THOMAS PODVIN’S FREELANCE WORK
Freelance writer - translator - Editor

Shanghai jazz clubs have flourished of late, but the scene is still struggling to find an identity. Yes, there is plenty of jazz, but not much of it is distinctive. Until now, perhaps. Jazz Revolution has fused Western jazz with Chinese melody (or maybe vice versa) and come up with something that soundsunique, what one might call the Shanghai Sound. This band of four – two Aussies and two Chinese – offers a new interpretation of material that has entered the collective musical psyche. For instance, they have recorded a languid jazzy rendition of Faye Wong’s “Sky”, and a reggae version of “Shanghai Talk”, a song from the famous Chinese TV-series Shanghai Tan. True, this approach will appeal more to Chinese listeners, and perhaps less to foreigners unfamiliar with these tunes. And some cuts unfortunately sound like Kenny G on a good day (Baroque with Me). But all in all, when the combination works, it works well (What a Wonderful World, Open Sea). The band’s real genius, and its originality, is most apparent in the trumpet solos, soulful vocals and on tracks that feature improvisation. “Feng Shui”, the first original composition on the album, features a traditional jazz structure and has a strong urban feel (a jazz anthem for the city?). By the way, a percentage of this album’s proceeds will be donated to a children’s charity organization. So do your part and support the revolution.
Orientalsky/Starsing Records

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

Milk@coffee is the sort of act that defies categorization; indeed, their style of music varies from one cut to the next. Much like adding milk to coffee, the result depends on the mix. Add just a little milk, and the coffee remains strong and bitter; add more and it becomes sweet and creamy. However, this Chinese band has more than two elements, and the mix of vocals, keyboards, samplers, electric guitar and break beats, provides endless variations. The tracks on this release combine pop rock, easy listening, new wave, trip hop and downtempo beats infused with the moody and mellow vocals of lead singer/songwriter Kiki. One might say she provides the milk, while keyboardist/producer/singer Gefei furnishes the coffee. In short, his yang is nicely balanced by her yin. The ‘@’ in the middle of the band’s name, suggest their use of the latest technology (computer game sound effects). It also hints at the origins of the pair’s union – on an Internet chat line. In any case, this low fat milk and home brewed java combination on the Beijing-based label Modernsky, is just the stuff for your next coffee klatch. Shuang!
Modernsky

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Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

Purity of sound is not in fashion these days; most bands prefer a musical stew. And Luxia is no exception with their eclectic blend of electronica, vocals, jazz and bossa nova. The project combines the talents of Jon Kingsley Hall and Peter George Stewart with co-production credit to Australian DJ Steve Hill and Mat Cook and vocals by Tiffany Nan Brace. It was conceived when Brace met with producer Hall at a music therapy workshop, and she proved that her powerful voice could compete with Hall’s beats. Indeed, her very emotional vocals are the most attractive features of Luxia’s sound (more compelling than Alexis Hart’s or Tom Ecologist’s). Though soulful, she can hardly be called melodramatic; the sound is much livelier than Portishead and less narcissistic than Bjork, for instance. Stewart and Hill’s production skills add a certain slickness, the lineage of which can be traced back to synth-pop Brit act, Kissing the Pink, Swedish/Danish DJ Stonebridge and French electronic artist St Germain. Like St Germain, Luxia’s beats provide the foundation upon which musical textures can grow, which make this music more suitable for the lounge, than the dance floor. Especially “Cool Mountain” and, “I Feel So Good” with their Nu/Soul jazz, trip hop, Bossa Nova sound; this is mellow, urban music at its best.
High Note Records

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March 2006 issue

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Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue

As the title suggests, this release is one part sexual innuendo and one part black humor. Formed in 1998, the Black Eyed Peas is an American multi-ethnic quartet that currently features three male rappers (a Jamaican-American, a Filipino, and a Mexican) and the very fit Californian female, Fergie. This is their fourth album, and their best effort to date. Most of the cuts feature musical dialogues between the boys and the girl, i.e. seductive word games with explicit lyrics. Take the anthem “Don’t Phunk with My Heart”; here, the lads express their interest in Fergie, who is not at all assured that intentions are honorable. The ambiguous nature of the lyrics has caused some US radio stations to play an edited version: “Don’t Mess with My Heart”. Another witty number, “My Humps” complains about women who use their looks to part men from their money. The ‘humps’ and ‘lumps’ referred to in the song stand for Fergie’s bottom and bosom. The CD has many more of these hilarious (to some) alternative hiphop/rap pieces, as well as guest appearances from James Brown, Sting, Talib Kweli, Macy Gray and others. With four Grammy nominations, BEP appears unstoppable; they’ve even been contracted to write and perform a song for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Now that should be a kick.
A&M

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March 2006 issue

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Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue

This is a come back album for the Florida quintet, who went from being the new kids on the block in late 1990s, to the old chips off the block in the early 2000s. Following their Grammy award in 1998, the boy band became extremely popular, mainly with young girls. They sold tons of albums, 87 million, to be exact. But fame, ego, and drug and alcohol problems resulted in the band’s breakup two years ago. Now the backstreet boys are back. This release, after a five-year hiatus, is the band’s fourth effort and perhaps their last chance to prove they still have the right stuff. They do. Never Gone sold over two million copies in seven days and went number one in America, Europe and Asia. This release has it all: catchy hooks across the musical spectrum – ballads ("I still…"), soft rock ("Just Want You to Know"), R&B ("My Beautiful Woman"), pop dance numbers ("Poster Girl"). All sung in the usual soothing, uplifting vocals. That said, after one listen, it all sounds about the same. But no matter. Fans loved The Boys concert in Shanghai last January 2006, proving they do have staying power.
Sony-BMG

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Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

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Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue

At 52, Jackie Chan or Cheng Long (Dragon Cheng) has appeared in more films, in Asia and the West, than any other ten actors combined. As such, he merits the box set treatment and CAV Warner’s magnificent, limited edition, collector’s box (only 3,000 copies), includes a dragon t-shirt and four Chan films from the 90s – a transitional period when the actor journeyed to the West and in the process, lost something of his style. Fortunately, one of the films here is the excellent Drunken Master 2 (1994), his last Hong Kong Kung Fu movie. Rumble in the Bronx (1996) is also impressive, but it failed to establish Chan in the American market. The big-budget Mr. Nice Guy (1997) was a more successful effort to place Chan squarely in the US mainstream. In a similar vein, the entertaining, but cheap, Hong Kong/Aussie Who Am I? (1998) was a failed attempt to make the dragon an international star, at least, a respected international star. Chan is known throughout the world, and he has many admirers. Still, his later works, for example, the foul and unfunny US flicks, Rush Hour or Shanghai Knights, are sad reminders of what could have been. Note that this set doesn’t offer English subtitles; no matter, you can wear the t-shirt.
CAV Warner

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Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

If you think you know Pierce Brosnan, think again. The stylish, phlegmatic British gentleman, James Bond, is no more. In The Matador, Brosnan is Julian Noble, an unsavory hitman sent all over the world to ‘facilitate fatalities’. Noble is anything but. He’s an asocial, alcoholic, middle-age killer, whose social life is limited to nights with hookers. ‘Matador’ means ‘killer’ in Spanish, and killing is what Noble does best. But even hitman get the blues, and Noble suffers a middle-age crisis; he senses the shallowness of his life; becomes depressed; fails to do his job. Of course, this leads to some serious consequences. Despite the nature of the story, this is not an action film; rather, it is drama laced with black comedy. With a well-written script, a wicked soundtrack, great performances and slick photography, this film is a sure hit, if you’ll excuse the pun. The real draw though is Brosnan’s portrayal of an inept, sleazy killer, and it’s evident that the actor enjoyed the part, meticulously deconstructing his screen persona. Check out the scene in the posh hotel lobby and you’ll understand why he was nominated for Best Comedy Actor at the 2006 Golden Globe awards.
The Weinstein Company

