Diversion: show 35 - 13/12/2007 
Over a week late (due to equal parts busy schedule and downright laziness), here is the final playlist of 2008! Expect to hear some changes when Diversion comes back on the 24th of January. In the meantime, here's some of my favourite tunes in one easy-to-listen-to show!



(01. With Plenty of Money and You - Tony Bennett - Wild, Cool and Swingin' Too!)

02. A Day in the Life - Okko - Sitar and Electronics

03. Take Me to the River - Syl Johnson

04. Leavin' Me - Brother to Brother - Let Your Mind be Free

05. As Long As I Have You - Garnett Mimms

06. The Earthmen - Paddy Kingsland - The Sound Gallery vol.1

07. The Wrong Way - TV On the Radio - Desperate Youths, Bloodthirsty Babes

08. Sultana (Samba) - Ray McVay & His Orchestra - Come Dancing to the Hits of Today

09. Theme of Nakama - One Piece

10. Cloud Nine - Mongo Santamaria - Mongo Santamaria's Greatest Hits

11. Smoke - Fania All-Stars - The NuYorican Funk Experience: Salsa Caliente De Nu York!

12. Ape Is High - Mandrill - Mandrill Is

13. Logos Naki Worls - Yasushi Ishii - Hellsing OST 1: Raid

14. Less Talk More Rokk - Freezepop - Guitar Hero II

15. Hair / Aquarius - Hugo Montenegro - Moog Power

****

COMPETITION TIME!!!

Last week's music was the theme of The Sweeney

No competition this week, due to Xmas and all that.

****

16. (I Know) I'm Losing You - The Temptations - With A Lot O'Soul

17. Mahlalela - Letta Mbulu - Club Africa 2

18. Can You Get to That - Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

19. Camel Walk - The Latinaires - The NuYorican Funk Experience

20. Burning Spear - S.O.U.L. - Back to Breaks

21. Nitty Gritty - Ricardo Ray - The NuYorican Funk Experience: Further Adventures in Latin Soul

22. Announce the Challengers! Fight Begins! - One Piece

23. Go Go Cha Girl (Orangers A Go Go Mix) - Tetsuo Yoshida - Space Channel 5 Part 2: Non-Stop Mega Mix

24. Rock It On - Hideki Naganuma - Jet Set Radio OST

25. Born to be Bone - Coil - Gitaroomen OST

26. Underwater BGM - June 'Chiki' Chikuma - Super Bomberman 3 OST

27. Karate Funk - Masaya Matsuura - Parappa the Rapper 2 OST

28. Tecks Mecks - Jun Fukuda - Killer 7 OST

29. One Tip March - Hiroshi Okubo - Me & My Katamari

30. Kirby's Super Deluxe - Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra - Orchestral Game Concert 5

Diversion returns on the 24th of January, 2008



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Diversion: show 34 - TV Cop / Funky Crimefighter - 06/12/2007 


The show started well with me playing a song twice, then starting a record at the wrong speed - go me! I hope you enjoyed the TV Cop / Funky Crimefighter special nonetheless.

Dedicated to the awesome guy in the record store in Las Vegas where I got so much fantastic music, including the Peter Gunn album that I used a lot during this show. I did a bit of research, and I'm pretty sure it was this place: Record City.



01. Hotel Daniels - Lalo Schifrin - Bullitt OST

02. Across 110th Street (Instrumental) - J.J. Johnson & His Orchestra

03. Walkin' Bass - Henry Mancini - The Best of Peter Gunn

04. Mach 1 - Ray Davis & His Funky Trumpet - Sounds From the Lounge: Fast Cars, Secret Agents, Go Go Chicks

05. Dragnet/Room 43 - Ray Anthony - The Crime Scene (Ultra-Lounge vol.7)

06. Blood in the Gutter - Laurie Johnson - Ren And Stimpy Production Music

07. A Shot In The Dark - Henry Mancini - The Best of Henry Mancini

08. Call Me Mr. Tibbs - Quincy Jones - The Mood Mosaic 02: Barnie's Groove

09. Shaft's Cab Ride - Isaac Hayes - Shaft OST

10. Chase - The Staple Singers - Let's Do It Again

11. I Spy - Earle Hagen - The Crime Scene (Ultra-Lounge vol.7)

12. Theme From The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - Hugo Montenegro - The Man From U.N.C.L.E. OST

13. Kojak - Billy Goldenberg - This Is The Return Of Cult Fiction

14. Hang On In There - J.J. Johnson & His Orchestra - Across 110th Street OST

15. Qurbani - Bollywood Funk

16. Ironside - Quincy Jones - The Many Faces of Quincy Jones

17. Goofin' at the Coffee House - Henry Mancini - The Best of Peter Gunn

18. Moneyrunner - John Schroeder - The Mood Mosaic 09: The Sound Bullet

19. Gotcha (Theme From Starsky & Hutch) - Tom Scott - This Is The Return Of Cult Fiction

****

COMPETITION TIME!!!


