeccable intuition when it comes to blending genres has created a delightful mix of styles that come together in a vibrant, innovative album. Each individual song as well as the album as a whole takes the listener on a journey. The diverse Magic Television has its fair share of gems, my favourites being Surfing Wave, My Fantastic Island, This Corea, Michael vs. Jackson, and Pako.

Labels: album review, House Rulez

Hello!

In my last rotation, in the comments for the song by Chi Yeol of k-pop duo Wednesday, I mentioned that Chi Yeol had released a solo album. Well, I managed to get the album on this computer, so rotation 51 features six of my favourite songs from Chi Yeol, and seven songs from assorted recent releases. I hadn't noticed when I was selecting songs, but this rotation is all Korean - I'll try to compensate for that by uploading some songs in other languages in my next rotation.

Enjoy the songs,

- Haruhi

Artist Feature: Chi Yeol (치열)



Chi Yeol's debut solo album, 오감 (Five Senses) released June 18, 2007. He's known for his distinctive, husky voice and, surprisingly, his talents as a breakdancer. He later became part of the duo Wednesday, who have only released one single to date. His ballads are lovely and his pop songs mature, so it's a shame he's released so little music.

또... (Also...)
The first track on Five Senses, this was the first song of Chi Yeol's that I heard. His rich voice caught my attention right away, coupled with a smooth, catchy melody and light harmonies and backing vocals. It remains my favourite song by him - it's a light, mid-tempo ballad that gets better with each listen.

행복한 줄 아세요
A string-based ballad, 행복한 줄 아세요 manages to be heartfelt without being overly dramatic. I think it's the contrast between the strength of the chorus and delicacy of the verses that does it, accomplished by terraced dynamics. It's hopeful and I love the way the strings soar in the chorus.

두고봐
A dark, dramatic pop song. I love the energy, and Chi Yeol shows his versatility by tackling something very different from his usual ballads.

프로포즈
Changing courses once again, 프로포즈 is an upbeat, jazz-influenced track. It has a bit of an old-fashioned sound, especially with the brass shots and jazzy piano licks, but somehow it works. Honestly, I think his voice could make anything work. A confident, bold vocal performance.

오래오래
Back to ballads, 오래오래 is a hopeful pop ballad. The accompaniment is well-rounded, I especially like the piano.

아버지
A mid-tempo track with some nice harmonies, to be honest it's not much composition-wise but I love his voice here, it's not quite as husky as in some of his other songs and seems to lighten up a bit.

Recent Releases

울고 싶단 말야 - Brave Brothers, Jay Park
Korean | Pop/R&B
I'm not an avid fan of either Brave Brothers (I find the songs they produce sound boringly similar) or Jay Park. This song was really what I expected it to be: a decent, although somewhat repetitive, R&B-influenced track. I'm not a big fan of the auto-tune on Jay's voice as it makes it seem like it was added because he can't sing rather than for effect, although I find Jay to be a decent singer. However, the hook is quite catchy (as expected) and the rapping has a nice depth to it with the occasional echoed phrase, and the looped Big Bang-esque piano melody in the background softens up the sound of the loaded R&B-style percussion. It's not perfect, but it's worth a listen.

웃음만.. - zia
Korean | Pop/Ballad
Although I'd heard a couple of zia's songs, I can't say any of them caught my attention. That is, until her EP Difference came out. All the songs were quite solid, but 웃음만.. stands out in particular. It's a driven ballad with a lot of power and richness, and a stunning vocal performance from zia. The intro is rich with strings which remain a theme, dropping away to let piano chords take over the softer verses building up to the chorus.

한별 (Implode) (ft. JW of Nell) - BoA
Korean | Ballad
I've never been a fan of BoA and none of the songs on her latest album, Hurricane Venus, have stood out to me as of yet except for this understated ballad. Something about the light acoustic guitar in the intro and the soft delicacy of her voice caught my attention. I love the way the piano and minimal percussion drops in, unexpectedly but as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It takes its fair time to develop, only building about halfway through - which is where you hear Nell's JW come in, and where the song really picks up a taste of Nell's music. I love Nell, so hearing such an instantly recognizable touch of them in a BoA song was definitely a pleasant surprise. Something about this song is just so intimate and heartfelt, it can't really be explained in words.

잊어버려 바보야 (Feat. Sad) - Snofeel
Korean | Ballad
This duet is an R&B-flavoured pop track. I don't really know anything about either of these singers but I think Snofeel is the male rapper and Sad the female singer. Sad's airy voice is refreshing, it reminds me a bit of SunnyHill's female vocalists. Snofeel's rapping isn't anything outstanding, and the piano-based accompaniment is pretty but nothing special. Luckily, Sad gets her share of sung verses which are really the highlights of the song.

