Blog for cellist Isaac Takeuchi

Chelsea Wolfe Tour part 1. Tuesday March 15th

2011-03-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

"El Capitan" is quite cozy.
Aw snap DVD PLayer? We couldn't figure out how to get the sound working oh well maybe next tour.

We are 12 hours into the trip I woke up from a really great dream were I was on tour. In the dream I wasn't going to Texas but Oregon. I had decided that I wanted to move to Portland. I had been taking pictures of all these very beautiful natural scenes. Surreally beautiful, the stuff you only see in dreams. In the dream Ben had used my camera and his pictures came out much better than mine. I was disappointed that my pictures hadn't come out as clear or vivid. It was still a great dream the landscape felt wonderful. I realized I have the best dreams on tour. This is a clear indication to me that my natural trajectory is on the road playing music. I don't think I can be as happy accepting any less. When I awoke we were in New Mexico and I got up to get this very pad that I am writing on. New Mexico is a little weird already. Everyone seems like they are about to embark on some great camping trip. Whatever city we are in is very scarcely populated. Desert as far as the eye can see. Everywhere smells like cow. It shows just how dependent we are on these peaceful creatures.

The desert is all there is.

When we first got to Austin it was a fucking mad house. People everywhere, everywhere, everywhere. People on weird pedal cart things and horse drawn carriages. We found some paid parking then joined the throngs of people. Nearly every single building was either a bar/club or restaurant. I don't know how this city makes it by when it is not SXSW. There is so much competition for your drinking dollar. Ridiculous, it doesn't even make sense. We tried to catch some free shows but the lines were very long. We got pizza that was literally the worst pizza I've had in my life. Rappollo's. That's the name. Don't forget it. Those people have no business making pizza. What a sham. Cold, soggy pizza with half a pizza full of cheese. Not even the wheat crust could save this overpriced ($5) shitty pizza. I can't even call it pizza. An awful sub-genre of pizza called shitza. Did I complain about that enough?

In Austin there are two venues with hilariously undisguised corporate names CNN Grill and Pepsi Max Lounge. Unsurprisingly, Pepsi had young kids outside practically begging people to go into the very tacky looking venue for free beer! I found that quite amusing.

Changing Focus

2011-03-27T00:21:00.000-07:00

I am gonna use this blog as a journal now. The whole music journalism thing is cool but I wanna do this now. So there.

VI. Song of the Week. "Our Mother (She Remembers)" by Snowman

2009-10-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

Ok its been awhile! But whatevs, I am a relaxed dude updating in a relaxed way. This next band is gonna make the wait weeeell worth it. Snowman is from the U.K. and they have a sound that is dark, bombastic and apocalyptic. Their album "The Horse, the Rat and the Swan" is full of jems that will pull you into their harsh, cavernous world. "Our Mother(She Remembers)" is an exemplary song that starts with a simple marching snare pattern that explodes with tourette's sounding vocals and a guitar of death. It quickly becomes clear that Snowman are uninterested in putting forth an easy to digest sound. Snowman manage to sound violent and ambient all within the same song.

Here is what one of the members had to say about the song. "The song is about the sweet nature of revenge. In this case Mother natures vengeance on the human race, for the damage we have done to her. In a nutshell."

"This song was a bit of a turning point for us. We needed to start writing in a different and more restrained way. This song was the first in a series of songs that we began to achieve this. Instead of piling ideas on top of one another...we decided to deconstruct the song. We dissected the beat into three simple snare hits...leaving the listener to fill in the rest of the rhythm with their imagination...or allowing the other instruments to dictate the rhythm more. I recorded the whole vocal take in one go."

Snowman - "Our Mother She Remembers"

V. Song of the Week. "Omar K" by Rainbow Arabia

2009-07-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

The internet has enabled audiophiles and musicians to mine the past and draw influences from music that would have been lost. This has led many artists over the last decade to draw from past movements in music and make new innovative sounds that are indebted to these relics and gems, sounds that would have never been discovered without the concept of inter-connectivity. As these sounds move from vanguard to fundamental, bands are seeking new sounds from distant places for inspiration and muse.

This leads us to our next song of the week, "Omar K" by Rainbow Arabia. Like contemporaries Gang Gang Dance, Rainbow Arabia draws heavily from middle-eastern and world music to shape their sound. Armed with synthesizers, drum machines and guitar they are able to make a convincing blend of post-punk, electro and middle-eastern sonics. "Omar K" is a hypnotic, catchy and danceable track that works just as well played in the desert on mushrooms as it does drunk at your favorite club. It is sinister yet fun, touching on the same buttons as Joy Division and Siouxie. Tiffany Preston of RA sassily recalls M. Arulpragasam, but is much more textural and psychedelic.

