CD Review: Disco Undead

Various – Disco Undead

Label: Device – IRQ08CD

Format: CD, Compilation

Country: UK

Released: 2004

Genre: Electronic

Style: Electro

Picked this little gem up on the now defunct moviegrooves, I bought it based on the cover art alone. What we have here is an awesome compilation of covers of zombie movie and John Carpenter Scores done up electropop style. Forget the fact that you haven’t heard of these bands and Dj’s before, they are all really good.

When each track played I had the warm feel of familiarity but then was quickly turned on head as the tracks were all given the electro treatment.

Although released in 2004, it’s not that hard to find a copy on ebay. I wouldn’t pay more than $25 but they occasionally pop up for more.

Check it out, recommended.

Track list:
Orgue Electronique - Le notti del terrore (04:59)
Gique - Fulci's rotting children (06:03)
It & My Computer - Le droit de tuer (04:38)
Bangkok Impact - The pianist and the reporter (06:49)
Solenoid - Suspiriorum (04:07)
Tobe Hooker - Haddonfield fear factory (04:16)
Legowelt - Season of samhain (04:05)
Johhny Cortex - 7 gates (Disco in room 36) (06:02)
Negative - Cannibal sluts (05:00)
Fictional Character - From another world (06:23)
Le Syndicat Electronique - The anderson alamo (05:12)
Porn Darsteller - Holocaust (08:52)

Post to Come: Bedford Vans, Classic JDM Book Update, and Maggie Cheung!

So a month goes by, and I don't post anything. Then last week happens and I write 7 new post. I'm trying to keep the pace up, so here's a list of what to expect. 

Not a lot is commonly known about Bedford Vans in the US, even among enthusiast.

Will take a close look at these British GM people movers in a detailed Profile. 

My post about Classic JDM Books has had a lot of hits but since posting it I have

found many more resources including the English language "BIBLE"  on the subject.

Look for a picture heavy post coming soon.

So Japanese women get a lot of love on this site, but I don't discrihate I love all

Asian women! To prove just that point, we will have a nice profile and selected

Filmography on Hong Kong beauty Maggie Cheung! 

If you notice I didn't put any dates on when these will go up, I'm going to try in fit them all in this week, but there's my other two blogs I have to  post on as well so just check back and see.

Review: Champ Road

Champ Road is a irregularly published magazine on Bosozoku culture. In Japan the term Bosozoku use to be used exclusively with outlaw Biker Gangs. Years ago a Japanese law was passed forbidding more than two motorcycles riding in any group or formation with in a close proximity. Believe it or not that put in end to Biker Gangs in Japan, they couldn't even ride down the street without being stopped by law enforcement and arrested.

Now the term Bosozoku refers to just about any kind of social misfit inclined to breaking the law. Bikers, Yankee's, and street thugs are all included.

The first half of this magazine is devoted to Bikers, since the restrictive law went into place most Bikers ride tandem with a friend or girl friend riding on the back of the bike. As you might of expected Harley Davidson's aren't high on the list of Japanese bikers.

What are is classic Japanese speed bikes tricked out with crazy fiberglass whale tails and lights. This would all make for funny joke fodder for American Bikers but in Japan if you see one of these bikes headed your way it's best to move on.

The second half of the magazine is devoted to Yankee's. Not westerners as you might think, but a Japanese guy/girl that's a little on the anti-social side. Yankee's identify themselves by not only the way they act but how they dress, and the cars they drive.

Yankee's bring a whole new meaning to custom van's look here to see what I mean. They do similar setups on their cars, take a look at some of the pictures found in this magazine.

Altogether an interesting magazine to flip through, a bit on the pricey side but it's a thick magazine. Get it here.

Dream Machine #001: Daihatsu Hijet

I first became aware of the Daihatsu Hijet Van while watching some forgettable Hong Kong action flick. A group of bank robbers all piled into a black one to not only pull the heist, but to out run the police.

I know now that quite a bit of artistic liberty was taken as to the performance of the van. Although it is quite an under-performer it still has a cult following and is an awesome van to own.

As obvious by the pictures you can see this van is small. It's not a mini van, it's a  micro van. The specs read like that of a high powered golf cart, a 1.0 three cylinder or the upgraded 1.3 four cylinder. It's a mid engine vehicle with the motor sitting under the front drivers seat. With the 1.3 motor the top speed is around 45 miles an hour. It is possible to put on larger tires and reach speeds up to 60 mph, though some question the safety of such an upgrade.

The Hijet ruffly translates to Midget in English, and although the similarly styled JDM Toyota Hiace sounds the same in name, Daihatsu was first to manufacture their van. As stated above the Hijet comes in different flavors, besides the 3 or 4 cylinder option all wheel drive is a choice as well.

Why this vehicle has a cult following has more to do with performance than it being cute. Although it seems criminally under-powered it is a mid engine vehicle with rear wheel drive. Couple with the fact that it weighs so little makes this thing a drift monster. Don't believe me, look it up on youtube and watch the little guys tear up the street (and their tires.)

So, why do I want one? Well I can't say I would drift in it, but when I open a shop it would be cool to have one as a parts runner. Believe it or not the Hijet can handle quite a load, you wont get there fast, but you will get there. Besides that it looks so JDM I would love to drive one around town just for the double takes.

Although you don't see them on the road that often, they do occasionally pop up for sale online. Usually broken in some way. As you might have thought parts are a bitch to find stateside. It helps if you have a direct line to someone in Japan that can ship parts. Something to look out for is that the truck version of this vehicle is also called the Hijet, so when you see one for sale online it might be the truck version.

As an interesting foot note a Hijet was featured on MTV's Pimp My Ride. West Coast Customs did their usual tacky paint job, but the interior was cherry. Watch it here.

For more information on owning or buying a Hijet check out Micro Van Owners Club.

Random Covers: Sexy/Cool Edition

Frankenstein the Sex Offender

 

Call me perverted but I think there's something

inappropriate for kids about this cover

The Phantom has size issues

Sexy couple indeed

More than Brothers?

Something to get excited about

Fetish Vinyl, nuff' said

download HERE

 Cute Asian Edition

Some of the above covers were harvested from LP Cover Lover

Check them out for all sorts of rare LP Covers

Review: This is Skateboard Music

Skateboarding Music, what comes to mind, Punk, Hardcore Metal, Dub and Ska? That my be what ultimately came to be known as "skate music", but there was a time when skateboarding was a popular new fad and the skaters themselves had yet to identify themselves with one type of music.

Just like today when a fad burst on the scene that's as big as skateboarding there are industry people ready to make a buck off of it. As an interesting footnote in the story of modern skateboarding there was a time when skateboarding didn't have a defined sound, and the music industry tried (and failed) to make it's own brand of skateboard music.

Released by the German label Diggler "This is Skateboard Music" collects all the sad failed attempts to cash in on the new craze of skateboarding.

With most the music sounding like bad renditions of Beach Boys songs it was obvious that the record companies thought that surf style music would translate over good to the skateboard scene. Other examples are typical pop tunes of the 70's with skateboarding as a central theme.

This is a really cool collection, and something of an oddity. It would be fun to let a modern day "skate punk" sit down and listen to this all the way through and ask their opinion on the very first examples of skateboarding music.

Order it here, listen here.