서핑 웨이브 (Surfing Wave) - House Rulez
Instrumental | Electronica/House/Acid Jazz
I'm really starting to love this group. Surfing Wave is a vibrant, summery track with a youthful energy. I love the richness and depth that the jazz elements add, I think it's mostly saxophone. The bright synths and occasional backing-vocal phrases and shouts add additional layers of detail. A breath of fresh air.

..하다가 - Hwanhee
Korean | Pop
I love Fly to the Sky, and while I prefer their songs as a duo to solo material, Hwanhee's deep, husky voice is always a treat. However, his signature voice seems to be toned down a bit in this song - while it's still rich and powerful, it's a lot lighter than in most of his previous solo songs. The synths and busy R&B-style percussion aren't exactly signature Hwanhee, but it works. It sounds a lot more mainstream pop than I'd have expected, but Hwanhee's seasoned voice elevates the song beyond what your typical boyband could deliver.

Labels: BoA, Brave Brothers, Chi Yeol, House Rulez, Hwanhee, Jay Park, Snofeel, zia

I wanted to get a rotation up before I left, so I can go straight to the 50th rotation when I get back. This rotation is themed around electro-pop and synths. It's named after Owl City's song of the same name, featured below, because it seemed like a perfect fit for the dreamy, sweet quality that a lot of electro-pop has, although not all the songs here fit that description.

Nothing Better - The Postal Service
English | Electro-pop
A side project of Death Cab For Cutie singer Ben Gibbard's, Nothing Better is charming and light. The synths remind me a bit of Owl City, although the vocals aren't quite as distinctive - not that they don't have their own charm. The play between the female and male vocalists is touching, and lyrically, it's also quite strong.

Vanilla Twilight - Owl City
English | Electro-pop
I'm not a huge Owl City fan - their songs tend to blend together to me - but I do like a couple of their songs: The Saltwater Room, and Vanilla Twilight in particular. It's melodic and absolutely endearing. The lyrics are a bit sappy but sweet nonetheless. It's a cute song about missing someone, and the adept blend of synths mixed with brief touches of guitar and piano is lovely.

Cuddle Fuddle - Passion Pit
English | Electronic
This song takes a while to establish itself, but I love the unique edge to the vocals starting at around 1:10 as well as the vibrant synths added at that point. It's not a favourite of mine, but it has a delicate edge to it that I like.

Hey You - Pony Pony Run Run
English | Electronic/Power-pop
This song is so addictive. I can't get enough of it. The bassline and beat are awesome, and there's something about its laid-back guitar riffs and addictive hook that is so appealing. I love the bridge as well, where everything slows down a little and the synth backdrop becomes a little more dreamy. Definitely one of the highlights of this rotation.

Beat In Love - Clazziquai Project
English | Electronica
Although Clazziquai is a Korean group, the lyrics of this song are in English. It's charming, upbeat, and their English sounds great. I especially love Alex's verses, there's something about the warmth of his voice paired with the synths that is just perfect.

S.P.X - Humming Urban Stereo
Korean | Electronica
The more mature atmosphere of this song separates it from some of the others in this rotation. I always found this song to be one that required a certain mood, or else it comes across as a bit repetitive and directionless. It might not be the most accessible track, but come on, it's Humming Urban Stereo.

Pool Party (feat. 사파이어 & 윤지아) - House Rulez
Korean | Electronica
I don't really like the chipmunk-y intro of this song, but all is forgiven when the splashes of brass enter. Like the title suggests, it's a great summer track with a lot of energy.

47 - Casker
Korean | Electronic
I love this duo, and songs like 47 are why. From the rich, lush intro of synths, I was captured. They definitely set a more serious tone than what you've heard in the songs above, but it's a welcome change of pace. The slight dissonance in the rising line of synths only adds to the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of this song. YoongJin's smooth, elegant vocals are far different from what you'd expect in an electronica song, but it fits the song perfectly. Highly recommended.

Twist In My Love - Instant Romantic Floor
Korean | Electro-pop
It's hard to classify Instant Romantic Floor - their music has touches of electronica, pop, house, and bossa nova. Twist In My Love has a couple surprises in store, particularly the very light use of synths and the more prominent use of strings - though not in a ballad-type setting, but rather something sweet and airy, words that could be used to describe the song as a whole.

Snowdrop - Fanny Fink
Korean | Soft Rock
This Pastel Music group is a real gem. A soft, feathery song with surprising depth. I love the rich percussion and the barely-there vocals. Okay, on second listen I don't think there's actually any synths in this song except for a few deft ones blended in with the piano.

Giant - Yozoh
Korean | Electro-pop
Although Yozoh plays with a lot of genres, mostly acoustic, Giant is a foray into electro-pop. Her feathery, light voice is a good match. A soothing, atmospheric track with an understated beauty.

