Hey, everyone.

I really feel inclined to take my time this morning to brag on (maybe "glowingly praise" is a more appropriate verb) the creative and melodic music of a singer and instrumentalist of some Internet renown known as Kate the Great, ... or, as she seems to call herself these days, Erutan ('must be a musician thing).




As you might remember, I happened to discover this girl's impressive collection of self-made music a few months ago at YouTube when I posted her interpretation of one of my most treasured VG songs, 'Rose of May". It turns out she has an entire channel devoted to arrangements she has made of many existing songs in video games (mostly from FFIX) and anime. And, since, as I have often said before in a number of ways, mainstream music since the turn of the millennium is completely soulless, it was especially easy for someone like myself - who is by no means a serious musician but has modest talent in the viola - to become a loyal fan of Kate's for both her beautiful voice and obvious passion for instrumental music right away.

Among her interpretations of existing songs, my two personal favorites are:

1) The Cleyra theme from FFIX (a slightly more fast-paced version) ->

It is amazing that she makes this sound even better than the in-game original. ... It almost makes me want to move to that town right away and resign myself to spend the rest of my life sleeping on tree branches and protecting the Star Maiden.

2) "Serenade" from Fruits Basket (an anime/manga that I hasten to assure you I know virtually nothing about) ->



Amazingly, she has even performed a song from Elfen Lied, and even that I found somewhat pleasant to hear. If I never said it before, I absolutely $%&@-ing HATED this anime from watching just the first episode (and seeing a few other choice scenes) in all of its morbid ridiculousness and obscenity, so if she can make anything at all pertaining to Elfen Lied or some other godforsaken anime actually sound somewhat appealing, then Kate must be pretty talented at what she does.

But there's not only that. A few days ago I found that she had been working on and finally released a CD featuring her first collection of completely original songs, composed, sung, and played entirely by Kate herself, called "Raindancer". I'm not quite that knowledgeable of official music-related terminology, so the best way I can describe Kate's music is that it is very light and soft, featuring primarily the harp and (I think, just from hearing, but I could be wrong) a variety of woodwinds, and you can easily tell just from listening that she is that kind of person who seems to take an inordinate amount of joy from life's two simplest concepts: love and nature. ^_^




... So, if you can find it in you to somehow appreciate this girl's seemingly incredible talent in the ways of music as much as I have come to (again, at least her music has a soul), then I strongly suggest purchasing "Raindancer". I did, and it was worth every penny. In all seriousness, I will likely be playing the songs on this CD on repeat to induce my slumber for a long time to come.


.... Luna, I think you and your cute little boat song have just been replaced. Forgive me.

She looks really young. And to that extent, it's even more impressive. And what is she doing with so many different instruments? Not that I'm complaining as she knows how to use them all very well. Mad props to the little lady.

Also, I think that it's worth elaborating on your "all music is soulless" statement. Because it's very much true. And is very much true in just about every single genre these days. Completely uninspired lyrics about the same sh*t. All of it just saturated in synthesized, auto-tuned garbage. There is absolutely zero talent in the music that comes out today. So you know what? I'll get her album. If nothing more than to support real talent.

Does anybody ever get the impression that Lantis really hates recent music? Yeah, me too.

I took a listen, and she's pretty good, tbh. quite a nice youtube channel as well.



Maybe you could suggest something for him, then? ^_^

or, indeed, for me. I do admit to listening to far more instrumental music and very, very little new! mainstream! music! nowadays.

Karl McCann
http://www.myspace.com/karlmccann
he's got all his music available on his myspace and somewhat surprisingly on the pirate bay as well!
http://thepiratebay.org/search/karl%20mccann/0/99/0
no seeds but ill try and seed for it when my internet is working.

or there's one some of you may have heard before but id still defo recommend
http://www.mininova.org/search/?search= ... ites&cat=0

but will have to have a listen to this girl when i get my net back up SK

I insist that you do. I myself have since become a most loyal fan. ^_^