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March 2006 issue

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March 2006 issue

For the past five years, Zhang Yimou has switched back and forth from action blockbusters with mass appeal to the more personal art-house film. His latest work falls in the latter category. Or does it? With a modest budget of RMB 56 million, this movie might best be described as an ‘art-house blockbuster’. It has been promoted and distributed like a blockbuster and has enough appeal to reach audiences across Asia and beyond. But at the same time, it’s the sort of work that will wow film-festival goers. The plot concerns a Japanese fisherman who travels thousands of miles to Yunnan province in search of a local opera performer who was supposed to sing for the fisherman’s terminally ill son. The story is an excuse to throw a taciturn Japanese guy - played by ‘Japanese Clint Eastwood’ Ken Takakura - into the Chinese countryside and see what happens. While the film has definite commercial potential (just ask the Yunnan tourism board), its also addresses father-son relationships and the culture gap in a thought-provoking manner. So is this hybrid a sign of what’s to come? Perhaps Zhang’s next flick, Autumn Remembrance, will be a ‘blockbuster art-house’ film.
Toho Company

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March 2006 issue

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Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue

US films and TV series have long been inspired by real life confrontations, e.g., the Cold War and Vietnam, but Over There breaks new ground. It is the first show based on a war still in progress – the war in Iraq. Unlike some of its predecessors, this series doesn’t romanticize; rather it portrays the day to day violence without a trace of sentimentality. Over There follows an infantry platoon led by a savvy, battle-hardened sergeant. Indeed, he’s a good man to have around when one has to deal with insurgents and the military bureaucracy. This series is not a commercial for the military, or the US government. None of the parties involved are completely ‘good’ or ‘evil’ and no one has a solid claim on the truth. Yes, this is television, and though based on real events, the series is not a documentary. But it does feel realistic. War, as everyone knows, is terrible stuff and this series convincingly portrays the moral, physical and mental state of soldiers on both sides of the war. Patriotism is not an issue here; even hope is in short supply. The end credit sequence features a song with the lyric: “Someone has to die”. In fact, the show died in its second season. In Bush’s America, pessimism is not tolerated.
fX Network

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Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

Kung Fu movies aren’t famous for providing anything more than kicks, back flips and thrills, but Fearless breaks the mold; indeed, it is a movie with a message. Produced by and starring Jet Li, this film tells the true story of Tianjin-born Master Huo Yuanjia (1869-1910), the heroic founder of the Jing Wu Sports Federation. In Shanghai, in the first decade of the last century, Hou set out to prove the superiority of his (and China’s) martial arts. He challenged all comers and in doing so earned the respect of some of the most ruthless and brutal opponents ever to appear in the ring (the fight scenes are extraordinary, choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping [the Matrix]). But there’s more to this movie than action. Huo’s motto was: ‘Never give up’ – even when he lost a fight, he came out a winner. Li seconds the motion. Like Huo, he also founded an organization with a noble aim, the One Foundation which offers support to the suicidal. Its message: ‘Life is worth living’. And Fearless, both for its cinematic qualities and uplifting message, is worth seeing. Indeed, it is the best Kung Fu film we’ve seen in years.
Columbia Tristar Asia

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Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

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Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue

Following his highly successful adaptation of Lord of the Rings, director Peter Jackson tackled another classic, Cooper and Schoedsack’s King Kong (1933). Of course, he had a far bigger budget, and it shows in this latest version. Jackson’s Kong is an epic, though the story remains about the same: An ambitious, ruthless moviemaker persuades his cast to travel to the mysterious Skull Island, where they discover a giant gorilla. Indeed, this is the most expensive film made since Titanic – USD 207 million (equal to the total Chinese box-office revenue for 2005) – and much of the cash was spent to grand affect. Emotions, action and special effects are state of the art, which is to say they are overblown. True, Jackson has worked hard on character development, and roughly the first third of this three-hour long movie serves to introduce the players. The 7.6m ape appears some 70 minutes into the film, and he does look real, courtesy of the motion-capture technique (the same used for Gollum in the Rings trilogy). That said, this high-tech, megabuck version has nothing on the original.
Universal Pictures/UIP