I was Wrong - capsule
English | Electronica
How could we have an electronica rotation of any sort without Japanese electronica duo capsule? The percussive intro of this song is fantastic, paired with a few lush, full-bodied piano chords. The vocals are achingly clear - and the English flawless. There's even touches of strings. It's sophisticated and textured. I love it.

Preservative Woman - Aural Vampire
Japanese | Electronica/Industrial Rock
An upbeat, light-hearted track with synthesized vocals that surprisingly, I like. Unfortunately, the rest of the song isn't that appealing to me although it's worth a listen.

QUESTIONS - MEG
English | Electro-pop
I've never been a big fan of Japanese singer MEG and never really understood her popularity, but her journey mini-album did have a few gems, one of which is QUESTIONS. It's polished and charismatic. The light, simple vocal execution really works with the catchy beat and bass. On a side note, there's an awful lot of Korean/Japanese artists with all-English lyrics in this rotation.

Kids - MGMT
English | Electronic
The line of synths in this song is just so instantly recognizable. It puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it. Addictive and surprisingly delicate, I really like the slightly echoed, distant feel of the vocals contrasted with the clarity of the synths and beat.

Daylight - Matt & Kim
English | Electronica, Power-pop
A cute track from Brooklyn-based duo Matt & Kim. It's bubbly and multi-layered, although the vocals are a bit of an acquired taste.

Labels: Aural Vampire, capsule, Clazziquai, Fanny Fink, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Instant Romantic Floor, Matt + Kim, MEG, MGMT, Owl City, Passion Pit, Pony Pony Run Run, The Postal Service, Yozoh

Rotation 15 is jazz & electronica themed & features 17 songs. Sorry, no cover images this time ... I couldn't find the majority of them anyways. By the way, the number of comments is starting to go down again. Please remember to comment or updates will decrease. I'm tired of spending time uploading for people who can't take the time to comment. Again, thanks to those who have commented.

PART ONE * ELECTRONICA
Tenjou wo Kakeru Mono Tachi
Love Planet Five
Japanese
Great song, though a bit long at six and a half minutes. The mixing is extremely well done, especially in the first minute. Catchy beats & synths. Recommended.


희망이라는 이름의 별
House Rulez & Rabbit Punch
Korean
Opens up with some bright piano chords that lend a nice dimension throughout the whole song. I thought it was pretty good.


스웨터 (Sweet)
Humming Urban Stereo ft. Taru
Korean
Humming Urban Stereo is great. Sweet offers an uplifting if slightly repetitive bass beat and fast-paced melodies.


Love Me
capsule
Japanese
Typical capsule. For the most part without vocals, only a few spoken verses. Not one of my favourites, it's pretty repetitive.


Twenties=Love
Hourmelts
Korean
Starts out with a wonderful piano introduction that blends perfectly with the bass line. Features impressive changes in tempo and very smooth transitions, as well as interesting if somewhat strange vocal work.


Bittersweet Heart
Apls
Korean
Although it opens up with a rap verse, don't be fooled. It gradually leads into an upbeat, bright song that offers a sweet contrast between female and male vocalists as well as the occasional rap verse. While Apls is a dance/electronica group, this song isn't too overfilled with synths.


PART 2 * JAZZ

stem
Shiina Ringo
Japanese
Very theatrical, with a bit of a waltz feel to it. Fairly slow tempo. Vocals get a bit annoying, though.


STORM
SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
Japanese
Upbeat jazz at its best. One of my favourite jazz groups, this band can definitely compete with its American counterparts. Energetic trumpet solos and a beautiful rhythm section defined by smashing cymbals, fast-paced blues-scale bass lines, and a prominent piano accompaniment. Might be a bit too busy for some people, but I liked it.


Mocha
Casker
Korean
From the Coffee Prince soundtrack, a low-key bossa nova track on the laid-back end of jazz.


Ticket to London
Loptomist
Korean
Okay so this song's actually by a hip-hop artist, but it's a very nice instrumental mix that mixes heavy beats with fleeting melodies. I would say it's jazz-influenced, so I chose to include it in this rotation.


Kiss
Elevenses
Korean
Laid-back jazz with soothing female vocals and a nice guitar solo about halfway through.


맑은 날 버스를 타고
Elevenses
Korean
Another Elevenses song, again on the laid-back side though slightly more upbeat than Kiss.


因為你愛我 (Because You Love Me)
Joanna Wang
Mandarin
I uploaded the English disc of Joanna Wang's album, this is one of the Mandarin songs. When I went to Taiwan this song & the Chinese version of Lost in Paradise were playing everywhere. It's one of her slower songs. While it doesn't really seem like a typical jazz track, the chorus shows jazz influences and she is a jazz vocalist, although this particular song is more of a ballad. There's also a nice trumpet solo and a trumpet accompaniment is prominent through the rest of the song after it.