20. ?????

If you can tell me which TV show that Crappy Casio Cover was from, contact me.

You're up for the chance to win a goodie bag packed with lots of random stuff! Don't miss this great opportunity!

Last week's music was the theme of Bomberman from Super Bomberman 3.

****

21. Shifting Gears - Lalo Schifrin - Bullitt OST

22. The Wild Ones - Lou Busch - The Crime Scene (Ultra-Lounge vol.7)

23. Echo Four Two - The Laurie Johnson Orchestra - The Easy Project

24. Park Avenue Beat (Theme From Perry Mason) - Bob Crane, His Drums and Orchestra - This Is The Return Of Cult Fiction

25. Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini - The Best of Peter Gunn

26. The Return Of The Pink Panther (Part I & II) - Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther and The Return Of The Pink Panther

27. The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 - David Shire - The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 OST

28. Dirty Harry - Lalo Schifrin - This Is Cult Fiction Royale

29. Magnum PI - M. Post & P. Carpenter - This Is The Return Of Cult Fiction

30. Jim On The Move - Lalo Schifrin Feat. Mike Melvoin - The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms - Film Bossa Vol. 6

31. Whodunnit (Precinct) - S. Haseley - This Is Cult Fiction Royale

32. Fallout - Henry Mancini - The Best of Peter Gunn

33. Pusherman - Curtis Mayfield - Superfly OST

34. The Streets Of San Francisco - Henry Mancini - The Mood Mosaic 09: The Sound Bullet

35. Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street OST



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Competition music for show 33 - 29/11/2007 
Click on the 'Listen Again' image to hear this week's competition music:



If you know which video game it's from, contact me!

If you're the lucky winner, you'll get an amazing goodie bag full of stuff as a prize!

** This competition is now closed **



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Diversion: show 33 - 29/11/2007 
Ah, shame. Listen Again cut off a big rant I had with the guys on The Mixtape about the news which Subcity have asked us to play between shows. They were about to play the news when I said not to bother. I don't really see the point of having news on shows that are going to be archived for future listening. At least the length of our conversation meant that no songs got cut off, plus we have a relatively clean start for a show (for once).

In other news, next week's show will be a special: TV Cop! Think Peter Gunn, Ironside, and possibly a cheesy Casio cover of Hawaii Five-O.

For now, here's the playlist for this week.



01. Bernie's Tune - Curley Hammer / Milt Buckner - Saxophobia (from the Ultra-Lounge series)

02. Jump, Jive & Wail - Louis Prima

03. Spooky - The Classics IV - Mood Mosaic 4: Retro Active

04. Dark Rapture - Count Basie - Exposure

05. Keep Loose - Jimmy McGriff - The Worm

06. Rough Nut - The Zodiacs - The Sound of Funk vol.6

07. Soul Mission - Brian Bennett - Into the Blue

08. Dog Pound Hop - Ren and Stimpy

09. Let it All Hang Out - Los Hombres - Sampled vol.3

10. Malaguena - Chico Arnez & His Latin American Orchestra - Sounds From the Lounge: Latin Lounge

11. Midnight Swinger - Mel Torme - Wild, Cool and Swingin' Too! (another Ultra-Lounge collection)

12. Katamari on the Swing - Matsuzaki Shigeru - We Love Katamari

13. Take All - Boogaloo Joe Jones - My Fire

14. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh - Bill Withers

15. Jenny Kissed Me - Peter Wyngarde - When Sex Leers Its Inquisitive Head

**Original poem by Leigh Hunt**

16. Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun) - Del Shannon

****

COMPETITION TIME!!!

17. ?????

If you can tell me which video game that music was from, contact me

You're up for the chance to win a goodie bag packed with lots of random stuff! Don't miss this great opportunity!

Last week's music was the theme of Hyrule Castle from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (I would have accepted simply Zelda).

