Friday, November 20, 2009

Ferry Corsten - Twice In a Blue Moon

Ferry Corsten.. how many of you know that name? dont bother answering, maybe you dont know this man by this name, but as a trance music fans you might know this man in his other aliases, Moon Man, Gouryella, System F etc. Yes, this man is System F, and in the last few weeks I've been listening to his album, Twice In a Blue Moon. here's the cover of the album:



and the track listing:

Ferry Corsten - Twice In a Blue Moon

1."Shelter Me"   5:59
2."Black Velvet (feat. Julia Messenger)"   5:45
3."We Belong (feat. Maria Nayler)"   5:45
4."Gabriella's Sky"   7:10
5."Made Of Love (feat. Betsie Larkin)"   6:41
6."Radio Crash"   6:37
7."Twice In A Blue Moon"   5:52
8."Feel You (feat. Betsie Larkin)"   5:24
9."Life (feat. Ben Cullum)"   6:15
10."Brain Box"   6:05
11."Shanti"   7:09
12."Visions Of Blue"  2:08

My favorites are, Black Velvet and Gabriella's Sky

Black Velvet is a trance vocal track, and the sound is one of the best I've ever heard, it has the element of surprise that will make you crave for more, and as for Gabriella's Sky, it reminds me of Andromeda by DJ Quicksilver, it has a soothing feel of a ambient trance, just love it!

Ferry released Brain Box as his first single, then Radio Crash few weeks before the album itself, after that Made of Love and We Belong were chosen as the following single. I wouldnt give more yadda yadda these singles though.

Overall, the album  gives a strong impression of how trance was supposed to be, a hard hit to the now-more-mellow-trance-tracks, Ferry reminds me how trance is supposed to be.

This one's a gem, listen, and you'll know what I mean.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Kaleidoscope by Tiesto

Today, we'll talk about Tiesto's Kaleidoscope, his newest album.

 

Before its release date, Tiesto unleashed one single, a collaboration with Sneaky Sound System, a song called I Will Be Here. From the sound of the single, it's kinda different from any previous Tiesto's sound, but hey the guy's just out from Black Hole and start his own label when he produced this, so new sounds is tolerable.

Then come October 6th 2009, a date that marked the day when Kaleidoscope is unleashed to this world. Take a listen at the songs, track number 1,2,3 up to the last, just like when i listened to the I Will Be Here song, it was official, Tiesto is experimenting in this album. He took a whole lot different level for this album, way so many "Tiesto featuring ", not that I don't like it, but judging from his previous sounds, you will not found Traffic like sounds, or if you compare this to the Parades of Athletes, this is the very opposite, full of vocals.

Here's the track list

1. Tiesto - Kaleidoscope (Feat. Jonsi) (7:35)
2. Tiesto - Escape Me (Feat. C.C. Sheffield) (4:17)
3. Tiesto - You Are My Diamond (Feat. Kianna) (4:09)
4. Tiesto - I Will Be Here (Feat. Sneaky Sound System) (3:25)
5. Tiesto - I Am Strong (Feat. Priscilla Ahn) (5:37)
6. Tiesto - Here On Earth (Feat. Cary Brothers) (4:55)
7. Tiesto - Always Near (1:33)
8. Tiesto - It's Not The Things You Say (Feat. Kele Okereke) (3:13)
9. Tiesto - Fresh Fruit (5:23)
10. Tiesto - Century (Feat. Calvin Harris) (4:41)
11. Tiesto - Feel It In My Bones (Feat. Tegan & Sara) (4:51)
12. Tiesto - Who Wants To Be Alone (Feat. Nelly Furtado) (4:35)
13. Tiesto - La Ride (4:13)
14. Tiesto - Bend It Like You Don't Care (3:21)
15. Tiesto - Knock You Out (Feat Emily Haines) (5:05)
16. Tiesto - Louder Than Boom (4:09)
17. Tiesto - Surrounded By Light (2:39)

The first track, Kaleidoscope is by far a nice intro for the album, with a calm sound which will take u like a breeze then came the mild storm of trance music, in Escape Me (this is supposed to be the second single from the album) Tiesto goes energetic, reminds me of aikawa nanase's sound in the past, but that's another story, third! You Are My Diamond, this is Pop, yeah, it's a pop music sounds in a trance music album, but the tunes kinda catchy :) four, I Will Be Here, sounded like a progressive trance or pop punk on extacy, fifth, I Am Strong, the tunes kinda reminds me of the hit, In My Memory, but down 2 levels for the "oooh" feel, sixth, Here On Earth, featuring an indie rock artist from US, Cary Brothers, and felt like an indie rock with an electro sounds.

