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Ramasutra — Kwaidan
Album: El Pipo del Taxi EP
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2650









Released: 2003
Length: 4:34
Plays (last 30 days): 6
As the night is getting darker and the crow flies overhead
Silent footsteps run behind me no more hallowed ground ahead
Close your shutters lock the gate ward off the evil eye

Hide under the covers when the half moon cuts the sky

Feel a pinprick in my belly and the fear begins to spread
Pinch of salt over my shoulder but my shadow has no head
Sound of my heart pounding makes my prayers go unheard
Churchbells in the distance but no sermon will be served

I see the glow
From far away
It haunts me down
Straight to my grave

Through the flicker of my candles I can see my mirrors crack
Try to gaze on my reflection but there's no-one looking back
Garlic on my window silver cross upon the door
Incense in the hallway holy water on the floor

I see the glow
From far away
It haunts me down
Straight to my grave

There are three knocks on my front door and a chill runs down my spine
Muffled voices call a name and I could swear that it was mine
Ravens croak upon my roof a prophecy of doom
All my walls are closing in my home is now my tomb

I see the glow
From far away
It haunts me down
Straight to my grave
Comments (295)add comment
Human Behavior anyone?
 ExecutorQ3 wrote:

Shamisen, for all those who wanna know the "guitar" instrument



Thank You for the info!
 fredriley wrote:

This gives me the willies, in a good way. 9 from the spooked Nottingham jury.


I  Agree!
 enkay wrote:

Just for a laugh I checked out all your song comments, or at least the last 30 or so before they bored me to death.
For someone who constantly comments about how overplayed certain songs are you are hypocritically repetitive with your comments.

Here's a challenge for you - can you dig back through the archive of your own comments and find a single positive one? Go on, just for the undoubted hell of it.



They that can, do; they that can't, teach; and they that can't do either, criticize.
 mkinnan wrote:

Please make it stop, by far the worst song ever played 




No, that's REM...
intense, captivating.  ceremonial , , , 
This gives me the willies, in a good way. 9 from the spooked Nottingham jury.
Shamisen, for all those who wanna know the "guitar" instrument

Love the drums.  Thanks for introducing me to this, Bill.
Backed up by Yoshida brothers?
Lots of resonance here with S J Tucker's work.
 mkinnan wrote:
Please make it stop, by far the worst song ever played 
 
Just for a laugh I checked out all your song comments, or at least the last 30 or so before they bored me to death.
For someone who constantly comments about how overplayed certain songs are you are hypocritically repetitive with your comments.

Here's a challenge for you - can you dig back through the archive of your own comments and find a single positive one? Go on, just for the undoubted hell of it.
 mkinnan wrote:
Please make it stop, by far the worst song ever played 
 
Just hit PSE; that makes it stop, ok?
Reminds me of Battlestar Galactica.
There’s just no need for this rip-off. Love the B-52’s - they were especially good live. This version is crap.
Beautifully eery, but a little too much meaning tonight when we learn that COVID-19 has been confirmed on our island.
Just can't get into this one. Ugh.
 coloradojohn wrote:
This had me from the first time I heard it long ago.  I liked the way it sounds a lot like scenes from an old "Noh" drama.  I get a craving to hear it when it proves elusive in its timing in the rotation.  My like for it only increases with each hearing, and I might as well add that this thing is pretty deep indeed: kwaidan is an old pronunciation that was superseded by the term kaidan, which basically means "Strange Tales," which not co-incidentally was used as the title of Lafcadio Hearn's book over 100 years ago that showed some glimpses of Japan — that got both him and the country some considerable global attention at the time — and is also nicely reflected in the suitably spooky lyrics, which are hard to piece together behind all the wonderfully distracting musical textures.  Hearn's stories are cool, and came from a variety of old sources, but in my opinion, even spookier and well worth unearthing today is the work of Kyoka (Kyotaro) Izumi, especially The Saint of Mount Koya — and that is an undeniably mystical "power" place I have visited several times... RP is a great SOURCE, too; one of the best!

