December 14, 2004

News | Flying Daggers Soundtrack Released | Japan

Angel Romero's World Music Central brings word that the American soundtrack recording for Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers (buy it) is in stores. The composer is Shigeru Umebayashi:

Once the leader of Japan's legendary new-wave rock band EX, composer Shigeru Umebayashi began scoring films in 1985 when the band broke up. He has more than 40 Japanese and Chinese films to his credit and is perhaps best known in the West for his score for director Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love (2001). Umebayashi is also scoring Wong Kar-Wai's long-awaited 2046, scheduled for release this year.

December 08, 2004

News | Ten Thousand Taiwanese to Toot Flutes Together |

As your source for hard-hitting Asian music news, we bring you word of an attempt in Kaohsiung, Taiwan to make music history. According to a government source, the fathers of said southern city "[plan] on holding an activity on December 18 in which over 10,000 people will simultaneously play ceramic flutes." In an attempt at a new Guinness World record, the myriad musicians will play a specially designed flute:

The flute is in the shape of the island of Taiwan and there is a place that protrudes from the flute that is equivalent to the location of Kaohsiung in Taiwan. This carries the significance that Kaohsiung is sounding out to the world. It is seen as a great marketing tool for the city and many are promoting the flute.

We will, of course, keep you up to date on the latest developments.

December 05, 2004

Orchid Ensemble | Road to Kashgar |Za Discs | China

Buy It
Another solid Chinese music release from Canada sparks contemplation of the American "melting pot" vs. the Canadian "mosaic."