****

18. Greensleeves - Ray McVay & His Orchestra - Ray McVay Plays

19. El Matador - Peter Nero - Peter Nero Plays A Salute to Herb Alpert

20. Bugle Call Rag - Benny Goodman

21. Return to Spanish Harlem - Tony Middleton & Bobby Matos - Yo! Hot Latin Funk From El Barrio

22. Taima No Kemuri Ga Me Ni Shimiru - Yasushi Ishii - Hellsing OST 2: Ruins

23. You've Been Talkin' 'bout Me - Donald Byrd

24. For Jammers Only - Johnny Hodges - On The Way Up

25. Joe Chin's Shopping Now! - Masaya Matsuura - Um Jammer Lammy OST

26. All Your Goodies Are Gone - The Parliaments - Testify! The Best of the Early Years

27. Fool's Paradise - Tsuneo Imahori - Trigun OST

28. Super Car (Street Live Version) - Harebare - One Piece Movie: Norowareta Seiken

29. Friendship Train - Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers - Cold Shoulder

30. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - Alan Haven - Sound From The Lounge: Pop Covers, Lounge Style

31. It's Your Thing - The Invaders - Mood Mosaic 8: Funky In A Minor Mode

32. E O Cide - Ed Lincoln - Ed Lincoln

33. Kelly Watch the Stars - Moog Cookbook - All I Need EP



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Competition music for show 32 - 22/11/2007 
Click on the 'Listen Again' image to hear this week's competition music:



If you know which video game it's from, contact me!

If you're the lucky winner, you'll get an amazing goodie bag full of stuff as a prize!

**This competition is now closed**



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Diversion: show 32 - 22/11/2007 
Another week, another show - enjoy!



(01. Trey of Hearts - Count Basie - Count Basie and the Kansas City Seven)

02. A Sangue Quente - Guilherme Vergueiro - Brazil Boogie

03. Penguin's Umbrella - Sun Ra & The Blues Project - Batman & Robin

04. Sweet Darling Think it Over - Junior Wells - You're Tuff Enough: The Blue Rock Studio Recordings

05. Summertime Blues - The Lebron Brothers Orchestra - The NuYorican Funk Experience - Salsa Caliente De Nu York!

06. I Can't Stand the Pain - Dee Irwin - The Soul of Minit Records

07. Tra La La Song (Banana Splits Theme)

08. Midnight Train (Demo Version) - The Monkees

09. Mexican Flyer (Swing it Black Mix) - Toshiya Arai - Space Channel 5 Part 2: Non Stop Mega Mix

10. Soulthing - Tony Newman - Mood Mosaic 6: Funky in a Minor Mode

11. Silent Hill (Otherside) - Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill OST

12. The Vulture - Labi Siffre - Remember My Song

13. Love Ritual - Al Green - Al Green Is Love

14. Skyscrapers - Eumir Deodato - Skyscrapers

****

COMPETITION TIME!!!

15. ?????

If you can tell me which video game that music was from, contact me.

You're up for the chance to win a goodie bag packed with lots of random stuff! Don't miss this great opportunity!

Last week's music was the Big Boss Confrontation music from Super Metroid (SNES)

****

16. Hold It - Bill Doggett - From Latin...To Jazz Dance vol.3

17. Sunny - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - The Best of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

18. High Society - The Les Reed Piano - The Easy Project

19. I Wanna Know - Mongo Santamaria - Mongo Santamaria's Greatest Hits

20. Scratchin' - Magic Disco Machine - DJ Pogo Presents Block Party Breaks

21. Instructor Mooselini's RAP - Masaya Matsuura - Parappa the Rapper OST

22. I'm A Sign of Changing Times - Chairmen of the Board - Bittersweet

23. Zone - Rhythm Makers - We Got the Funk

24. Put Love in Your Life - Parliament - Osmium

25. Pense a Moi - J.J. Johnson - Goodies

26. Hand Clapping Song - The Meters - Struttin'

27. Hit or Miss - Odetta - Odetta Sings

28. Twenty-Four Robbers - Fats Waller

29. Brown Eyed Handsome Man - Chuck Berry

30. Naruhodo Ryuuichi - Objection! 2001 - Masakazu Sugimori - Gyakuten Saiban + Gyakuten Saiban 2 OST

31. Naruhodo Ryuuichi - Objection! 2002 - Akemi Kimura - Gyakuten Saiban + Gyakuten Saiban 2 OST

32. Naruhodo Ryuuichi - Objection! - Masakazu Sugimori, Noriyuki Iwadare - Gyakuten Saiban Orchestra Album

33. Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright) Court Suite - Masakazu Sugimori, Noriyuki Iwadare - Gyakuten Saiban Meets Orchestra



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Silent Hill 5 wishlist 


There now follows a joint entry from Richie (thatguys.co.uk) and Kaiser Tia (diversionprojects.org), regarding a favourite gaming franchise...

