I was flipping through the Sun this evening and found the much needed explanation for the untimely demolition of the Bok House. In its report,

“The minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, and Heritage Commissioner Prof Datuk Siti Zuraina Majid claimed there was little the government could do to conserve the building because it was private property, and the conservation costs would have been too high.

But others have argued that the Act does not differentiate between public or privately-owned buildings, and that it was not necessary to tear down the entire building for development.”

My muddled lil’ brain interprets this statement as the government not being able to do anything to save heritage buildings if they are privately owned, because the government won’t be able to afford buying over the building, much less conserving it afterwards.

According to the article, the Bok House was the first building nominated to be gazetted as National Heritage under the National Heritage Act. However, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry then responded by saying that it won’t be gazetted as gazettement disallows any development on the structure. Does this mean that conservation activities cannot be carried out on gazetted buildings? Now the gov responds by saying that it cannot protect it because it belongs to a private owner. Does this mean that only government owned buildings will be protected by the Act?

The fate of buildings over 50 years old is not necessarily down retirement lane- the whole of Europe seems to be a museum of old buildings. Even if the building may not be used for its original purposes anymore, the physical structure of the building could always remain with the insides being used for purposes which are more relevant to the present day. Of course it would be sad that the soul of the building may have left, but the presence of the building in the city skyline could be instrumental in telling the tale of a city’s past. Their fate now lies on the owners of these buildings to appreciate the importance of such building’s to the city’s identity, and next seek a balance between conserving heritage and also commercial viability to create a win-win situation.
How else would you explain the CHIJMES in Singapore, former warehouses turned into swanky loft apartments in New York City, or Cathedral-turned-disco in Paris?

Moreover, heritage buildings should be conserved because of the richness in architectural richness that could define our city. I mean what is a city without its character, and conversely what is character without its past?

Lots of people have been describing the present day KL as a soulless city, and with all this happening it is not hard to see why. There was a foreigner guy who wrote a letter to The Star, lamenting of the same…

” Bukit Bintang Girls School, colonial bungalows along Jalan Ipoh, traditional Malay houses in Jalan Gombak, and now the Bok House – they all used to make Kuala Lumpur what it is – a widely celebrated mix of old and new, rural and urban, traditional and futuristic.

Most of them made way for faceless, glass-and-steel, box-shaped shopping malls and condominiums which carry zero characteristics that say “Malaysia.”

In fact, they could have been “copied and pasted” from Hong Kong, London , Sydney , or anywhere.”

and

” As Malaysia readies itself for an influx of 20 million tourists every year, it has never been busier razing its architectural and natural legacy.

A colonial mansion here, two tennis courts’ worth of undersea corals there ? Tourists enjoy nothing better than things that are authentic, yet at this rate, Kuala Lumpur will soon be offering them nothing but the same Starbucks, Borders and Zara outlets in the same shopping centres and surrounded by the same minimalist condos as in any other city in the world. ”

It’s also quite baffling how the people in Heritage and Tourism do not see a value of these buildings in pulling in tourists who come for a lesson in Malaysian history and culture. Oh goody, our potential tourists would be mighty impressed that we have got the same Tall Mocha Frappucino as the one they have everyday in New York. On top of that, fresh from the news, they will also experience our first-class high tech self-cleaning public toilets although they would also find shoe stains on the toilet seat. Tres Exotique. And their most endearing cultural moment from Chinatown won’t be of any legacies left by our ancestors, but of fake Prada purses and bootleg DVD’s.

PS: The Star also featured another letter about yet another heritage building soon to be lost. This time it is the St Joseph’s Novitiate in Penang. As was the case with Bok House, the reasons given were baffling.

So how now?

You know that radio ad that’s aired on Hitz.fm that goes:

Son: Dad, what’s a “ha-ri-mau“?
Dad: That’s the day when you want a lot of things.

to this:

From what has been reported, it seems that the trustees of this mansion had decided to have it taken down after having been told that it is structurally unsound, and have hinted that it is economically imprudent to self-finance its restoration. This has sparked a fight by the gatekeepers of everything Malaysian, the Badan Warisan Malaysia. A glimmer of hope arrived in the form of the National Heritage Act, which aimed to gazette and protect anything of cultural significance to the country. Looking at the remains of the this mansion, it seems like the Bok House is not considered as one.

