kamui Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 I purchased my first music ever at iTunes: The Sound of Siam: Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz and Molam from Thailand 1964-1975 It is a great compilation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamui Posted January 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 BBC Review A mixture of the exotic and the familiar, drawing on off-beat influences. Jon Lusk 2010-12-06 If Thailand’s music was as popular internationally as its food, we’d all be a lot more familiar with it. But even compared to that from other Asian nations – which are generally under-represented in the world music market – it’s pretty obscure. This compilation of luk thung (Thailand’s answer to country music), luk krung (its city cousin) and molam (a more rootsy style from the poor northern region of Isan, near the border with Laos) will thus come as a surprise for many. And an intriguing one, at that. It’s the mixture of the exotic and the familiar that makes it so. While the frequent use of guitar, bass, keyboards and kit drums betrays the influence of the soul, rock and psychedelia of the time, the strange tonal nature of the Thai languages and the use of several local folk instruments, and their odd harmonies make it sound quite distinct. These include the sor fiddle and the khaen, a kind of bamboo mouth organ, often heard in the introductions and tooting away in the backgrounds of many tracks. As compiler Chris Menist remarks in his liner notes, some of this music has an uncanny similarity to the Ethio-jazz of Mulatu Astatqé. That’s partly because it was made in the same era, and draws on similarly off-beat Latin influences. Even so, it’s not as accessible. Chaweewan Dumnern is referred to as the "queen of molam" and her pulsing cut Lam Toey Chaweewan seems to echo Booker T & the MGs… until you hear her sinuous vocal. But that definitely is the riff from The Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash running through her Sao Lam Plearn. Although a previous likening of the Petch Phin Thong Band to an "oriental Stone Roses" is rather fanciful, given the looseness of the rhythm section (strong drugs, mate, can I have some?), their instrumental Soul Lam Plearn is entertaining. As is another instrumental by Thong Huad and Kunp’an, which is based around a gnawing sor solo. The "space-age music" of The Viking Combo Band features a Pink Panther-esque walking bass line, suspenseful percussion and increasingly unhinged vocals. And yes, this being music from a truly gastrocentric culture, there are two songs referencing Thailand’s fiery cuisine – som tam papaya salad and tom yum chicken, in case this is making you hungry. A balanced diet, naturally. BBC Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 The khaen is really Lao - only heard in Thailand in Isaan. I love it! Got one in my room but no one to teach me to play it. p.s. Why is Thai any stranger than the other tonal languages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous God Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 It isn't, learning mandarin made learning Thai much easier, I downloaded a "free" version of the music, should rock the in-laws with it when I see them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamui Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 The khaen is really Lao - only heard in Thailand in Isaan. I love it! Got one in my room but no one to teach me to play it. p.s. Why is Thai any stranger than the other tonal languages? Not about tonal stuff, but since I have studied Japanese for some time I find it quite refreshing that I have to learn less than one hundred letters. This can be done until summer - unless Japanese where never can stop learning Kanji. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 It isn't, learning mandarin made learning Thai much easier, I downloaded a "free" version of the music, should rock the in-laws with it when I see them What free downloading program do you use? PT would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelgianBoy Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Why per PT ? why not share that info to all ? BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous God Posted January 24, 2011 Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 Limbo, I just googled the name and "torrent" and up came 3 or 4 links, very easy, should give you same result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozpharlap Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Not if you have a Mac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lazyphil Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 cd came in post today, love it, only 10 quid......i like having cd's with info, artwork, words etc....downloads suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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