As you may or may not know the Silent Hill series is getting a fifth instalment. Hurrah! However, this chapter in the series will NOT be developed by Konami Japan's Team Silent. Instead It will be developed in the US by The Collective, inc., the company responsible for such gaming classics as The Da Vinci Code and Star Wars: Episode III (ugh).

Konami made a similar decision when they outsourced the PSP's Silent Hill Origins to Climax US, who did such a bad job that most of the game's mechanics were scrapped and production handed over to Climax UK, who were deemed more capable of delivering a 'Silent Hill experience'. Now we don't claim to be a Japanimaniacs or USAphobes, but we have all seen what happens to good Japanese things when they get Westernised. Subtlety generally goes out of the window in favour of easy scares and plots that treat intelligence with contempt. Be it films (Ring, Grudge), Anime (One Piece), and of course, games (see the horrible things done to box art here).

The Silent Hill series is very dear to our hearts. We'd rather Team Silent give the franchise a break for a few years rather than churn out third-party sequels, which may lead to a dip in quality and vision. Climax UK altered its development for Origins when fans of the series voiced concerns. This little list is for The Collective, inc.

Things that we really don't want in Silent Hill 5




1. Thousands of Pyramid Heads

Richie says: Pyramid head is a unique character to Silent Hill 2 because he is an anthropomorphic representation of the main character, James' guilt. Fair enough you may get people's own anthropomorphic representation of guilt similar to Pyramid Heads, that's part of the charm of Silent Hill. But be careful guys, the last thing we want is Pyramid Head as a Mascot (a la Sonic) of the Silent Hill series.

Kaiser Tia says: Damn right, Pyramid Head is a fearsome character, and a lot of his mystique would fade with over-use. Since he's part of the Silent Hill mythology, I wouldn't mind learning a little more about him through books or paintings (the Silent Hill series has always been quietly self-referencing). It's also the sign of an unoriginal developer to simply recycle older, better ideas (see below).

The New International Track & Field cameo was genius, though.

****



2. Sexy Nurses

Richie says: Silent Hill is about normal and usually safe places and people gone very, very wrong. The most obvious example being the messed- up twitchy-head nurses, but this only works in context. Silent Hill 2's nurses were sexualised (as were all the other enemies in the game) to represent James' own problems (and boy, did he have a lot of them). Unfortunately, it's the sexy nurses of Silent Hill 2 that seem to have been adopted as standard (thanks for that, movie). For the love of god please don't give them massive boobies, lingerie, sextoy weapons and cheeky poses.

Kaiser Tia says: It's true that there's always nurses in Silent Hill games, but that's because there's always a hospital stage in the games. Silent Hills 4's nurses were anything but sexy - which was a representation of the villain's attitude to his own mother. The protagonist of Silent Hill 5 is meant to be a war veteran (how original), so why not use that as a theme for the nurses instead of simply raising the hemlines?

****



3. Combo system

Richie says: Keep the HUD to a minimum! Do not flash up "3x Bonus Multiplier" or "Kill Frenzy"

Kaiser Tia says: Combat has never been a focal point of the Silent Hill games. Sure, you have weapons and enemies, but this isn't Devil May Cry, people. The fact that you're controlling a character that isn't combat-ready makes things a lot more tense. I hope anyone on the development team who has mentioned 'Xbox Live' has been laughed out of the studio, and the games industry in general.

****



4. Film References

Richie says: For the love of Heather, just stay away from the film, don't make it a sequel the movie; do not tack on a "Real World" sub plot, and DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT make Silent Hill populated!

Kaiser Tia says: Did people actually like the movie?

****



5. Explanations

Richie says: The wonder of the series is how the themes of guilt, lust, and the other darker emotions are prevalent and the "plot" weaves around it. Stick to one protagonist so that the player can feel the story from his/her point of view.

