Krushed Interludes from Kohn Liu on Vimeo.

I present to you my second mix, titled Krushed Interludes. After this particular set I have depleted all the usable CD’s I own, I think, so it’s about time for me to increase my music library by tenfolds. Back to the mix. I like it a lot, there are some not so smooth transitions, mainly because of the fact that these breakbeat songs are difficult to mix discreetly, I definitely need a scratchable turntable to do it smoothly, with my currently knowledge. Still though, I like the way the music develops. It’s not the typical electronic stuff you hear anyway, and I love breaks, so I’ll stand behind this one for sure.

With a new set of speakers, I found myself listening to music again. Going through records to let the Rainmakers recreate a different sound experience.

Just a little feedback, though, the Rainmakers did reveal the weakness in my set up. I am in no way an audiophile, and I do not ever intend to become one of those snobbish geeks who complains on the slightest “coloration,” or “distortion” of their favorite music due to some mismatch in their 5K cables and their 30K solid state amp. All the junk in talks, bah! But in any case, I think my Onkyo receiver is too bright, and the brightness which I thought was initially a Rainmakers’ problem, actually comes from the source. I had to decrease the treble value by -3, something I normally wouldn’t do. I am in no position to upgrade, so changing the EQ will have to do for now.

Sunaga t Experience (Tatsuo Sunaga) is one of my all time favorite Japanese DJ/Remixer/Musician. He’s got a great command on all type of music, from electronica, all the way down to bossa nova, and Jazz. I bought one of his Jazz Allnighter from Japan last summer and it had opened up some new doors in the world of Jazz. Excellent picks and truly great addition to my feeble collection. Pop one of those CD’s on a long night and you will appreciate much more about Jazz.

This is what I love about Japan, they take things to the next level sometimes. Who knew, a Japanese DJ can compile a series of excellent Jazz picks. This doesn’t even happen so much here in the states – where Jazz lovers sometimes remain a nerdy bunch and the heritage never gets to be passed down across the generation gap. Get into Sunaga’s world, it’ll spin you around in all forms and genres.

In the wake of my last birthday in my 20’s, I have fully realized the effects of a gradual, eventual, less expectation on everything.

I say this because since my 10th birthday, which totally rocked, birthday celebration has become a year after year of eating, drinking, and forgetting. I am such a downer indeed, but it was true. Because my 10th birthday party was so great, nothing could have topped it, ever. If I may go a little back into my childhood memory and document this tonight – I still remember sitting with my mom by our cold, granite dinning table folding birthday hats. There were plates of my favorite treats, not a whole lot, but enought to make me happy knowing that my best friends will soon come and enjoy them with me! I turned 10 that day, and the whole house turned into a party for me, for me, and only for me! We played video games, jumped on beds and had a big pillow fight. My mom let me do it all, and that was better than anything in the whole wide world – those little things, laughters that come not because of some sarcastic humor, for knowing too much or too little of things that don’t matter, but because of just being, just being a kid.

I wonder what happiness is, was, then. Is life itself just a deterioration, a contant fall from heaven. And now, writing things that make me feel down actually somehow makes me feel a little happier, knowing that I’ve had it all, right there and then.