Sometimes after work I like to gander on down to Hongdae in Seoul to hit a bar and have a drink or two with a friend to let off some steam. Recently we’ve been popping by cafe 플로랄 고양이 (Cafe Floral Cat) . The interior has a relaxing homely feel. It is sectioned off using various pieces of furniture into various rooms of a house. The first time we went we sat in the area styled as a bathroom. The wall was decorated with unusual pink tiles and a shower head hung over the table. In the cafe there is also a bedroom styled area, cosy book corner, and window side seats. The bar has a cute kitten nested in a basket who attacks any shiny objects swung it’s way.

Since one of us has a membership for the cafe we ordered four bottles of wine in advance for a large discount off the menu price (30% if I remember correctly). While we drank the first two bottles of wine we shared a lasagne which was fairly priced and pretty standard tasting. We got peckish towards the end of the night two so we ordered some cheese nachos but the strange choice of cold vegetables created for a less than satisfying snack. I’d rather have had just cheese nachos and a salsa sauce. Sometimes keeping it simple is best.

There is a photo area in the cafe too. So after we finished up the wine and before leaving we took some pictures there. Drinking four bottles of wine between four people lead us to a tipsy state and some fairly interesting conversation. I do like a glass of wine. It’s a different buzz from the traditional Korean alcohol.

More photos at flickr.

Last night I met up with some friends and we headed over to Hongdae in Seoul to a fairly new bar called 취연 that claims to be an “oriental ethnic bar”. Inside the bar was simply beautiful. It’s dimly lit and candles add extra light in the seating areas. Some areas of the room are sectioned off with red nets hanging from the ceiling to create semi-private booths. The open area is decorated with small ponds and fountains and the shiny grey floor has raised sections with various seating options. At the back of the room are two smaller rooms that can sit 6-8 people. These rooms open into the main room but can be closed off with nets if one so desires. Lounge music was being played at a comfortable volume so the bar wasn’t too noisy and we could clearly hear each others voices.

Since there were six of us and we got to the bar fairly early, we sat in one of the rooms at the back. You have to sit on the floor but the various cushions and pads made it a fairly comfortable experience. The menu was just as interesting as the deco with it’s beautifully named drinks and side dishes. We drank a few jugs of soju cocktails that were made with real fruit and juices. The real pieces of fruit added greatly to the taste and in consequence caused us to drink faster than we normally would. There was no real kick of alcohol which is either a good or bad thing depending on your preferences. The side dishes were just as nice as the alcohol. We ate a spicy but sweet plate of shrimp and vegetables. We followed that with some delicious cheese egg rolls. As we drank we smoked some herb cigarettes. They contain no nicotine and they don’t really give you the same feeling as smoking a cigarette but they let off nice aromas and taste particularly nice as you breath in.

As we drank we happily talked the evening away before heading home on our respective last bus. More photos at flickr.

Last week I wrote up my first article for Korea’s number one English newspaper - The Korea Herald. I’ll be covering live shows every two weeks. Here’s the article:

Looking for live music? Get down to one of Hongdae’s small, dank live venues and watch some seriously interesting bands from a variety of genres. The GMC Records New Year Fest 2008 show with eight quality hardcore bands on the line-up was fantastic. While each band drew its influence from hardcore and metal, they all had something unique to offer.

The venue, Liveclub Ssam, is not far from Hongik University. Upon entering, you are riveted to the lime-colored walls as you head down into the basement where the stage is. The walls are sound-insulated; two large rope-wrapped pillars tower down the center; and the not-too-small stage can be clearly seen from most parts of the room. This venue has a decent PA, and is rigged with an excellent lighting system. The sound and lighting staff make good use of the facilities, helping to showcase the bands to their fullest.

The crowd was an interesting mix, with a group of young teenagers at the front of the stage, a group of boys wearing cute animal outfits in the center, and the slightly older folks hanging back a bit, or sitting in the few seats at the back of the room.