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Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

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Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue

In 2005, the Hong Kong international Film Festival paid tribute to actor/producer/singer Andy Lau Tak-wah (A World without Thieves) for his quantitative and qualitative participation in the film industry. This book, published in English and traditional Chinese covers Lau’s thirty years in the business. For those of you not familiar with Lau, he’s known as the Chinese James Dean – although he claims Marlon Brando as an early inspiration. Of course, Lau is alive and Dean and Brando are not, so Lau aged 44, has quite a few more film credits, 120, to be exact. This book includes an excellent in-depth interview with Lau, as well as film reviews and interesting, quirky essays on topics ranging from Lau’s ‘eagle eye’ acting style, to his hair-style and his position (he’s an idol) in the industry. Strangely, there’s not one word on the man’s long and successful musical career, or the film companies he formed to produce his own movies and promote the independent filmmaking scene, or his influence on cinema, or even his personal life. In short, the editor has narrowed his focus strictly to Lau’s acting.
HKIFF Society/available at http://www.hkiff.org.hk

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

You’ll likely read Bangkok 8 from cover to cover in one night. Set in an imaginary Bangkok, and written as a thriller, the novel concerns the twin pillars of Thai society: Buddhism and its material counterpart, the four G’s, guns, girls, gambling and ganja. Thai cops Sonchai and his soul brother Pichai are devout Buddhists following the path to enlightenment. They’re not on the take, which is to say they are a rare breed. Sonchai is investigating the murder of a US marine sergeant; in the process he encounters drug and gem dealers, killer snakes high on yaa baa, a charming FBI agent and katooeys galore. As the case proceeds, Pichai is killed and Sonchai sets out to avenge his death using modern policing techniques and his own profound understanding of the spirit world. At this stage, the novel delves deep into the world of Buddhist beliefs and karmic principles. In short, the book combines entertainment with thought-provoking perspectives on prostitution, corruption, religion and the value of life. A compelling read.
Corgi/available at http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

http://www.zefrank.com

This entertaining site is ranked among the 2005 Top 50 coolest entertainment websites by Time.com. Why? Because online performer, humorist and freelance designer Frank found that with a digital camera – his birthday gift – and Internet access, the possibilities are infinite. Possibilities to play around and goof off. If you’ve time on your hands at the office, during a dull holiday, or at home while your bitter half cleans the floor; well, Frank’s site offers 101 ways to kill time. Divided into eight sections, zefrank.com has some hilarious educational videos (try the cult favorite: “Dance Properly”), idiotic interactive toys (draw your mother a face), photo contests on any given subject (“Participate”) and games (check out the Buddhist one). All this on a wonderfully designed, interactive, multimedia (video, music, flash, etc.) wacky website. Oh, Frank posts his peculiar art and poetry, too. Totally useless, and thus indispensable.

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue

http://www.answers.com

Internet search engines are cool tools but hardly specific: type in a query and you get a seemingly endless list of hyperlinks in an all but unfiltered and unstructured form. Answers.com, however, provides a far tidier reply. This site delivers multi-faceted definitions and explanations from credible, attributable reference sources (Houghton Mifflin, Columbia University Press and Merriam Webster, to name but a few) on over one million topics – all in a snapshot. Answers’ database collects information form more than 100 encyclopedias, dictionaries, glossaries and atlases; indeed, the site operates much like an online encyclopedia, offering standard definitions, biographies, alternative meanings, essential links and translations. Users can download a variety of free and safe tools (no viruses, no spywares) such as a search engine field to add to your tool bar. Another optional download, ’1-Click Answers’ allows users to search any word in any program on your screen for instant, accurate definitions and facts. Getting answers has never been so easy.

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue