Dustin Wong | Dog Eaters

Are Euphoria

Posted on 04.20.17 under are euphoria, Dustin Wong, Takako Minekawa, Uncategorized

Takako Minekawa and Dustin Wong’s 3rd album, “Are Euphoria,” drops in April 2017 via 7 e.p. in Japan and from Thrill Jockey in the States in June 2017.

“Recorded and mixed by Wong, “Are Euphoria” is a refined version of what the duo has become known for. Exploring loops, samples and layers, the album paints a quirky otherworldliness. Minekawa’s vocals, which possess a serene transparency alongside Wong’s intricately constructed and ever-fluid sonic support, together present an album that is interested in creating atmosphere rather than any sort of conventional verse-chorus-verse structure.” — Ryotaro Aoki

It has been three years since Dustin and Takako have released an album and this article in the Japan Times touches on some of the reasons why. Dustin was born at the Kapiolani Children’s Hospital (same as Barak Obama), brought up in Japan and started his music career in America. His return to Japan five years ago meant yet another culture shock.

Live @ Fu-chi-Ku-chi

Posted on 01.31.17 under Dustin Wong, Dustin Wong, fu-chi-ku-chi, Takako Minekawa

Live in Shimokitazawa: Dustin Wong, Takako Minekawa, and opening for them, Otake Kohan.

Julian and Victoire enjoyed the show and Georges (still in vitro) danced the night away!

Otake Kohan

Dustin Wong & Takako Minekawa’s 3rd album, “Are Euphoria,” will be out in Japan on April 5. It’s their first album in 3 years and the very first from 7e.p. Check out the first cut from the album at https://7ep.net/item/epcd099/

October 9 is John Lennon’s birthday

Posted on 10.09.16 under Dustin Wong, John Lennon

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And Dustin Wong’s

It’s a beautiful…

Posted on 08.23.16 under Anekona, Cloud Hands Project, Dustin Wong, haleakala, Matt Papich, maui, Pekelo Cosmos, Predawn Voices, Takako Minekawa

Summer!

But I like to think that all summers are beautiful…

Aaron Boothe in Historic Wailuku Town. Son of Pekelo Cosmos, Aaron plays a mean guitar and sings a pretty but gritty song.

“Predawn Voices,” a Cloud Hands Project song recorded in August 2016 features Aaron on electric.

The Sugar Company is getting their last crop in. Hopefully, they will replace the sugar with hemp, but I’m guessing that housing and commercial developers have different plans.

Yes, that’s a commercial jet landing at OGG…

Ah yes, the ripening fruit.

Home grown pineapple and lilikoi. Lilikoi has been scarce this summer. Lack of bees…

Let’s blame Monsanto for that.

Making a ti leaf skirt is quite labor intensive and time consuming.

Junko will be making her own, soon! As soon as I bring back 200 ti leaves…

The controversial observatory on Haleakala. Give them an inch and they’ll take the summit.

Tourists bring a drone to the summit. The ranger did not like that. Not at all.

They quickly played the conspiracy card: “Secret stuff up here they don’t want you to see, right?”

Kahuna Bula picks noni leaves and camphor to make a poultice for Takako’s leg injury.

Dustin and Takako were at Anekona with Matt Papich (he played with Dustin in Ecstatic Sunshine a few years back before Ponytail) to mix Dustin and Takako’s new album.

The famous silver sword.

Tourists leave rubbish. I turned it into an Iichiko Shochu homage.

This is one of the real posters.

“Coming down, from the mountain. My lady waits for me…”

Matt pounds ulu (breadfruit). This is a superfood that could end world hunger. Yeah, right…

This was a Budweiser, but is now “America.” If you drink enough, it could end world peace… Yeah, right!

Make America great again! Because this beer sucks…

Subtle. Subliminal. No one cares. It’s all about the money.

Matt is the sonic director adding depth and oomph with side chains.

Here’s to a successful album!

Beach House & Takako Minekawa and Dustin Wong

Posted on 01.29.16 under Beach House, Dustin Wong, Graham Hill, Skyler Skjelset, Takako Minekawa, Victoria Legrand

At O-Nest, Dogenzaka, Shibuya. A medium-large venue, groups like Blondie have played there.

Shibuya has been a mess — under construction for a few years now — and it looks like it will be a few more years before it’s completed. Hopefully, within my lifetime…

Full house at O-Nest.

Everyone stares at an illuminated board.

Everyone…

Skyler Skjelset, who was a founding member of Fleet Foxes and is playing bass on this tour, opened the show. He played multi-textured drones over a simple beat.

Dustin and Takako played next. New songs comprised of cascading waves of beats, looped guitar riffs, samples and vocals.

Beach House tours with their own lighting. Cases of it. Mostly back-lighting the band, the effect is more meditative than celebratory. Dream Pop drenched in reverb, it’s mysterious, not self-aggrandizing.