Kaiser Tia says: The plot of the original Silent Hill needed an faq and now a prequel to explain it. Everyone loves a mystery - plus, it's easier to make interesting sequels when the rules of Silent Hill are vague (hence Silent Hill 4 taking place outside of the town itself).

****

Final comments

Richie says: All I can say Is that it better be fucked up and creepy. If I cringe, just once, due to any of the above points... I... I... I'll take a nose full of that White Claudia stuff, trip out into my own Silent Hill and use the lead pipe to beat-up any Silent Hill 5 references in there (Except maybe the army of Pyramid heads... Then I would just Run!)

Kaiser Tia says: I would be really disappointed to play Silent Hill 5 and get a generic blood and rust experience. I know it's early days yet, but the footage released so far shows little imagination (Wheelchair? Check. Main character searching for someone? Check. Child? Check, check, yawn). Silent Hill 4 pushed the series in a really interesting direction, and also felt like Team Silent had hit their design stride. It would be a real shame for the next generation of Silent Hill games to become a diluted version of the excellence served to us so far.

At least Akira Yamaoka is doing the music.



It had better be good, Akira, you hear?

Luv 'n' hugs,

Richie and Tia.



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Competition music for show 31 - 15/11/2007 
Click on the 'Listen Again' image to hear this week's competition music:



If you know which video game it's from, contact me!

If you're the lucky winner, you'll get an amazing goodie bag full of stuff as a prize!

**This competition is now closed**

**This music was the Big Boss Confrontation music from Super Metroid (SNES)**



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Diversion: show 31 - 15/11/2007 
Not got much to say, except here's the playlist for this week...



01. Daddy Grapes - Grant Green

02. Sunny - The John Schroeder Orchestra - Sounds From the Lounge: Pop Covers, Lounge Style

03. Charade - Henry Mancini

04. Balinese Bongos - Les Baxter - Bongo-Land (an Ultra-Lounge Album)

05. Bert's Apple Crumble - The Quik - Blow Up A Go-Go

06. We're Dance Team - Naofumi Hataya - Space Channel 5 Part 2: Chu!

07. I May Be Right, I May Be Wrong - Mill Street Depo - All Platinum Funk

08. Island - Pleasure Beach - Exile on Hammond Street

09. Allah Wakabarr - Ofo the Black Company - World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 3: Love's a Real Thing

10. Rock El Casbah - Rachid Tera - Tekitoi

11. Starlight Jamboree - Shogi Sugiyama, Yu Miyake - We Love Katamari

12. Luffy's Theme - One Piece

13. Super Castlevania 4 (SNES) Medley

14. Jet Stream - John Gregory - The Sound Gallery vol.1

15. Battle Theme - Queen - Flash Gordon OST

****

COMPETITION TIME!!!

16. ?????

If you can tell me which video game that music was from, contact me.

You're up for the chance to win a goodie bag packed with lots of random stuff! Don't miss this great opportunity!

Last week's music was from one of the early areas in Secret of Mana on the SNES.

****

17. Cold Shoulder - Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers - Cold Shoulder

18. Agua De Beber - Quarteto em Cy con Tamba Trio - The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms

19. Vehicle - Ray McVay & His Orchestra - Let's Singalong and Dance to Ray McVay's 50 Great Party Hits

20. Jason King - Laurie Johnson - The Return of Cult Fiction

21. Music to Interrogate By - Lalo Schifrin - Bullitt OST

22. Dun Maro Dum - Bollywood Funk

23. Music For My Mother - Funkadelic - Funkadelic

24. It's Your Thing - The Temptations - Puzzle People

25. Hard to Handle - Otis Redding

26. I Got The... - Labi Siffre - Remember My Song

27. Woman Made the Devil - Bongos Ikwue - Nigeria 70

28. Fever/Comin' Home Baby - The Ernie Freeman Group - Organs in Orbit

29. Don't Turn Around - Fingathing - Superhero Music

30. Terror in the Depths of the Fog - Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill 2 OST

31. BGM2 - June 'Chiki' Chikuma - Super Bomberman 3 OST



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Rice for words 
This is an interesting site - you play a thesaurus-y word game, and the advertisers donate rice for every correct answer you give. You don't have to log in, just click on the link and play. Etymological knowledge an advantage, although some of the alternative definitions are a bit questionable.



Not sure if it's the ultimate solution to world poverty and all that, but every little helps, eh?



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