I exchanged a few words with Danny Preston, one half of Rainbow Arabia (they are married!), and he had a few words to say about the song. "It is more of a visual picture with words and music, rather than a story or meaning. 'Omar K' really stuck out as our unique sound. It spawned a slew of creative write-ups and descriptions on blogs across the internet. Especially, when we released the video for it. It didn't help people define the music after the video came out. It just confused them even more. There was a show in Romania where a couple people were mimicking Tiffany's moves from the video while playing 'Omar k' live. It was pretty awesome."

Download the song now! Rainbow Arabia - Omar K.mp3

Here is the video for "Omar K":

Rainbow Arabia's Myspace

Lyrics for "Omar K". You probably wouldn't have figured them out on your own!:

Running away in the black, black sun
Running away just to make it fun.

Taking your time will you ever see
Taking your time will it ever be

Dance dance dance in the blue moonlight
Red shiny shoes in the black cold night

Haunted spirits in the golden sea
Haunted spirits well they haunted me.

IV. Song of the Week. "Hard to Break" by TPF!

2009-07-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

TPF! (The Press Fire) are starting to make waves in Los Angeles with their sassy and gritty punk rock. They have a sound not unlike vintage Numbers (SF), but with a less cerebral and more fun attitude. This song of the week is TPF!'s song "Hard to Break". It is an insanely catchy shot of sass, shake and raw energy. The interplay between the guitar and synth are well worked out yet the fuzzy-over driven bass and fat bass drum keep the tune street level. The vocals are the key that put the track over the top though. When singer Merisa squeals "Bad habits are hard to break ya know!" it is seriously one of the cutest vocal moments I have heard in awhile.

I had a chance to share a word with Merisa about the song which she says has to do with a boyfriend she had who wasn't treating her right. "The song is about someone I was dating that treated me poorly, but on the other hand wouldn't let me go and I couldn't understand why...the song is about my frustration with someone I knew cared about me but wouldn't or couldn't let himself fall in love. He was 'hard to break' like a taming a wild horse or something. Haha"

They almost didn't record the song (how many great songs have we lost this way?) but fortunately for your Ipod and my blog, they did. Here is the lyrics because I really want you, bloodorlipstick.blogspot.com viewer, to sing along to it. Its a good song for that kind of thing.

I know you Mr Big Ego, I know you Mister Put on a Show.
Build yourself up, time to let it all go.
When are you going to treat me right?
When are you going to give up this fight?
When are you gonna learn wrong and right?
Bad habits are hard to break you know
When are you going to treat me right?
When are you going to give up this fight?
When are you going to see the light?
Bad habits are hard to break you know

DOWNLOAD HERE!!!

TPF!'s Myspace

P.S. This is not the version they have on their E.P.

Cardio Collaboration w/ Michael Nhat. 2 Songs.

2009-06-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

We have just done a quite prolific collaboration with quite prolific artist, Michael Nhat. For one day we banged out 2 songs. The first song "Ponds and Lakes", features a sample by local folk violist Anni Rossi. "Ponds and Lakes", features Nhat's patented delivery and in your face lyrics w/ Isaac Takeuchi of Cardio Pulmonary handling the chorus.

The second song called "Blood or Lipstick?" (the blogs namesake!) was taken from a beat done by Isaac. The name comes from an old band that Isaac used to have. Michael Nhat liked the name so much he asked Isaac to name the blog that (he obliged of course). As he was writing the lyrics for the song he threw in the line, "Blood or lipstick should of stayed distant" on the chorus and it became the name of the song.

We are all very proud of these songs and hope you enjoy them.

Cardio Pulmonary and Michael Nhat - Ponds and Lakes.Mp3
Cardio Pulmonary and Michael Nhat - Blood or Lipstick?.Mp3

III. May 10th Song of the Week ."Here's a Mop to Clean the Floor" by: Michael Nhat

2009-05-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, then you may have gone out with a girl (or guy) or two that just isn't on the same level with you. While this is frustrating, it is even more so when that person just doesn't want to try to learn about new things (music, movies, cultures etc) and basks in their ignorance. Apparently, Michael Nhat felt the same way and had the eloquence and artistry to put it all into a catch tune called, "Here's a Mop to Clean the Floor". Nhat has been making weird, cute, nerdy and dance-y beats for a few years now and this stands to be one of the cutest and catchiest.

The intro sounds like it could be the music to an animation on Sesame Street except someone from Funkadelic took over on the bass synth. Then Michael starts laying out the hard truths about a girl who would, "rather be around people who only understand brand names and labels the price tag material and what they're feeding you". Unlike alot of hip-hop this doesn't come off preachy due to the light-hearted, unusual beat and his unmistakable delivery.

