Intelligent, Fun, and Quirky

[Intro]

I love music, especially ELECTRONIC music. I have been down with these unique sounds for over six years (since I was a teenager). One really has to have an open mind to really and truly enjoy this kind of music and when I say 'enjoy' I mean truly feel it, understand it, move with it. This is how I enjoy all of my music. I don't know how to feel it any other way. Like I said: I love music and I love electronic.

(I will be going buck wild making reviews in the Electronic Music Dept. on this website! *laughs*)

[My understanding of Towa Tei]

Towa Tei is a musical genius with a sense of humor. =)
I even did an oral report on my favorite Japanese House Djs
and Producers for my Japanese class. Towa Tei was among my
featured artists. From what I was able to learn about him
while doing research for my report, Towa Tei is not someone
who is trying to be cool or go out of his way to be
different. Rather, he is simply trying to test the limits of his own creativity.

Hence, I view his music as a personal look into what Towa Tei is truly capable of as an artist.

I am also learning Japanese (currently in the advanced
stages), so I bought this cd because Towa Tei is a Japanese
artist and a few of his tracks contain Japanese lyrics.
(it helps me learn japanese in a fun way!)

I've seen a few reviews on Towa Tei's work on this site that have given his music mediocre reviews.. I think this is partly due to the fact that he is not quite understood as an artist. If you strive to get to KNOW the artist in terms of where his creativity lies/how his brain works in the process of creating this aural art, you will find that listening to that artist's music becomes much more enjoyable for a number of reasons. =)

[Towa Tei - Last Century Modern] - track by track analysis (Don't worry I won't give too much away)

[1] - Last Century Modern:

This is a pleasant track with very nice female vocals..
takes me to France with its 'Amelie'-like melody.
Great choice on Towa Tei's part for an intro. track.

[2] - A Ring:

Intelligent track in that there is a story unfolding..
you hear chops of conversation, but the words are not
words, but simply ..sounds. It's a very chill track. One of my favorites. You will also find French, female vocals in this track. (a nice follow-up to the intro track).

[3] - Angel:

Something a little bit more on the funky side. The beat
is alot like.. break beats (if you are familiar with that genre of music) or trip hop. It also has a jazzy feel to it (thanks to the scat vocals). You'll also find some drum and bass flavor too. There's something for everyone in this track all mixed up and scattered. Hence, it's a rawkin track.

[4] - Butterfly

More drum and bass flavor hitting you early in this track, but it quickly turns into a light, airy mix of sounds that's truly unique, for lack of a better word. The sounds take you places. You can't be stationary listening to this track..when it changes course, so will you.

[5] - CHATR

Again this track starts out with a consistent sound, but then starts to take you places you've never been before.
You will also hear some snippets of Japanese vocals.
Given the nature of the track, I view it as a sort of
aural intermission. Just listen and enjoy.

[6] - Stretch Building Bamboo

Ok. The sounds in this track are VERY abstract and my not appeal to everyone. It's similar to something you might hear from Schneider TM. In this track it's a combination of everyday sounds that form a different kind of 'music'.

[7] - Congratulations!

This is just a fun little track. DJs might like this song alot because of the main phrase in the song.. ;) Listen and see. Hehehe. In addition, it has a very funky flavor.

[8] - Funkin' For Jamaica

Funky 90's hip hop mixed with Jamaican beats = a really fun track!

[9] - Let Me Know

It's a really soothing track. The REMIX of the track at the end of the CD is EVEN better. Very nice Japanese, female vocals.. R&B flavor in this particular track.

[10] - LCM

Interlude. Nice and soft. You might recognize this one. =)

[11] - Butterfly (Cornelius Remix)

Remix of Track 2. Light and airy sounds, soft vocals.
Very nice track.

[12] - Let Me Know (Mighty Bop Remix)

I was doing a random search for music one day and I came across this track, listened to it, and loved it.
It was after hearing this single track that I decided I would start listening to Towa Tei's music. This track started it all for me and it was the reason why I own many of his CDs including this one.

This is a GREAT remix of Track 9 and a wonderful way to end the CD. It takes the original track and gives it a whole new flavor. (That's what a GOOD remix SHOULD do.) ;)

Check out this CD if you can. It's a real treat!