The first band, Apop, was the youngest and most attractive- looking of all the bands, and, as their name suggests, they worked pop into their hardcore sounds. Their emotional hardcore style was easily the most accessible and catchy of the night. They set the atmosphere, and younger people were soon jumping around. The next band, Ninesin, had a similar set-up, but with the addition of a DJ adding effects. Their energetic front man made full use of the stage, while the band played solidly throughout their set. Their energetic performance got a positive reaction from the crowd.

Next up were Knockdown, which has elements of death metal, as well as hardcore. Their deep, low vocals cut through the crowd. When the rather large and cocky looking front man talked to audience, impolite Korean and foul language flowed out of his mouth, and his words were clearly heard. Soon, the boys wearing animal costumes surged forward with their arms swinging, and merged into the group gathered at the front, creating a huge mosh-pit. This continued for the rest of Knockdown’s tight and well-played set.

Finishing the first half of the night was Maze, a five-piece group featuring the only female performer of the night. Maze blazed through their set with tight riffs and a decent range of vocal noises; their set ended with a roar of cheers from everyone.

Samchung kicked off the second half of the night. Their five- man line-up laid down a variety of riffs, and the dual vocals added some extra variety. Their songs were on the epic side at times, but were graced with some excellent guitar solos.

Sixth on the bill was Captain Bootbois, whose hardcore sound was layered with melodic tunes from the oddest looking guitar. The positive-sounding nature of their songs begged you to sing along, and that we did.

The next band, 13 Steps, hailing from Jeonju, were my most eagerly anticipated act of the night. I had first heard them back in Wales, but tonight was my first chance to catch them live. They didn’t disappoint, with more stage dives than you can shake a pointed finger at; the crowd exploded. Their short songs draw you in, and, before you know it, they end the set, leaving you begging for more.

Finally, Vassline took to the stage and carried on where 13 Steps left off. Playing hardcore with a large range of sounds, their energetic vocals made them the crowd’s favourite. Some dedicated fans sang along with the vocalist, and everyone else exploded in a frenzy. It was a high-energy and satisfying end to the evening.

Korea’s hardcore scene is loud, aggressive, and has a great sense of community — exactly what it should be. The bands promoted each other and gave informal lectures on how we can support the scene. Judging by the quality of this night, I’ll definitely be getting down to more shows.

At first I thought 2007 was quite a quiet year for Japanese music. However, after filtering my music by the year 2007 I was surprised to find just how many quality Japanese albums I had picked up this year. Over at Keikaku, we recently put together a feature on our best Japanese releases of 2007. Head over and take a look at the feature for some excellent recommendations.

I awoke the other day surprised to find I could see nothing through my window. There was a dense fog hanging over the city. I felt like I was back in the UK. I love how fog can make such an eerie atmosphere. When I was but a lad attending a high school next to a small lake, on a cold winters day it was usual for a heavy mist to raise and form in patches around the playground. On such a day I would go to school early just to walk around the lake and take in the atmosphere. I felt all alone and wondered what the shadows in the fog were on the other side of the lake. Feeling nostalgic I sat beside my rather large window and watched the shadows in the fog. It brought a smile to my face and a feeling of warmth.

An actress comes home one evening while her house is being burgled. Some cops have a tip off that the burglar is inside and sit outside waiting to make there move. Meanwhile a number of her male friends all happen to conveniently appear at her door on the same night and make for an awkward dinner together. She tries to get rid of them but they are declaring there love for her while a series of unfortunate accidents start to occur. One accident leads to another and she finds herself in quite a mess. Can she get through the night without losing her mind or being taken in?
More info: Cine21 - english review

I found some of the scenes in this film a little gross out but it was kinda funny overall. It was completely over the top but I think that’s why it was enjoyable as it was. It by no means a great film but watch it if you are in the mood for a no-brainer comedy with an actress running around in a tight dress.

Next year became this year! 2008, wow, where did that sneak up from. I spent my New Year’s at a Korean friends house. About seven of us got together and happily drank, joked and talked our way into 2008! It was a little awkward at first since we all didn’t really know each other that well but after playing a few drinking games the barriers came down and we all had a good time.

So what does 2008 mean for me? Well I’m definitely going to get more productive on the design front, write a lot more and stay in the habit of exercising every morning. I want a year where I create content that is really worth it and feel the fruit of my talents. Anyway, Happy New Year!