Eno, Brian and Reigakusya with Peter Schwalm – Music for Onmyoji (ltd.ed)

Strictly limited edition in special package, a unique collaboration of ambient music and Japanese traditional court music, inspired by Reiko Okano and Baku Yumemakura’s comic/novel “On-myo-ji”

This piece of Art / Music is a journey back in time. Japanese traditional music is mixed with the five elements and thou i don’t understand what they are chanting i feel like I’m listening to and ancient Japanese tale.

This is an amazing experience I wish everyone could hear it, especially those who are interested in Japanese and asian culture. The picture to the left is both the art and the album cover, it’s a piece of art itself. in fold-out silver digipak sleeve with a hologram picture, wrapped in clear plastic cover.

  ONMYOJI: A practitioner and/or master of “Onmyodo,” the craft which uses the Yin and Yang principle to interpret between natural and unnatural phenomena and astrological occurrences to foresee the fortunes of humans. One of the primary duties of the Onmyoji involved using his occult powers to serve and protect the Heian Emperor, the royal families, and the kingdom from malevolent spirits and demons.

Other terms comparable to Onmyoji are: exorcist, supernatural protector, Yin and Yang master, soothsayer, mage, mystic, shaman, wizard, sorcerer, magician, and even necromancer. HEIAN PERIOD: The Heian period (794-1185 AD) is a significant era of medieval Japan known for the presence of an aristocratic ruling class and a culture of refined lifestyles, whereby language, literature, music, other fine arts and crafts developed and flourished. It was during this period of luxury and grandeur that the famous Japanese literature, “The Tale of Genji,” considered the world’s first romance novel, was authored by a female aristocrat.

The Heian period embodied peace, an elegant society and great prosperity, however, many years later, the absence of a single, unifying administration to rule all of Japan would eventually plunge the country into a long-term civil war between hundreds of feudal lords, all vying for power, glory and territory. THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF YIN AND YANG: This is a philosophy, which explains the existence of all things by combining the five natural elements with the basic principle of Yin and Yang.

The two spirits of Yin and Yang gave birth to the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. ABE NO SEIMEI: He is the most recognized Onmyodo master among the imperial order of the Onmyoji serving the Heian Emperor. Although Seimei is officially sponsored by the ruling family, the Fujiwara clan, he does not reside at the royal palace, but lives on his own private estate. Aside from his highly regarded mystical and medicinal skills, little is known about the enigmatic Seimei.  

He has been described by both men and women as beautiful, aloof, carefree, and not seemingly human, perhaps due to the popular folklore belief that his mother was a kitsune (a magical white fox creature that could impersonate a human being). As with other Onmyoji, Seimei dons a special head ware and robe that signifies his specialty and high rank within society.  

He is often the target of jealousy among other Onmyoji (in particular, his rival, Doson) and avoids becoming involved with their political powerplays. (Historical footnote:  Seimei was an actual real-life person and Onmyoji who lived in the capital city, Kyoto, from 921-1005 AD during the Heian period.) HIROMASA: Full name:  Minamoto no Hiromasa. A court noble and swordsman serving the Heian emperor, Hiromasa befriends Seimei and enlists his aid.  

Hiromasa is attracted to the princess, Sukehime, and is quite fond of playing his fue (wooden flute) during nightfall.DOSON: Doson is the court? elite Onmyoji. With his sights set on higher, sinister ambitions, Doson surreptitiously uses his occult skills to manipulate humans and the demons of the netherworld to do his bidding. Beneath his calm and calculating demeanor, Doson seethes with jealousy over his rival, Seimei and resentment over the Mikado (emperor).FUE: A wooden flute used by all classes of people, from the commoner to the imperial soldier.   Even Onmyoji have found that the fue could be used as a tool to calm and appease demons, through its soothing melodies. HITOGATA: A small straw doll or a human-shaped effigy.  

The hitogata could be used as a tool by humans, spirits or demons to inflict harm on an individual. The concept is similar to that of a voodoo doll, whereby a psychic spell or a curse is channeled through the hitogata to affect the targeted person. KARASUBOUSHI: An ornamental cloth head gear of varying heights, shapes and designs worn by imperial court officials, advisors and other male members of nobility and rank serving the Heian emperor.   It was considered embarrassing to be seen without the karasuboushi on one’s head and the wearer would only remove it from his head when he was in complete privacy.