 
Have you seen the flick, Mishima? I'm a Phillip Glass fan so I can appreciate
the sound track and the visuals in the film are stunning...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 mkinnan wrote:
Please make it stop, by far the worst song ever played 
 
Well people like it MickyDOUCHE
 mkinnan wrote:
Please make it stop, by far the worst song ever played 
 
YOU stop~! Music is objective douchebag. The song may not be awesome, but it's far from he "worst song ever played" and I'm making a personal request that Bill G note when Minnylildick logs in and make sure to play it each and every time.
 mkinnan wrote:
Please make it stop, by far the worst song ever played 
 
Wait, what?
Hell Yeah! Haven't heard this in quite a while! Creepy & Cool!
 coloradojohn wrote:
Wow, I finally found out why this has such a Japanese sound to it — the ensemble Arashi Daiko, 嵐太鼓, (Storm Drums) plays on it! 
 
I love this song because of those drums. Really gets me up and moving. And the rest of the album is great also. Different and eclectic.
More Storm Drums please!!
Please make it stop, by far the worst song ever played 
 mrtuba9 wrote:

Bumping this up! Fantastic info...
 
I keep bumping this up too!
Welcome to RP sucker!
 coloradojohn wrote:
This had me from the first time I heard it long ago.  I liked the way it sounds a lot like scenes from an old "Noh" drama.  I get a craving to hear it when it proves elusive in its timing in the rotation.  My like for it only increases with each hearing, and I might as well add that this thing is pretty deep indeed: kwaidan is an old pronunciation that was superseded by the term kaidan, which basically means "Strange Tales," which not co-incidentally was used as the title of Lafcadio Hearn's book over 100 years ago that showed some glimpses of Japan — that got both him and the country some considerable global attention at the time — and is also nicely reflected in the suitably spooky lyrics, which are hard to piece together behind all the wonderfully distracting musical textures.  Hearn's stories are cool, and came from a variety of old sources, but in my opinion, even spookier and well worth unearthing today is the work of Kyoka (Kyotaro) Izumi, especially The Saint of Mount Koya — and that is an undeniably mystical "power" place I have visited several times... RP is a great SOURCE, too; one of the best!

 
Bumping this up! Fantastic info...
More Storm Drums please {#Biggrin}
 coloradojohn wrote:
Wow, I finally found out why this has such a Japanese sound to it — the ensemble Arashi Daiko, 嵐太鼓, (Storm Drums) plays on it! 

 
That and the guy going "OoooOOOOooooo".  He makes the song.
Wow, I finally found out why this has such a Japanese sound to it — the ensemble Arashi Daiko, 嵐太鼓, (Storm Drums) plays on it! 
I'm not sure I can even rate this yet until i hear it again.  I'm not even sure what it is I heard.
Made me look right away 
 
HAHA...WTF?
 coloradojohn wrote:
This had me from the first time I heard it long ago.  I liked the way it sounds a lot like scenes from an old "Noh" drama.  I get a craving to hear it when it proves elusive in its timing in the rotation.  My like for it only increases with each hearing, and I might as well add that this thing is pretty deep indeed: kwaidan is an old pronunciation that was superseded by the term kaidan, which basically means "Strange Tales," which not co-incidentally was used as the title of Lafcadio Hearn's book over 100 years ago that showed some glimpses of Japan — that got both him and the country some considerable global attention at the time — and is also nicely reflected in the suitably spooky lyrics, which are hard to piece together behind all the wonderfully distracting musical textures.  Hearn's stories are cool, and came from a variety of old sources, but in my opinion, even spookier and well worth unearthing today is the work of Kyoka (Kyotaro) Izumi, especially The Saint of Mount Koya — and that is an undeniably mystical "power" place I have visited several times... RP is a great SOURCE, too; one of the best!
 
thanks cj! provides wicked background to some damn spooky-cool music
 coloradojohn wrote:
I watched Kobayashi's excellent movie, "Kaidan" (based on Hearn's chilling tales), on Halloween, and of course, I thought of this song!

 
And there was me, thinking that Kobayashi was Pete Postlethwaite's alter ego in Usual Suspects, or, for those of unusual insight,  Obadiah Hakeswill in 'Sharpe'.
I've been listening to RP play this tune for years now. I can't handle this song anymore. Downgraded from 2 to 1
I watched Kobayashi's excellent movie, "Kaidan," (based on Hearn's chilling tales) on Halloween, and of course, I thought of this song!
Loved it right up to the vocals... I found them a bit disappointing, not up to the same level as the instrumentals. The edited music that played on in my mind was so much cooler. Now I want to listen to some Yoshida Bros.
The Monday morning wake up call.  Excellent.

Seriously though, I finally bought the album and it's quite good. Most of you fans of eclectica (and it covers an incredible amount of territory in five tracks) will probably enjoy.
Can't tell if the barking dogs are in the song or down the street.
{#Drummer}
....don´t like this.....{#No}
wow..this is a nice diversion...my attention is pulled into this...very deep...nice RP
There are not many songs that I can say annoy the living bejeezuz outta me...this is one of them. In one sense I appreciate the production and somewhat unusual composition of the piece..but ultimately it rankles me and I yank the volume to zero. No accounting for taste I guess...
 coloradojohn wrote:
This had me from the first time I heard it long ago.  I liked the way it sounds a lot like scenes from an old "Noh" drama.  I get a craving to hear it when it proves elusive in its timing in the rotation.  My like for it only increases with each hearing, and I might as well add that this thing is pretty deep indeed: kwaidan is an old pronunciation that was superseded by the term kaidan, which basically means "Strange Tales," which not co-incidentally was used as the title of Lafcadio Hearn's book over 100 years ago that showed some glimpses of Japan — that got both him and the country some considerable global attention at the time — and is also nicely reflected in the suitably spooky lyrics, which are hard to piece together behind all the wonderfully distracting musical textures.  Hearn's stories are cool, and came from a variety of old sources, but in my opinion, even spookier and well worth unearthing today is the work of Kyoka (Kyotaro) Izumi, especially The Saint of Mount Koya — and that is an undeniably mystical "power" place I have visited several times... RP is a great SOURCE, too; one of the best!

 
{#Clap} Thanks, John - it's informative comments like this that make it worthwhile reading song comments. Truly spooky - gives me the willies. 9 from the goosepimpled Nottingham jury.

This had me from the first time I heard it long ago.  I liked the way it sounds a lot like scenes from an old "Noh" drama.  I get a craving to hear it when it proves elusive in its timing in the rotation.  My like for it only increases with each hearing, and I might as well add that this thing is pretty deep indeed: kwaidan is an old pronunciation that was superseded by the term kaidan, which basically means "Strange Tales," which not co-incidentally was used as the title of Lafcadio Hearn's book over 100 years ago that showed some glimpses of Japan — that got both him and the country some considerable global attention at the time — and is also nicely reflected in the suitably spooky lyrics, which are hard to piece together behind all the wonderfully distracting musical textures.  Hearn's stories are cool, and came from a variety of old sources, but in my opinion, even spookier and well worth unearthing today is the work of Kyoka (Kyotaro) Izumi, especially The Saint of Mount Koya — and Koya-san is an undeniably mystical "power" place I've visited several times. RP is a great source, too; one of the very best!

Great song....so much going on musically...loved it.
 nicolewe wrote:
I like the jungle sounds....{#Dance}
 
it's actually traditional Japanese music{#Daisy}

Amaze and impress your wedding guests: try substituting this for the Chicken Dance.  Much cooler, non?


I mentioned way down thread, but about 3 years ago I hated this, but over the course of a year it moved up the ranks to an '8' for me. It's not something I'd listen to everyday, but I love it when it sticks its head in here.

And you can download the whole EP at Amazon for about 6 bucks, and I actually wrote the only Amazon review for the EP.

I like the jungle sounds....{#Dance}
A solid one.
 ajudd wrote:
Wow - not cheap! I was going to add this to my collection, but I think I will pass at $4.95 for just one song! good thing I mostly just listen to RP!
 


Where did you see it for 4.95?
This one's growing on me.

Not sure whether to bust out the Kabuki mask, the wampum or the silver bullets?
This is a strange one, but I like it. 
 RadioDoc wrote:

If you are one of the few eMusic subscribers left after the Sony Music invasion, this is available there:

https://www.emusic.com/album/Ramasutra-El-Pipo-Del-Taxi-MP3-Download/11166118.html

 

I looked all over E-music a couple years ago for this song, and they didn't have it.  I do remain after the Sony invasion, at the bare minimum.  I still love their selection of indie labels. I avoid Sony like the plague.
Boring

Very strange, which of course is right up my wheelhouse!{#Clap}


 jehahn wrote:
Am I the only person who hears the very start of this song and thinks it's "Storm" by the Yoshida Brothers (and vice versa.)
 
I hear it - and bought Yoshida brothers album because I loved "Storm" - sadly won't be adding this though.
Wow - not cheap! I was going to add this to my collection, but I think I will pass at $4.95 for just one song! good thing I mostly just listen to RP!
Every time this starts I think it's going to be Smoke City's "Underwater Love."
lyrics search is fruitless.  :(
Love this creepy song!
wouldn't be too sad if this wasn't played again.
Nice.{#Angel}
Taxi!?
Cool number, with a little bit of Bjork's Human Behavior wandering through the drum line.

Feck y'all. I love this. {#Sunny}
Am I the only person who hears the very start of this song and thinks it's "Storm" by the Yoshida Brothers (and vice versa.)
 Droidac wrote:
Someone PLEASE tell me where I can buy this song!!!!
 
If you are one of the few eMusic subscribers left after the Sony Music invasion, this is available there:

https://www.emusic.com/album/Ramasutra-El-Pipo-Del-Taxi-MP3-Download/11166118.html

 Droidac wrote:
Someone PLEASE tell me where I can buy this song!!!!
 
It's available on Amazon.com. I downloaded the whole EP a year ago.

Sounds exactly like 'The Creatures" at least the 'Boomerang' album, a 80's side project of Siouxsie Sioux and her drummer.

This song does have a strangely attractive beat
Hell? 
 
 
 
Droidac wrote:
Someone PLEASE tell me where I can buy this song!!!!
 

 petesoper wrote:

This is all I could find:

    https://www.semprinirecords.com/ramasutra.php

If somebody can read the French, perhaps there is a clue about a commercial source for this 5-song EP.

This is a very interesting, enjoyable track. The album cover art is "interesting."

 
Alright, I emailed Semprini Records, and they're shipping me a CD. Only $14, that includes taxes and shipping. It should be here in a couple days!

Thanks Petesoper!

 Droidac wrote:
Someone PLEASE tell me where I can buy this song!!!!
 
This is all I could find:

    https://www.semprinirecords.com/ramasutra.php

If somebody can read the French, perhaps there is a clue about a commercial source for this 5-song EP.

This is a very interesting, enjoyable track. The album cover art is "interesting."



Odd juxtapositions I am hearing in this... eastern flavor to the music but I swear I heard references to garlic around the window and crosses upon the door.  Anyone else get that?
jonrox wrote:
I surprised myself by really liking this one, good stuff, a melting pot of musical styles takes you away from it all

{#Meditate}{#Daisy}{#Meditate}


Someone PLEASE tell me where I can buy this song!!!!
 liser wrote:
Hard to cook when you're gliding and shaking your ass...
 