To know more about that eventful demolition of the 87 year old mansion that signified a battle lost by Badan Warisan Malaysia, read their side of the story here. The trustee of the Bok House has also written to The Star in response to this fiasco some time ago, read it here.

While it may seem unfair for the owner of such heritage buildings to bear the costs of its restoration and maintenance, it seems like the country has not decided on how it wants to manage these buildings. Is the country willing to see its heritage being sold in the name of development? Or is it willing to fork out the money for the future generations to appreciate? On top of that many of such buildings, including the former Bok House are located in prime areas. Just look at the fate that befell the former Bukit Bintang Girls School.

So, visit Pulau Redang while you still can. Multiple storey apartments may invade it anytime. Worse, the island could be declared duty free (!). Take your kids for a stroll down Jonker Street or Chinatown, as if it’s not all homogenized and generic already right now. Visit in anywhere that’s over a hundred years old. Eat in your favourite wantan mee stall in Pudu or buy from your magazine establishment in Lebuh Ampang while you still can, especially those that have been around for over 50 years. Time may lead them to either commercialise and succeed, or move out and wither. Not many of us are moneyed or powered to stop the tide of progress.

Each time I think about such things, I cannot stop myself from comparing it with what I saw in London, or even Glasgow, where so many of their old buildings are still kept intact. There is no need for me to say why this is so, as that is just stating the obvious. But why am I comparing ourselves with one of the richest nations in the world? We ARE, after all,

“better than Ghana”

First it was the global IKEA invasion, then it was Swedish meatballs (the type you eat). Then came their cool denim ( Cheap Monday, Nudie, Acne). It seems like on the global scale, Sweden may not be voluminous in its influence, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up in quality. The Swedes seem to have emerged in the forefront as purveyors of a high design aesthetic.

Now it’s the music. An article I read mentions how the Swedish are constantly coming up with new musical styles, where it is common for the avant garde to be incorporated into mainstream music. Thus explains Jose Gonzales and The Knife. Now check this new indie singer out, El Perro Del Mar. Beautiful music accompanied by an even more beautiful video. The song has got such sweet music and vocals. Its verse conjures up a smoky feeling of yesteryear brought about by groups like the Supremes, while its chorus morphs slightly into something more Joni Mitchell. Whatever it is, it’s good. The songs make the listener traverse through various permutations of calm as it progresses from intro to the verse, then chorus, then finally easing down towards the coda with its muted guitars. Hope you enjoy it.

Note to self: Must visit Stockholm.

While doing my bi-weekly music hunting just now, I chanced upon this wicked jazz band again, Japan’s Soil and ‘Pimp’ Sessions. Their take on jazz is one that is unconventional and modern, what some music punters define as “death jazz”. From the music I am hearing, I guess this translates to avant garde, progressive, energetic and explosive. Which also means that I got blown away by these guys’ music, and got goosebumps over and over again. Six guys, a trumpeter and saxophonist lead the way with their adventurous brassy endeavours, either on their own or together, with their unique solos and crazy hooks . A keyboardist infuses whatever rhythms needed to suit their ever-changing flavour of music. A crazy ass drummer and double-bassist (it’s old school pimpin’) to provide the grooves, and an “agitator” who doesn’t really do much other than to bring all of them together (he’s probably the ‘Pimp’ of the band).

I heard about these guys months ago on website of BBC Radio 1 DJ extraodinaire Gilles Peterson of the weekly radio show Worldwide. Constantly hunting for fresh sounds, this fella is on the forefront of introducing new music from his eclectic collection of funk, nu-soul, hip hop, house, and jazz to the British masses. Some other artistes that he helped promote on his side of the Atlantic were Common and John Legend. This guy was probably instrumental in bringing them to within the earshot of the Brits , to the extent that they even won the ‘John Peel Play More Jazz’ award at Gilles’ Worldwide Awards last year.

