From Up On Poppy Hill

Today I talk about a dvd that was issued on September 23rd in the UK.

Called From Up On Poppy Hill, this anime stage play by Hayao Miyazaki and lovingly directed by his son, Goro, is a coming of age romance set in Yokohama, Japan in 1963, just 18 years after the end of World War Two and the establishment of modern day Japan.

Set in the ramshackle club house of their high school , it charts the romance of Umi and Shun as they join forces to save it from demolition for a new sports facility for the (then) upcoming 1964 Tokyo Olympics. 

The musical score is jazz based and features Sukiyaki the World conquering  1963 Japanese song that had a cover version by Kenny Ball's trad jazz  band in the UK.

The animation as is usually the case from this studio, Studio Ghilbi, is unapologetically old school cell drawn and all the better for it allowing you to concentrate on the story.
Strongly recommended. 

Gorillaz and David Sylvian

Well I haven't god forbid gone all monkey on you but I bought this new album last week after hearing samples on Amazon.In shocking move I even got it as an 'album download' unheard of for me for anything new just because it was more convenient for me to listen to on the PC or via my MiniDisc unit on the commute. 

Let me say if you like Eclectic and don't have a big issue with rap as style of delivery you'll love this as it seamlessly meanders through classical, soul to rock.It is well recorded with -gasp - real dynamics for once that will be appreciated by those who are waiting for the vinyl edition to come out.

I blame Pug for getting me into it! xD!!While I was at it and as 7Digital had it on special offer for £4.49 I downloaded this the 2005 release that features Feel Good Inc.

As well I picked up this, the first Gorillaz album that started it all with the smash hit Clint Eastwood on it.

I was very lucky to get this double retrospective of David Sylvian (the former Japan vocalist) as an inexpensive download from 7Digital.
John, Roy and Ali (Alison) at high school got me into Japan and David's career is one I've followed ever since.
Released originally on double CD/MD and tape in 2000, it gathers up all his solo work including collaborations such as those as with Robert Fripp and adds three reworked tracks from Japan including Ghosts. Recommended to anyone liking thoughtful eclectic music.