Blog - Weekly revue: 2013 week #42 (October 12 to 18)

Weekly revue: 2013 week #42 (October 12 to 18)

Food: - Paris s'éveille, Jiyūgaoka
- Train-themed curry restaurant Niagara, Yūtenji. This unique restaurant is full of train memorabilia which the "stationmaster" has been collecting for some 50 years. An electric train delivers curry plates to the tables. All passengers are given an original ticket.
- Tandoori rabbit at Tapir, Ōkubo

Music event: On Saturday October 12, I went to YMCK's "Family Days" release party at Daikanyama Loop! This year YMCK celebrate their 10th anniversary! This made me remember that I've been a huge fan since their quite early days, I first saw them live in 2004 and was blown away by their performance. Still today their shows always touch me and make me very happy.

This was their first ever "one-man" show and it was sold out. They played all songs from their new album, and so many of their older best tracks including ones from first album "Family Music" (2004) that I hadn't heard live in so long, such as "John Coltrane ..." and "Tetrominon". I was also very happy to hear one of my favorites, "Rain", which they movingly chained into "Raindrops falling on my head"..! The show also featured twin rappers P.O.P ORCHeSTRA who appear on one song of "Family Days". The show ended with "Magical 8bit Tour" (another great early track) and YMCK's theme, "Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and Black".

Exhibition: Went to Jiyūgaoka for a solo exhibition by graffiti artist ROUSOKU (aka Z¥S). The ROUSOKU moniker is used for calligraphy-style candle-shaped designs which are placed on various materials and situations. There was a workshop where you could use 5 original stamps to decorate a tote bag, which I did.

New music: I took advantage of my Canadian iTunes account to get the new CAPSULE album a week earlier than the Japanese release (it's available early worldwide, though Japan will get a bonus track). The concept was already intriguing enough, with the "CAPS LOCK" title and computer keyboard-inspired tracklist, and also the logo that went all CAPS. But the album itself is also a huge step in a very different direction. Less techno, more experimental, less vocals too. Opinions will vary, but to me this sounds very refreshing and I'm enjoying it!

Music release news: Vanilla Beans, Luvraw & Costa De Palma