Once again, I am beating myself up because I gave up not one, but TWO chances to see them performing live. The first time was during Glasgow’s grassroots music festival last year, the Triptych Festival, which I had to miss cause I was busy with my coursework. The second time I missed them was quite unforgivable. I was down in Camden, London with a couple of friends when I noticed a sign that said that they were playing a gig, right there and then. Stingy me couldn’t part with twenty quid, plus I don’t think my friends who were with me would join me to the club where they were playing. So I missed them. AGAIN.

Seeing the video below which I discovered only made me even more sore than I couldn’t catch them live. No studio or live recording can beat the energy and spontaneity of listening to jazz live.
Being a person who dwells in his thick cumulus cloud of regret, I will watch this video as self- punishment until I get over it. I will then move on by listening to this live recording of their gig in Paris not long ago. Ahh, the pain and regret of musical chances I have missed.

If you like what you hear: Check out their mySpace page where you get a sample of their music.

Yum.

What a beauty.

This NikeXThe Hideout version of the Woven Air Footscape is the ultimate combination of sport and aesthetics. The woven details combined with the Nike Air sole reminds me of the Visvim FBT. And to think that the shoe upper is made of pony hair. PONY HAIR! Unconventional yet when used in a shoe like this one, the idea does not seem too far-fetched. To me what catches the eye about this sneaker is the same as what caught my eye with the Visvims last time; the shoe has Native American elements to it that is applied to such a modern design. I really respect the designer of this shoe. It’s the first pair of Nike shoes that caught my eye after a never-ending myriad of Air Force 1’s or Dunks in different colourways (Buying a few pairs of the same shoes, only with different colour combo’s? Tak faham).

Oh well, I might as well move on, because
a. The shoe was launched in Soho, London about a month ago. Read about the event here.
b. They are limited edition. (Sold in only ten stores worldwide. “Supra limited”, a website called it)
c. They cost 135 Euros online in a store that’s already sold out.

Keep walking, just keep walking now…

My first encounter with Italian music was a fairly unlikely one, it came from the stereo playing in one of the souvenir shops in Venice. It was the first time I heard music of that sort, but I really liked what I heard. It sounded pop, but it was at the same time sweet sounding yet not over-the-top. The vocals were melodious conveyed in a heartfelt manner that only a latin language like Spanish or Italian was able to. Needless to say, their songs would come across as soppy ballads(especially after I did a Google on the lyrics of the songs). However, tired of the music I have been fed with lately, pop music from the Mediterranean seemed fresh to the ears. I would assume that songs by the Italian artists I am listening to now are considered commonplace pop over there, but for someone who originates from a different continent, it makes for a pretty good listen. As is seems, overplayed and overused pop styles in one part of the world could seem interesting for someone who is tired of the overplayed overused pop styles in his own backyard.

Rather impressed with what I am hearing, I got to experience more of this sort of music from the stuff I hear on the streets or on the radio stations. Somehow song were able to capture the mood of the quaint, ‘la dolce vita’(the sweet life) surroundings of the Mediterranean world. I reckon that these songs may well be a mental depiction of my memories of the place, so much so that it left an impression on me. But I digress. Anyway, I got on witchhunt of the virtual sort, looking for the closest thing possible that could provoke the same reaction as the one I had the time I heard the music in that souvenir shop. I know, I could have just asked the greying shopkeeper who the singer of the songs were. Oh well. And I don’t speak Italian(not yet).

My search for the music wasn’t a fruitless task, as Youtube and Last.fm did point me to the direction of artists such as Gigi D’alessio and Eros Ramazzotti. Gigi D’alessio’s songs were as close that I could get that particular sound I was looking for, something that would be a good reminder of my one and only summer holiday. So anyone who’s looking for easy listening music, then do give these two a listen. Gigi D’alessio has very good vocals (click here if you don’t believe me), and he writes his own songs. Eros Ramazzotti veers more towards the slow rock ballads (something apparently characteristic of Italian pop). Both of them do great melodies.