PART 3 * MY PICKS

Box in the ship [preview]
Tohoshinki
Japanese
Pop
Upbeat and with a tropical feel, a 2:30 low-quality preview of the b-side to "Why Have I Fallen In Love With You".


Loveholic
Loveholic
Korean
Soft Rock
Not their best, but it's worth a listen.


Paradise
The Melody
Korean
Soft Rock
Very mellow & relaxing.


Explore "M"
Lee Min Woo
Korean
Hip-Pop
I love the beats in this song. Typical of Min Woo's solo work which leans more towards hip-hop without really being too heavy.

Labels: Apls, capsule, Casker, Elevenses, Hourmelts, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Joanna Wang, Lee Min Woo, Loptomist, Love Planet Five, Loveholic, Rabbit Punch, Shiina Ringo, SOIL+"PIMP" SESSIONS, Tohoshinki

A small mixtape that I put together quickly; I'm working on a bigger one (with a different theme) that will probably be the next rotation as well as a continuation of the first mixtape I posted here, don't mess with me (if you follow the link you'll have to click the entries icon to get to the entry). Sorry if you're not a mixtape fan as you'll probably be seeing a lot of them soon. Enjoy the songs!

- Haruhi

*mix: dance, dance, dance

tracklist;

001 Seventeen Years Ratatat
002 Starstrukk 3OH!3
003 FLASH BACK capsule
004 A Plus D / Stardust Kids David Bowie vs. MGMT
005 美人計 Jolin Tsai
006 Pop (Feat. Saphfire) House Rulez
007 히비예 히비요 (Hibiye Hibiyo) Moon Ji Eun
008 I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance (The Twelves Remix) Black Kids
009 Girls on the Dance Floor (Feat. 24/8) Far*East Movement
010 Not Myself Tonight Christina Aguilera
011 Dirty Ice Cream Lady Gaga

download;
Mediafire

Some of these are songs that I only like when I'm in a certain mood and otherwise would not really be fond of (Starstrukk, Girls on the Dance Floor, Dirty Ice Cream) but others are pretty good no matter what mood you're in - Seventeen Years is an awesome electronica-meets-post-rock track that is incredibly catchy, and I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance is also pretty catchy. I'm not a Jolin fan, but 美人計 is a really danceable song. A Plus D / Stardust Kids is a lovely little mash-up, and of course you can never go wrong with capsule, featured here with their song FLASH BACK.

Labels: Black Kids, capsule, Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, Far*East Movement, House Rulez, Jolin Tsai, Lady Gaga, MGMT, mixtape, Moon Ji Eun, Ratatat

I uploaded and reviewed this album for the LJ community music envy that I'm a reviewer at, I thought I'd post it here too. If you have a LiveJournal account you should check the community out; membership is moderated but there's hardly any requirements. I've posted a lot more full albums and full-length reviews there.



하우스룰즈 (House Rulez) - Magic Television
Release Date: July 30, 2010
Genre: Electronic Pop, Acid Jazz
Language: Korean, English

Tracklist:

01. Channel Guide
02. Good Morning (Feat.Kholo Masafu)
03. 보물섬 (Feat.웨일/Whale)
04. 서핑 웨이브 (Surfing Wave)
05. My Fantastic Island (Feat.evabossa)
06. This Corea (Feat. Chris & Jelly.L)
07. Michael vs Jackson (Feat.사파이어)
08. Pako (Feat. UV)
09. 보물선 (Feat.제이슨)
10. Pool Party 2010
11. 니가필요해 (Feat.채연)
12. Ennes Episode (Feat.엔느)
13. My Daddy (Feat.애니)
14. 달 (Feat.호란/Horan)

Download @ Mediafire

House Rulez blends many genres, most prominently acid jazz, electro-pop, house, and lounge. While their previous releases are strong, their latest album, the vibrant, summery Magic Television is the highlight of their discography in my opinion.

Let's start off with Channel Guide, a quick just-under-two-minute taste of what you'll hear in the rest of the album. It's deceptively simple, layering fragmented spoken phrases over a delightful blend of synths, jazz-style brass and sax, piano, and, perhaps most surprisingly, strings. Filled with fluid transitions, it's a perfect opener.

Good Morning is signature House Rulez, throwing a dance beat together with brass shots and playful guitar riffs. The smooth, light vocals practically blend right into the accompaniment, the two are so intertwined. I love the slower bridge, which is paired with light piano melodies and chords. Just as the percussion picks up, there's a lovely, smooth sax feature. Very sweet and light.

보물섬 features Whale of popular group W & Whale. The quick keyboard chords bring an infectious energy. The sweeping electronic strings are not your typical string section, but they make their subtle appearances nonetheless. The transitions at the bridge are impeccable, they leave the listener unsure of where the song will go next. Youthful, optimistic, and for the most part quite repetitive, I'm not sure how well it would stand as an individual song but in the context of the album, I like it.

