April 27, 2006
Tackling Inadequacy With Tacking
Not that I aim at creating the most beautiful music on the planet, but when listening to The Embassy's album Tacking, I can't help but feeling so small in comparison. I probably just understand 0,01% of what they're saying, but I still love the other 99,99% to death as much as that tiny bit.
I don't expect myself to write the most beautiful words on music on the planet either, but when being asked to contribute with the liner notes to the Japanese release of Tacking, some ordinary words just won't do.
Being a pure perfectionist, I never had satisfaction in mind when taking on the offer, and after four, five, or fiftyeleven tries I gave in. Enough was enough, and I handed the translator the version I thought would appeal the most to the Japanese.
Then this guy, Yusho Nishida, twists my words the way I always wanted, but never managed, and translates them into these kick-ass Japanese liners. The Japanese version of Tacking was released yesterday, and for the occassion I thought I'd translate Nishida's Japanese version back into English and share it on the blog. But it didn't take long to realise there's no use. That text is only to be read in Japanese. So, if you don't already know this beauty of a language: get your act together, sign up to your local university, and then come over to Tokyo and spend a couple of million yen on a language school!
Say what? No millions of yen? No urge to actually learn Japanese? Perhaps not so keen on reading those liner notes after all? Well, 16USD (plus postage) is all you need to get the actual CD. That's how much Panache's online store charge for it. That's how much some sweet feelings of joy, love and inadequacy will cost you.
That 16USD deal is for people outside of Japan. If you're here, you can easily find Tacking at Tower Records, HMV or your local select CD shop.
Posted by iensu at April 27, 2006 11:55 PM