It was not uncommon to even retire to sleep with the karasuboushi still on. OFUDA: A paper seal, card, tag or scroll used by Onmyoji and monks to enact a magic spell for attack or protection purposes. Ofuda may sometimes have word characters written or symbols drawn onto them with a writing brush.  Depending on the user’s skill, ofuda can even be temporarily transformed into a living thing or an inanimate object.MIKADO: The term for emperor, majesty, his highness, etc. MONONOKE: A general term for evil spirits, ghosts, monsters or demons.

Demons were also referred to as “Yokai.” Vengeful spirits were known as “Onryo.”   In addition to causing panic, pestilence and death, malicious apparitions and demons were believed to be capable of possessing the mind and body of unsuspecting human beings or even creating an alternate body. Onmyoji were heavily relied upon to perform incantations and other arcane rites to either control or vanquish the mononoke.

Brian Eno is a genius and unparalleled figure of all time! Listening to Ambient 2, the Plateaux of Mirror, this is the good stuff, music for your body mind and soul.

“Do you know what I hate about computers? The problem with computers is that there is not enough Africa in them.”?- Brian Eno, May 1995

This quotation is from an article in Wired Magazine, I have never forgotten it.

“What’s pissing me off is that it uses so little of my body. You’re just sitting there, and it’s quite boring. You’ve got this stupid little mouse that requires one hand, and your eyes. That’s it. What about the rest of you? No African would stand for a computer like that. It’s imprisoning.” ?…still Brian Eno.

Yes. That’s May 1995. More than 10 years ago. And what has happened? The scroll wheel.

PowerMate – USB Multimedia Controller

The scroll wheel is an excellent invention and I can’t think of using a computer without one. Still it’s just you and that mouse. Maybe you keep your other hand at the keyboard.

The Griffin Powermate has a name, a look and a description that suggest that you should use it to adjust the volume on your computer.

It’s incredibly well built, good looking, solid and very useful knob. You can use it to scroll in my browser. To zoom in Photoshop. To shuttle in my video editing software. To scroll in my photo archive. Right hand on the mouse. Left hand switching between the keyboard and the Powermate.

It has completely removed quite a bit of straining your right hand.

There is a very reliable rule that says that a company that makes hardware can never make good software (look at the software that follows ATI’s graphics cards or Creative’s MP3 players etc…*) Griffin has done an exception with the Powermate. The latest version of the software for this device is actually quite useful. And if you don’t like it you always have Girder and the Girder Powermate Plugin.

The Powermate puts a tiny, tiny bit of Africa back into my computer.

* Yes, Apple is an exception

Well, the Fall weather is here. There was even frost on my rooftop the other day! Burr. I’m not ready for REALLY cold temperatures, but I don’t mind it being a bit cooler. It’s raining and blowing outside and the days get darker for each day.

I wish that i could turn my diurnal rhythm to normal so that i could see the daylight, this vampire-like lifestyle is not healthy. I’m waiting for inspiration to lift myself from this vacuum and start eating food that is good for me and exercise on my bike again, i need to get into shape. But the Svinehund in me is keeping me in this lazy state of mind.

Sitting here in my loneliness like a butterfly larva longing for the summer sun…  listening to Brian Eno, this is a man that I would like to meat! I mean his genius in unparalleled. I bought his huge box-set I- Instrumental. This music i composure, perfect…

Eno’s, ambience gets me contemplating and thinking about thinking… So basically what ticks you off is not knowing a reason for living life itself.

So here I am grouching and grumping with grumbles that life is mean. Well its not all that mean, its just that I’ve lost focus or fell off track for a while there. I need to have a goal or hobby to rest for a while in that oasis where I know where I’m heading and sit down contemplating about what I’ve achieved so far, not done but achieved.

So now, as my volcano starts to reside, and as closures’ been found. I need to take on something new in my life. An oasis to rest from my daily war with life, a happy place I can be my own.

So if you do have any ideas?! Thought so, back to Eno and a hot cup of tea. [...]