서핑 웨이브 is one of my favourites from this album. It's vibrant and very summery; it makes me think of a day at the beach. The jazz elements - mostly electronic sax from what I can tell - lend a richness to the song, and are indeed the leading melody. The bright synths and occasional sung phrases and shouts as well as the sensitive percussion add additional layers of detail. Skillfully executed.

My Fantastic Island features finessed synths, a dance beat, and a light but growling bass line. I love the way the vocals match the rhythm of the rapid-fire synths. The occasional shouts of "Let's go!" add to the energetic atmosphere and I love the transition about halfway through that culminates with a crashing wave that somehow doesn't sound out of place at all, a record scratch, and a return to the previous motif. There are touches of jazz but they're not as prevalent as in some of the other songs. Innovative, confident, and breezy, My Fantastic Island is quickly becoming another favourite of mine.

This Corea pulls in strands of hip-hop. For the first time, we hear some rapping. House Rulez's use of guest vocals is really quite genius: each guest artist lends a touch of their own signature style and House Rulez manages to make it fit with their own unique sound. This Corea is a perfect example of this. I love the way everything slows down at the chorus with a laid-back edge and slightly more melodic hue. The male rapper and female vocalist sound great together.

Michael vs Jackson uses an addictive bass line to root bold sax riffs, atmospheric synths, and a fairly standard female vocalist. The harmonies created within the synths are worth noting. The busy sax solo starting at 2:53 brings a burst of energy and enthusiasm, not that the song was lacking it.

Pako's opening, which features various rhythmic repetitions of the song's title, creates an addictive hook. The guitar riffs are light and breezy, and the build-up leading to the incorporation of a stronger beat and synths is wonderfully executed. The song blends heavy electronica with a catchy jazz-rock sound and touches of dance, a difficult feat.

This alternate version of 보물선, featuring a male vocalist instead of Whale, is a nice throwback to a song heard earlier in the album, but House Rulez cuts no corners: it's not simply the same song with a different vocalist; this version has a different sound. It's more atmospheric and less youthfully bright than Whale's take. Although there are some saxophone riffs near the beginning and sprinkled throughout the song, it's one of the more purely electronica songs on the album.

Pool Party 2010 is, as the title suggests, another take on their song Pool Party released as the title track of a mini-album. The opening with the chipmunk-voice-like synths is basically untouched, but while the older version takes on a smoother, synth-fed beat, the 2010 version brings in some edgier electronic guitar sounds. While it keeps the flavour of the original, it's a little more defined.

Light and airy, 니가필요해 consists of soft vocals, creamy synths, and a faint Latin vibe. It's more laid-back and relaxed than the songs preceding it, which is a nice change of pace. It's a solid track, but a bit forgettable.

Ennes Episode is another slower track, but more mature in atmosphere than 니가필요해. It has an air of mystery set by the light vocals and mixture of effects on the guitar - sometimes very clean, sometimes distorted. It's quite soothing and downtempo.

Picking up the energy level again, My Daddy is heavy on the acid jazz, with lots of bright sax riffs. It has a more sophisticated, reined-in feel than the other songs on this album; it's not quite as dynamic.

달 is a song that I was looking forward to seeing as it features Horan. Horan delivers a light, almost whispery vocal performance that brings the lush, full-bodied synths to the spotlight. 달 takes a while to establish itself, but about halfway through it picks up a little with the incorporation of a minimal beat and stylized harmonies.

House Rulez's use of guest vocalists and their own impeccable intuition when it comes to blending genres has created a delightful mix of styles that come together in a vibrant, innovative album. Each individual song as well as the album as a whole takes the listener on a journey. The diverse Magic Television has its fair share of gems, my favourites being Surfing Wave, My Fantastic Island, This Corea, Michael vs. Jackson, and Pako.

Labels: album review, House Rulez

Hello!

In my last rotation, in the comments for the song by Chi Yeol of k-pop duo Wednesday, I mentioned that Chi Yeol had released a solo album. Well, I managed to get the album on this computer, so rotation 51 features six of my favourite songs from Chi Yeol, and seven songs from assorted recent releases. I hadn't noticed when I was selecting songs, but this rotation is all Korean - I'll try to compensate for that by uploading some songs in other languages in my next rotation.

Enjoy the songs,

- Haruhi

Artist Feature: Chi Yeol (치열)



Chi Yeol's debut solo album, 오감 (Five Senses) released June 18, 2007. He's known for his distinctive, husky voice and, surprisingly, his talents as a breakdancer. He later became part of the duo Wednesday, who have only released one single to date. His ballads are lovely and his pop songs mature, so it's a shame he's released so little music.