{#Eyes}    what's in the pot, you are cookin !?
any left overs' ?

 Atombender wrote:
Way cool...
I need more emoticons to describe this.

Maybe a dancing katana instead of dancing banana :)    
 
be my guest.....   {#Bananajam} {#Bananapiano}   {#Boohoo}  {#Guitarist}     {#Drummer}   {#Guitarist}
Have no clue...
liser wrote:
Hard to cook when you're gliding and shaking your ass...

I'll have to bump this up one just for that visual...{#Cool}
I surprised myself by really liking this one, good stuff, a melting pot of musical styles takes you away from it all
I started out liking this when I first heard it... now I'm loving it. I've come to realise that if Excelsior has chucked his breakfast on a song, then it's probably going to be good, interesting and creative, unlike Excelsior's monotonous use of emoticons.
Pretty cool.
I absolutely love this, a fine example of ethnic fusion.
Don't care what all the haters are saying, but I love this!!!
Anyone else hearing Battlestar Galactica here?
Hard to cook when you're gliding and shaking your ass...
I'm clearly in the minority here but I like this piece.  I find Japanese drumming erotic. {#Tongue}
I can't understand him - most of the time!
Excelsior wrote:
This song blows. {#Puke}

Please stop! I have to turn Youtube on now.

Yeah! Spooky! Now, where's me garlic? ;-)

7 from the Nottingham jury, another point to be added if that troll Excelsior slags it off again :)
 Chumbawamba-1984 wrote:


Ah! The never equaled NRA hillbillies humor and open mind! Nicely articulated for an undergraduate hemorrhoid.

 

Ha ha Chumbawamba — well said!
>>

Ooo-gah Boo-gah . . .
 Excelsior wrote:
You know, I would love to get my hands on a crate full of CDs of this... Then donate them to the local rifle range and watch them being used as skeet shooting targets. Pull! *Blam*
  {#Yes}
M.

{#Shifty}
Survivors ready?
GO!

Anyone remember Big Pig?
the percussion sounds reminiscent of PJ Harvey.

But it's as if this song can't decide - is it lyrical or is it percussion? No, it's both! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Kwaidan!
mute
This song blows.  {#Puke}
For the first 4 seconds I thought I was hearing Renaissance/Annie Haslam singing "Can You Understand". (Why not add it, RP?)

For the rest of the song, I was sorry it wasn't! 
boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-
ooooooooooooooooooring
Excelsior wrote:
You know, I would love to get my hands on a crate full of CDs of this... Then donate them to the local rifle range and watch them being used as skeet shooting targets. Pull! *Blam*
Ah! The never equaled NRA hillbillies humor and open mind! Nicely articulated for an undergraduate hemorrhoid.
You know, I would love to get my hands on a crate full of CDs of this... Then donate them to the local rifle range and watch them being used as skeet shooting targets. Pull! *Blam*
Ramasucks Kwaitalot
Intriguing, fascinating, compelling ...
Heard it a thousand times. Still lovin' it.
Suck it up and listen again, Ex! Excelsior wrote:
Have you heard it a thousand times yet? You'll change your tune.
86atc250r wrote:
I'm surprised to see all the negativity about this selection. I've been going through comments and have found that I've agreed with most up to this point. All in all I rather enjoy this track.
Have you heard it a thousand times yet? You'll change your tune.
I'm surprised to see all the negativity about this selection. I've been going through comments and have found that I've agreed with most up to this point. All in all I rather enjoy this track.
Me likes!
i'm puzzled. y'all keep saying you "grew tired" of this song. me, i hated it from the moment i first heard it. what am i missing?
la la la la la la la-la-la-la-la-la-la (woosh la la la la la la la-la-la-la-la-la-la (woosh) la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la (woosh) la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la (woosh) clong clong clong click! click! woooooooooo hooooo hooooooooooo I used to dislike this song, now I absolutely hate it.