Seventh, Always Near, the first no vocal song in the album, i think here Tiesto tried to create his newsounds of trance, but I think it's not happening, not as a new found Tiesto sounds, eighth, It's Not The Things You Say, featuring one of my favorite band's lead Singer Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, but somehow in this song, Tiesto doesn't make an impression, it's just like any other Bloc Party's song, then came the Ninth, Fresh Fruit, another non vocal song in the album, it's the electro sounds that will remind you of this song, but it will not like when you hear Lethal Industry, Tenth, Century, this one's felt fast and that's it.

Eleventh, Feel It In My Bones Feat. Tegan & Sara, this is one of my favorite sounds in the album, it felt pop but it has the feel of progressive trance, twelfth, Who Wants To Be Alone, this one features Nelly Furtado, a quite familiar name in the music industry, like her previous Loose album when she collaborates with many musicians, this collaboration with Tiesto is a better version of it, number thirteen, La Ride, this will sound nice listened when you driving a car, moving in 100mph, fourteenth, Bend It Like You Don't Care, an electro sounded songs, definitely Tiesto.

Fifteenth, Knock You Out, the last vocal song in the album, a fast pop sound, then sixteenth, Louder Than Boom, sounds like traffic but it's not, although this one's one of the best sound in the album, and seventeenth, the last song, Surrounded By Light, a nice outro for the album, an ambient sounds that will take you to the outside.

An avid Tiesto fans would say, this is not Tiesto, but for me, also a fan, would say that this album just a new sounds of Tiesto way to cope with his own original sounds and in my own opinion, it is where trance music would go at this time, I mean, do listen to Armin Van Buuren, and Paul Van Dyk, also Ferry Corsten, amongst those four DJs, their sounds was quite similar (trance filled with vocals).

So people, enjoy Tiesto's Kaleidoscope, I know I do...

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

LOST


nah, I'm not lost, just at a beach in Southern Mountain (Gunung Kidul) area, a nice place.. Wedi Ombo's the name, u should go there sometime... It's around one to two hours drive from Yogyakarta



and like other beaches in Southern Java Island, no swimming!


enough for this mini post :) it's nice to see y'all again

Monday, June 09, 2008

A Speaker...

Needed a speaker system for my Valkyrie [my desktop :)] since I have moved from my previous room that I have inhabited for the last three years, by moving, I also moved my stereo set which I used as a speaker for Valkyrie.

I only few computer store in Jogjakarta, one of them is EL’s on C. Simanjuntak street, purchased something there before but they only have Simbadda brand speakers which is kinda let down :(.

But u know what? When I get there to buy switch for my home network, ta daaa… Just arrive that day, an Altec Lansing VS4121, a successor of the legendary ATP3, or so I thought was legendary :D.
At that very point, I said to the seller, “is that just arrive?”, “yes”, she said. “How much?” “it’s 63USD, or [using calculator]… 607 thousand rupiah”, “I’ll take one, and o yeah, want a switch too”, and the conversation went on…

So, on that very day, I brought home an Altec Lansing speaker system and damn proud of that purchase, since in my opinion I got a good bargain on it too, you people can see it on websites to compare it.

Now, for the performance, it’s great! Just like its predecessor, it has great power; the highs are crisp and the bass’ powerful enough to emulate a theatre in the room. Use it with movie, great, with rock music, great, trance [my favorite] GREAT! It’s only a 2.1 speaker but it’s enough for my current room.

Recommended for those who like good sounds, you won’t regret it, I don’t :D.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Wireless Broadband



Got myself this baby earlier this week from www.jakartanotebook.com, a PC Card that lets me go online on full throttle.

It's great! i use it with my Indosat IM3 and it runs on a 30kBps, i know it should been faster but it's fast enough for a prepaid subscription in my opinion, and while using telkomsel FLASH, it's way faster, you may reach 40-60kBps, but the connection's not quite stable, now im planning to get my hands on that TelkomselFlash with unlimited quota, they said that it will be launched on early June, just y'all wait, i'll be bcak in the realm in no time ;)

PS: this is the reason why i chose to buy this faster than thou speed machine

KEY FEATURES
  • Wireless upload speed up to 2 Mbps and download up to 7.2 Mbps
  • Durable, fixed antenna design with no moving parts
  • High-performance antenna that delivers improved speeds and extended coverage
  • Tri Band UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz)
  • Quad Band GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

Friday, November 23, 2007

Flasher

I’m a heavy user of Instant Messaging (IM), I went through the golden ages of mIRC, MSN Messenger and now I’m using Yahoo! Messenger on daily basis.


Status facility provided by Yahoo! Messenger if used wisely will provide information to your friends of the state you are on, whether you are busy, available for an idle chit chat, or just don’t wanna be disturbed by others, or even invisible to others. Sometimes I used it by writing something that is even not necessarily written there, such as, addus (bathing, Javanese lang.), doing nothing whatsoever etc.