또... (Also...)
The first track on Five Senses, this was the first song of Chi Yeol's that I heard. His rich voice caught my attention right away, coupled with a smooth, catchy melody and light harmonies and backing vocals. It remains my favourite song by him - it's a light, mid-tempo ballad that gets better with each listen.

행복한 줄 아세요
A string-based ballad, 행복한 줄 아세요 manages to be heartfelt without being overly dramatic. I think it's the contrast between the strength of the chorus and delicacy of the verses that does it, accomplished by terraced dynamics. It's hopeful and I love the way the strings soar in the chorus.

두고봐
A dark, dramatic pop song. I love the energy, and Chi Yeol shows his versatility by tackling something very different from his usual ballads.

프로포즈
Changing courses once again, 프로포즈 is an upbeat, jazz-influenced track. It has a bit of an old-fashioned sound, especially with the brass shots and jazzy piano licks, but somehow it works. Honestly, I think his voice could make anything work. A confident, bold vocal performance.

오래오래
Back to ballads, 오래오래 is a hopeful pop ballad. The accompaniment is well-rounded, I especially like the piano.

아버지
A mid-tempo track with some nice harmonies, to be honest it's not much composition-wise but I love his voice here, it's not quite as husky as in some of his other songs and seems to lighten up a bit.

Recent Releases

울고 싶단 말야 - Brave Brothers, Jay Park
Korean | Pop/R&B
I'm not an avid fan of either Brave Brothers (I find the songs they produce sound boringly similar) or Jay Park. This song was really what I expected it to be: a decent, although somewhat repetitive, R&B-influenced track. I'm not a big fan of the auto-tune on Jay's voice as it makes it seem like it was added because he can't sing rather than for effect, although I find Jay to be a decent singer. However, the hook is quite catchy (as expected) and the rapping has a nice depth to it with the occasional echoed phrase, and the looped Big Bang-esque piano melody in the background softens up the sound of the loaded R&B-style percussion. It's not perfect, but it's worth a listen.

웃음만.. - zia
Korean | Pop/Ballad
Although I'd heard a couple of zia's songs, I can't say any of them caught my attention. That is, until her EP Difference came out. All the songs were quite solid, but 웃음만.. stands out in particular. It's a driven ballad with a lot of power and richness, and a stunning vocal performance from zia. The intro is rich with strings which remain a theme, dropping away to let piano chords take over the softer verses building up to the chorus.

한별 (Implode) (ft. JW of Nell) - BoA
Korean | Ballad
I've never been a fan of BoA and none of the songs on her latest album, Hurricane Venus, have stood out to me as of yet except for this understated ballad. Something about the light acoustic guitar in the intro and the soft delicacy of her voice caught my attention. I love the way the piano and minimal percussion drops in, unexpectedly but as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It takes its fair time to develop, only building about halfway through - which is where you hear Nell's JW come in, and where the song really picks up a taste of Nell's music. I love Nell, so hearing such an instantly recognizable touch of them in a BoA song was definitely a pleasant surprise. Something about this song is just so intimate and heartfelt, it can't really be explained in words.

잊어버려 바보야 (Feat. Sad) - Snofeel
Korean | Ballad
This duet is an R&B-flavoured pop track. I don't really know anything about either of these singers but I think Snofeel is the male rapper and Sad the female singer. Sad's airy voice is refreshing, it reminds me a bit of SunnyHill's female vocalists. Snofeel's rapping isn't anything outstanding, and the piano-based accompaniment is pretty but nothing special. Luckily, Sad gets her share of sung verses which are really the highlights of the song.

서핑 웨이브 (Surfing Wave) - House Rulez
Instrumental | Electronica/House/Acid Jazz
I'm really starting to love this group. Surfing Wave is a vibrant, summery track with a youthful energy. I love the richness and depth that the jazz elements add, I think it's mostly saxophone. The bright synths and occasional backing-vocal phrases and shouts add additional layers of detail. A breath of fresh air.

..하다가 - Hwanhee
Korean | Pop
I love Fly to the Sky, and while I prefer their songs as a duo to solo material, Hwanhee's deep, husky voice is always a treat. However, his signature voice seems to be toned down a bit in this song - while it's still rich and powerful, it's a lot lighter than in most of his previous solo songs. The synths and busy R&B-style percussion aren't exactly signature Hwanhee, but it works. It sounds a lot more mainstream pop than I'd have expected, but Hwanhee's seasoned voice elevates the song beyond what your typical boyband could deliver.

Labels: BoA, Brave Brothers, Chi Yeol, House Rulez, Hwanhee, Jay Park, Snofeel, zia

I wanted to get a rotation up before I left, so I can go straight to the 50th rotation when I get back. This rotation is themed around electro-pop and synths. It's named after Owl City's song of the same name, featured below, because it seemed like a perfect fit for the dreamy, sweet quality that a lot of electro-pop has, although not all the songs here fit that description.