Gigi D’alessio in Quanti Amori (2004) Eros Ramazzotti

During my search I also found this fella called Vittorio Grigolo, a new kid on the pop-opera block. Apparently this guy was handpicked by Simon Cowell to be a member of the opera boyband, Il Divo, but he declined the offer and went solo. After listening to Vittorio’s debut album, In the Hands of Love, and comparing it to Il Divo, I am pretty certain Vittorio Grigolo made the right choice as I felt his album deserved more plays than Il Divo’s (’Mama’, Il Divo? I mean, seriously?). He sings in Italian, English and Spanish, and most tracks in the album are pretty good. Being an opera crossover album, the songs aren’t full-blown opera, which makes the songs rather accessible to my opera-sensitive ears. Some critics have christened him as Il Pavarrottino (”Little Pavarrotti”) due to being invited to sing with the opera giant. Some have also likened him to Andrea Bocelli, but I’d think his songs have more appeal than Andrea Bocelli’s, whose concert I once watched seemed slightly dull.

Vittorio Grigolo’s In the Hands of Love (2006)

The songs on the album do grow on the listener as I have learnt, which is the reason why this album would demand repeated listens. Two songs come to mind which fit this description, “Listen to the Bell” and “Roma Sogna”. They might unravel a different facet every time people listen to them. The first single of this album is a cover of Keane’s “Bedshaped”, done a la classical. Another track on this album is ‘Il Mio Miracolo’. Nothing too noteworthy in my opinion, but he also did a duet of the same song bi-lingually with Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. Yup, a duet between an opera singer and a leader of a burlesque girl group. However, after listening to the duet, which showcased the vocal prowess of this lead Pussycat, you’d be wondering what in the name of music she is doing singing songs about loose buttons and people looking at her *beep*. Oh well, it’s most definitely the money. Plus she’s hot so who cares. But the said song would be able to expose her talents and get people to take her more seriously (unless she doesn’t take herself seriously and continue to sing frivolous songs about her booty).

Lately I have also been checking out this really pretty singer who sings just as well as she looks. It is Anna Tatangelo, an angel with a really sensuous voice. And so bellissimo! Just take a look at the pic above. Heard her in a few duets with Gigi D’alessio whom I was talking about earlier. See her here in action. Like Gigi, she is a winner of the San Remo Music festival, an annual Italian song festival. She sounded really good in the duets, haven’t got hold of her solo album yet, but hope it doesn’t disappoint.

This picture wasn’t taken in Netherlands but in Belgium albeit the former country’s association with windmills ,legal marijuana, prostitution and gay marriage. Nevertheless, Belgium is just nextdoor to Holland, so it’s not surprising if they have similar culture and economic activities, which might explain this windmill, one of a few to dot the periphery of the charming little town on Brugges. Brugges is a well preserved old town that is a couple of hours train ride from Brussels, the admittedly dull capital city of Belgium. It’s a compact little township with rows of quaint shops, houses and churches, with the quintessential town hall at its centre. We spent an afternoon on our rented bikes cycling all around this town, taking photos. The peace and calm of this town (before and after the busloads of daytripping grey tourists arrive) left quite an impression on me. Staying in this town really felt like being in the old-fashioned village which I assumed it was before the arrival of mass tourism- our hostel was located in a street where there was also a little minimart, a deli manned by a friendly butcher (yay sausages and pate!), a bakery and a vege grocer.

Found this song a few days ago while music hunting on the internet, although this song isn’t exactly new (apparently it is the b-side track for Scissor Sister’s 2004 single, “Mary”). These glam dance rockers made the popular 2004 Franz Ferdinand single as their own, restyling it with a lounge-y feel that a 1980’s Elton John would have approved. I am a fan of Franz Ferdinand’s original version of the song, but this one makes for an enjoyable listen too, what with a twangy country guitar plucking replacing the electric guitar at the song’s signature riff. Below is the link to the mp3 of the live recording of the Scissor Sister’s lounge sessions in London’s BBC Radio One back in 2004.

Scissor Sisters- “Take Me Out” (Radio 1 Live Lounge)
Click here for the mp3

Thanks RadioRitmono for the fantastic links.