And on this day I was surprised by one of my friend’s status. I thought it was just another webcam-based-status, but this one really tickles me, and makes me somewhat wanna throw up…


HIS status read like this:



nuff said...

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Sapi Bali

Yeah! As I'm returning to the world of blogging, my reviews of cuisines that I have the opportunity to taste will return, as for this opportunity, I will be saying some things from Sapi Bali, a restaurant in Jogjakarta region.. Their specials are, Iga Bakar Sapi Bali (Grilled Rib), Ayam Betutu (Chicken), Cow satay, and Rib Soup.



Now for the review, Iga Bakar Sapi Bali is quite good in my opinion, it's grilled cow rib with Balinese Spices, and you will taste the spices is strong, but I guess that's how Balinese cuisines are made, as for the Ayam Betutu, I dont get the chance to taste it, but it looks good :), the satay is good, the cut is rather big and is served with peanut sauce as for the rib soup, I think it's quite good although I'll go for the grilled rib against this one..




U should try it though, it's quite an experience, the price is not that cheap but not that expensive also, the Iga Bakar cost u 25000 rupiah, but it's worth it.. Once again Try it!

You can reach this place from Jalan Kaliurang or Jalan Monjali, it's located near Jimbaran restaurant...

Monday, February 26, 2007

A Small Reunion

[happy faces!]

Look at the above picture, that's me on the left, Bachtiar Rifa'i on center and Kris Hartanto aka Patrick on the right. Last night, when I'm in Salatiga, well when I post this posting, I'm still in Salatiga. We were a long-time-no-see friends, Bachtiar and Patrick are my high school friends, though I've known Bachtiar since Junior High.

So, the story's like this, Patrick's now livin' in USA, married, but for one or two reason, he had to return to Indonesia, for maybe a year or so, while for Bachtiar, he stays in Salatiga and working while doing his graduate degree on Law. That Sunday I went to Salatiga to pick up my Mom, the plan was Wednesday, but as I know that Patrick in Indonesia, Salatiga to be precise, I go there in Sunday in order to get the chance to meet the guys.

It was hilarious, imagine this, friends who haven't met for 10 years, yup 10 years, (FYI I left Salatiga in 1996), talk about how life has been treating us, back then and now, funny stories bout the past etc. We talked until it's midnight, and what a coincidence, Patrick' birthday is February 26th, the day I wrote this post, so we were the first to congratulate him, as for his wife in USA still in February 25th thanks to Time Differences...

I'm still in Salatiga for another 2 days, let's see who'll I meet here in the next 2 days, as for I intended to track down my old friends...

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Weapon of Choice

Above is my Weapon of Choice in taking pictures...
Body: Canon EOS 20D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM IS
Speedlite: Canon Speedlite 580 EX + Omni Bounce
Filter: Hoya UV HMC & Hoya CPL

additionals:
Velbon CX 640 Tripod
EW-73B Lens Hood for EF-S 17-85mm F/4-5.6 IS USM
Canon Remote Switch RS-80N3
Lowepro Computrekker AW
Lowepro TLZ 2

The combination of the above in my opinion very suitable for my day-to-day photography, which are mostly outdoor, indoor and portrait.

I chose Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM IS because its light weight, and works perfectly with Canon 20D, the EF-S mount is specially made for Canon EOS 300D, EOS 350D, EOS 400D, EOS 10D, EOS 20D and EOS 30D which uses the APS-C sensor with a 1.6x crop factor compared to the 35mm film or Full Frame.

The USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) works flawlessly in auto focusing and of course the IS (Image Stabilizer) that is embedded in the lens added up the value since it will stabilize the picture for 3-stop (trust me, it really helps on low light condition, aside from the EOS 20D Body's ISO settings).

Just love its 17mm Wide Angle (27mm on 36mm film) and its semi-tele on 85mm (136mm on 35mm film). I also like to shoot some wide angle, macro photography and telephoto, but for a while, this combination is P.E.R.F.E.C.T.

Wish List:
This is the list that, well..I wanted to have, but don't have the opportunity to have it yet
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM <--for Wide Angle
Canon EF-S 60 mm f/2.8 Macro Lens <--for Macro
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0 - F5.6 IS USM <--for Telephoto
Canon BG-E2 <--vertical grip, for additional battery also, would really help on a long period of photo-hunt

Of course all of us Canon users always wanted an L Lens, but for my taking pictures habit so far, I really wanted these...

So, what's your weapon of choice?

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Intermezzo

Pandu aka Helix has done something that made me have an out of this world experience and went to Grand Canyon USA, these are the pictures...

Ketep Experience (original footage)



Grand Canyon Experience

Out of This World Experience

Contact Pandu if you're interested to go somewhere..virtually anywhere... Guaranteed!