Nothing Better - The Postal Service
English | Electro-pop
A side project of Death Cab For Cutie singer Ben Gibbard's, Nothing Better is charming and light. The synths remind me a bit of Owl City, although the vocals aren't quite as distinctive - not that they don't have their own charm. The play between the female and male vocalists is touching, and lyrically, it's also quite strong.

Vanilla Twilight - Owl City
English | Electro-pop
I'm not a huge Owl City fan - their songs tend to blend together to me - but I do like a couple of their songs: The Saltwater Room, and Vanilla Twilight in particular. It's melodic and absolutely endearing. The lyrics are a bit sappy but sweet nonetheless. It's a cute song about missing someone, and the adept blend of synths mixed with brief touches of guitar and piano is lovely.

Cuddle Fuddle - Passion Pit
English | Electronic
This song takes a while to establish itself, but I love the unique edge to the vocals starting at around 1:10 as well as the vibrant synths added at that point. It's not a favourite of mine, but it has a delicate edge to it that I like.

Hey You - Pony Pony Run Run
English | Electronic/Power-pop
This song is so addictive. I can't get enough of it. The bassline and beat are awesome, and there's something about its laid-back guitar riffs and addictive hook that is so appealing. I love the bridge as well, where everything slows down a little and the synth backdrop becomes a little more dreamy. Definitely one of the highlights of this rotation.

Beat In Love - Clazziquai Project
English | Electronica
Although Clazziquai is a Korean group, the lyrics of this song are in English. It's charming, upbeat, and their English sounds great. I especially love Alex's verses, there's something about the warmth of his voice paired with the synths that is just perfect.

S.P.X - Humming Urban Stereo
Korean | Electronica
The more mature atmosphere of this song separates it from some of the others in this rotation. I always found this song to be one that required a certain mood, or else it comes across as a bit repetitive and directionless. It might not be the most accessible track, but come on, it's Humming Urban Stereo.

Pool Party (feat. 사파이어 & 윤지아) - House Rulez
Korean | Electronica
I don't really like the chipmunk-y intro of this song, but all is forgiven when the splashes of brass enter. Like the title suggests, it's a great summer track with a lot of energy.

47 - Casker
Korean | Electronic
I love this duo, and songs like 47 are why. From the rich, lush intro of synths, I was captured. They definitely set a more serious tone than what you've heard in the songs above, but it's a welcome change of pace. The slight dissonance in the rising line of synths only adds to the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of this song. YoongJin's smooth, elegant vocals are far different from what you'd expect in an electronica song, but it fits the song perfectly. Highly recommended.

Twist In My Love - Instant Romantic Floor
Korean | Electro-pop
It's hard to classify Instant Romantic Floor - their music has touches of electronica, pop, house, and bossa nova. Twist In My Love has a couple surprises in store, particularly the very light use of synths and the more prominent use of strings - though not in a ballad-type setting, but rather something sweet and airy, words that could be used to describe the song as a whole.

Snowdrop - Fanny Fink
Korean | Soft Rock
This Pastel Music group is a real gem. A soft, feathery song with surprising depth. I love the rich percussion and the barely-there vocals. Okay, on second listen I don't think there's actually any synths in this song except for a few deft ones blended in with the piano.

Giant - Yozoh
Korean | Electro-pop
Although Yozoh plays with a lot of genres, mostly acoustic, Giant is a foray into electro-pop. Her feathery, light voice is a good match. A soothing, atmospheric track with an understated beauty.

I was Wrong - capsule
English | Electronica
How could we have an electronica rotation of any sort without Japanese electronica duo capsule? The percussive intro of this song is fantastic, paired with a few lush, full-bodied piano chords. The vocals are achingly clear - and the English flawless. There's even touches of strings. It's sophisticated and textured. I love it.

Preservative Woman - Aural Vampire
Japanese | Electronica/Industrial Rock
An upbeat, light-hearted track with synthesized vocals that surprisingly, I like. Unfortunately, the rest of the song isn't that appealing to me although it's worth a listen.

QUESTIONS - MEG
English | Electro-pop
I've never been a big fan of Japanese singer MEG and never really understood her popularity, but her journey mini-album did have a few gems, one of which is QUESTIONS. It's polished and charismatic. The light, simple vocal execution really works with the catchy beat and bass. On a side note, there's an awful lot of Korean/Japanese artists with all-English lyrics in this rotation.

Kids - MGMT
English | Electronic
The line of synths in this song is just so instantly recognizable. It puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it. Addictive and surprisingly delicate, I really like the slightly echoed, distant feel of the vocals contrasted with the clarity of the synths and beat.

Daylight - Matt & Kim
English | Electronica, Power-pop
A cute track from Brooklyn-based duo Matt & Kim. It's bubbly and multi-layered, although the vocals are a bit of an acquired taste.