Here is a short interview I conducted with Michael about the song:

Cardio: How long ago did you write "Here's a Mop"?

Michael Nhat: October 2007 while living in Pasadena, Ca at my friend Foci's (Ground Common) in his garage and getting accussed of stealing from my job at Pennylane Records (which i'd like to add no i wasn't stealing).

C: How were you feeling when you wrote it? What is the context?

Nhat: "It's about dating a girl who doesn't get 'it'. I was feeling really prolific. I was writing a lot like 6 songs a day that month and I was talking to this girl who didn't understand my perception of life, music, people, manners, fashion, blah. When I wrote it I was hoping her and hopefully any girl like that would hear it and realize it was aimed at them, and that maybe they'd have a sudden realization and maybe change? If not it still made a good diss song."

"Imagining myself around friends and like minded geniuses and feeling embarrassed the girl I'm with wants to leave and starts acting a fool and starts judging people and talking shit and making fun of people. Exposing her transparent stupidity in front of everyone. Real classy chick who thinks Eminem is the first white rapper and made fun of punks in skinny jeans in 2003 but 6 years later she's wearing them."

So download this jam that will take any party to that all elusive next level. IT is fucking tiiiite.

Download here ---> Michael Nhat - Here's a Mop to Clean the Floor.mp3

Michael Nhat's Myspace

II. April 26th Song of the Week ."Burgers" by: Excepter

2009-04-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

Bonus Pic!

This is the second "Song of the Week" for the Cardio Pulmonary blog. It is a song called "Burgers" by New York's Excepter. Excepter, who have their 6th L.P., DEBT DEPT, out on Animal Collective's Paw Tracks, have created a sarcastic and unusual song that evokes cult fave the Residents with a more modern sonic palette. "Burgers", like some of the Residents best tracks, has eerie synths and amusing lyrics, "Now I want you to F.I.L.P, flip". "Burgers" pulls you into its hypnotic Motown-ish groove with layers of pitch-shifted and distorted voices. This song NEEDS to be played on your next psychedelic trip. Its a surreal ride that takes a sarcastic look at fast-food culture. But that is just one layer...

When asked about the song Excepter member John Fell Ryan had this to say, "At the time we were really at the bottom of the barrel of the music scene, playing weeknight late shows with little control over our sound and basically getting the short end of the money stick. So the song was born out of those kind of frustrations, sort of a rallying cry from me to the band to get it together and do something to move the people, to flip the 'burgers' (as in Williamsburgers) and turn the (patty/party/body) over. Of course, over time, the song took on additional meanings, political, poetic, etc."

Make sure you download this amazing track right here:

Excepter - Burgers (09 Medium Rare Edit).mp3

P.S. Check out the video for "Burgers" below! According to the band, the burgers were indeed yummy.

Excepter Myspace

New Cardio song featuring Erik Recendez

2009-04-24T03:06:00.000-07:00

Erik Recendez

We just did a song with visual artist Erik Recendez. Erik is also a very talented vocalist and he lent his sugary pipes as well as his lyrical finesse. Isaac also added a few layers of cello. Erik was really great to work with and we definitely hope to be working with him again in the near future. The aforementioned song is entitled "Epicurean". Get it here:

Cardio Pulmonary feat. Erik Recendez - "Epicurean".mp3

Erik's Myspace

I. April 19th Song of the Week ."Mega Anthem" by: Mega Wand

2009-04-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

1 more pic. bonus point!

I can think of no better song to start off this series than Mega Wand's "M.E.G.A Anthem". This song is huge. Sonically it is enormous with crushing synths, driving percussion and piercing female screams of joy "I feel SOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD!!!". Mega Wand, a female electronic dance duo out of Los Angeles, have created a dance song that pounds like Sabbath and Nirvana. Mega Wand eschew groove for power, coolness for unrestrained bliss. The "M.E.G.A Anthem" creates the kind of joy that smashes the windows and lights everything on fire.

I had the chance to ask these young ladies what they were thinking when creating this anarchy, "We are ALL about having fun. Whenever we play this LIVE we go so crazy. the craziness is all about fun though- we're smiling under our headbanging/destructo antics. Seriously!". "When we threw down the vocals on this track, at the very end of the song, we both had to sound and dance like we were being electrocuted by aliens while we were on laughing gas. That's the only way to get that crazy cool sound at the end".

The purity and joy is evident in their attitude as well as their sound. As they say in the last line "That was a goooood time"!

Mega Wand's Myspace Page!

p.s. If you wanna feel "FUN/hard/cool/pizza/funny/headbanging/crazy/coke zero/magenta/kewl/mammal/". You need to download and listen to "M.E.G.A Anthem" on 10.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!!!:
Mega Wand,"M.E.G.A. Anthem" mp3
- Isaac