Am right now in my newly rented room in Kuala Terengganu. Life here is drastically different from what I am used to, but thank God for broadband! Time goes by pretty slowly at night, especially when I am not tired and there’s nowhere to go and no satellite TV to watch. But I’ve been feeling pretty upbeat and satisfied tonight, after delving into the treasure trove of songs on the internet. (Hours spent in front of the computer screen- sad, I know.)

But after listening to the busloads of unsavoury commercial music on terrestrial radio, getting hold of these new songs have been bliss for me. It’s disappointing that all the English radio stations have practically the same format of operation, ie chart topping music which results in all radio stations playing the same few commercially viable songs. All three stations(which will remain undisclosed) have practically the same playlists; if I hear chart topping song, A, on Radio X and decide to switch to Radio Y, Radio Y will play song A within the next 15 minutes. In the end I just turn off the radio. I swear, if I hear Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” one more time, I am gonna strangle the first person I see.

Anyway, enough of my rants, here’s two of the many interesting finds I’ve got. In terms of genre the two of them are as unrelated as Paris Hilton and I. One’s the new single by the Scissor Sisters, an NY band who rose to fame with their Elton John-esque dance pop/rock/glam. The other is an excellent folk track by a new 27 year-old singer whom I just knew about called M. Ward.

Here’s the first one, Scissor Sisters’ “I don’t feel like dancing”, the first single to be released from their second album entitled “Ta-Dah”. Don’t let the title fool you, ‘cos you will. If the least of your toes do not tap to the rhythm of this song, I’d suggest that you see a shrink.

And here’s the second song. “Chinese Translation”, a simple guitar-y tune by singer-songwriter M. Ward. The combination of soothing heartfelt rendition of seemingly simple lyrics backed by the reverberating banjo and a longing guitar somehow manages to leaves the heart tingling. Watch the adorable narrative animation inspired by Chinese watercolours, its video is bound to leave you with a little smile. The lyrics are underneath if you can’t get what he’s singing.

So there, something to get you moving, and another to get you smiling.

I sailed a wild, wild sea
climbed up a tall, tall mountain
I met a old, old man
beneath a weeping willow tree
He said now if you got some questions
go and lay them at my feet
but my time here is brief
so you’ll have to pick just three

And I said
What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart
and how can a man like me remain in the light
and if life is really as short as they say
then why is the night so long
and then the sun went down
and he sang for me this song

See I once was a young fool like you
afraid to do the things
that I knew I had to do
So I played an escapade just like you
I played an escapade just like you
I sailed a wild, wild sea
climbed up a tall, tall mountain
I met an old, old man
he sat beneath a sapling tree
He said now if you got some questions
go and lay them at my feet
but my time here is brief
so you’ll have to pick just three

And I said
What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart
and how can a man like me remain in the light
and if life is really as short as they say
then why is the night so long
and then the sun went down
and he played for me this song

Tomorrow I will be leaving for Kuala Terengganu to begin my 1 year training for my job. My feelings have been a rollercoaster. It climbs up slowly whenever I think that being there would be alright, that I’d have the experience of living in a culture fairly different from what I am used to here in Kuala Lumpur. Also when I think I’d have a chance of being transferred to Kuala Lumpur, or at the thought of being able to live out of home again. Then the rollercoaster ride goes down, this time at accelerating speeds for god knows how long. Today, being my last day in KL, is one of those days. What more, my formal appeal for a transfer back to Kuala Lumpur has been rejected today.

Today is one of those days where I’d wish to turn back time to a year back. Again, I wish I had escaped to another country, as a university student, back to my comfort zone, with my friends as my safety net.

But tomorrow may be the first day of the rest of my life, just like a cheesy line of a B-grade Hollywood movie. To think that so many of my friends got to work where they wanted, either at first attempt or after an appeal, and me being so firmly placed into Kuala Terengganu; I wonder if fate played a part in this. But it is not for me to know that, or to know what is in store for me there. All I know is it will be a test for me, a spoilt urbanite, to live in a culturally different environment for a year (or four). I guess my ability to adapt will be the litmus test of whether I really am an adult. For I presume that life would be full of such changes, and I guess for me, the only difference is that I am getting some sort of a headstart before the others.

I can’t think of much else to write, for this is all that is on my mind right now. Till next time, where I would be writing from KT.