Labels: Aural Vampire, capsule, Clazziquai, Fanny Fink, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Instant Romantic Floor, Matt + Kim, MEG, MGMT, Owl City, Passion Pit, Pony Pony Run Run, The Postal Service, Yozoh

Rotation 15 is jazz & electronica themed & features 17 songs. Sorry, no cover images this time ... I couldn't find the majority of them anyways. By the way, the number of comments is starting to go down again. Please remember to comment or updates will decrease. I'm tired of spending time uploading for people who can't take the time to comment. Again, thanks to those who have commented.

PART ONE * ELECTRONICA
Tenjou wo Kakeru Mono Tachi
Love Planet Five
Japanese
Great song, though a bit long at six and a half minutes. The mixing is extremely well done, especially in the first minute. Catchy beats & synths. Recommended.


희망이라는 이름의 별
House Rulez & Rabbit Punch
Korean
Opens up with some bright piano chords that lend a nice dimension throughout the whole song. I thought it was pretty good.


스웨터 (Sweet)
Humming Urban Stereo ft. Taru
Korean
Humming Urban Stereo is great. Sweet offers an uplifting if slightly repetitive bass beat and fast-paced melodies.


Love Me
capsule
Japanese
Typical capsule. For the most part without vocals, only a few spoken verses. Not one of my favourites, it's pretty repetitive.


Twenties=Love
Hourmelts
Korean
Starts out with a wonderful piano introduction that blends perfectly with the bass line. Features impressive changes in tempo and very smooth transitions, as well as interesting if somewhat strange vocal work.


Bittersweet Heart
Apls
Korean
Although it opens up with a rap verse, don't be fooled. It gradually leads into an upbeat, bright song that offers a sweet contrast between female and male vocalists as well as the occasional rap verse. While Apls is a dance/electronica group, this song isn't too overfilled with synths.


PART 2 * JAZZ

stem
Shiina Ringo
Japanese
Very theatrical, with a bit of a waltz feel to it. Fairly slow tempo. Vocals get a bit annoying, though.


STORM
SOIL&"PIMP" SESSIONS
Japanese
Upbeat jazz at its best. One of my favourite jazz groups, this band can definitely compete with its American counterparts. Energetic trumpet solos and a beautiful rhythm section defined by smashing cymbals, fast-paced blues-scale bass lines, and a prominent piano accompaniment. Might be a bit too busy for some people, but I liked it.


Mocha
Casker
Korean
From the Coffee Prince soundtrack, a low-key bossa nova track on the laid-back end of jazz.


Ticket to London
Loptomist
Korean
Okay so this song's actually by a hip-hop artist, but it's a very nice instrumental mix that mixes heavy beats with fleeting melodies. I would say it's jazz-influenced, so I chose to include it in this rotation.


Kiss
Elevenses
Korean
Laid-back jazz with soothing female vocals and a nice guitar solo about halfway through.


맑은 날 버스를 타고
Elevenses
Korean
Another Elevenses song, again on the laid-back side though slightly more upbeat than Kiss.


因為你愛我 (Because You Love Me)
Joanna Wang
Mandarin
I uploaded the English disc of Joanna Wang's album, this is one of the Mandarin songs. When I went to Taiwan this song & the Chinese version of Lost in Paradise were playing everywhere. It's one of her slower songs. While it doesn't really seem like a typical jazz track, the chorus shows jazz influences and she is a jazz vocalist, although this particular song is more of a ballad. There's also a nice trumpet solo and a trumpet accompaniment is prominent through the rest of the song after it.


PART 3 * MY PICKS

Box in the ship [preview]
Tohoshinki
Japanese
Pop
Upbeat and with a tropical feel, a 2:30 low-quality preview of the b-side to "Why Have I Fallen In Love With You".


Loveholic
Loveholic
Korean
Soft Rock
Not their best, but it's worth a listen.


Paradise
The Melody
Korean
Soft Rock
Very mellow & relaxing.


Explore "M"
Lee Min Woo
Korean
Hip-Pop
I love the beats in this song. Typical of Min Woo's solo work which leans more towards hip-hop without really being too heavy.

Labels: Apls, capsule, Casker, Elevenses, Hourmelts, House Rulez, Humming Urban Stereo, Joanna Wang, Lee Min Woo, Loptomist, Love Planet Five, Loveholic, Rabbit Punch, Shiina Ringo, SOIL+"PIMP" SESSIONS, Tohoshinki

Welcome to Fashion Scans, an mp3 rotation that features Korean, Japanese, and Chinese music as well as the occasional English song. Fashion Scans was created in October 2007 and is run by Haruhi with contributions from Carmi.

Please send all affiliate requests to Haruhi. Carmi is currently open to requests.

Files are for sampling purposes only, I am not responsible if you keep them for longer than the 24-48 hours permitted. Please support the artists by purchasing their CDs.

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