Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Sophomore sensations
Life, John Clewley, Published on 01/11/2016
» Local favourites the Bangkok Paradise Molam International Band (BPIMB) released its second studio album, Planet Lam, on Oct 21. The eagerly awaited follow-up to their popular debut, 21st Century Molam, sees the band further develop their music into a spacier sound.
Debut album doesn't disappoint
Life, John Clewley, Published on 02/12/2014
» The long-awaited debut album from local favourites The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, 21st Century Molam, was launched last Thursday to the delight of the band's fans.
Bangkok Sh-Boom!
Life, John Clewley, Published on 18/11/2014
» The year 1954 was a busy one for R&B. Seminal and influential songs such as blues shouter Big Joe Turner’s Shake, Rattle And Roll; It Should Have Been Me by Ray Charles; Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite by the Spaniels; Sh-Boom by The Chords; and Just Make Love To Me by Muddy Waters dominated the R&B charts.
Spectacular molam show socks it to the city-slickers
Life, John Clewley, Published on 07/10/2014
» A lively crowd gathered last Saturday night on a vacant plot of land near Wat Payayang, just down from the Urupong intersection in central Bangkok, to enjoy a colourful show by the Khon Kaen-based molam troupe Prathom Banthoengsin. It's not often we get this kind of show right in the centre of town — the last one I went to was the Banyen Rakkan/Nok Noi Uraiporn joint concert a couple of years ago at the National Stadium — so I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
A step in a new Direction
Life, John Clewley, Published on 09/09/2014
» Mali in West Africa is best known for its amazing dance bands from the 50s, 60s and 70s, for small acoustic ensembles and for powerful singers like Salif Keita and Oumou Sangare.
Legendary molam star unleashed again
Life, John Clewley, Published on 08/07/2014
» Fans of the legendary molam singer Angkanang Kunchai will be delighted to know that a compilation of her early singles, Isan Lam Plearn, a version of which was originally released in 1975, has been released by Zudrangma Records of Thailand, EM Records and Soi 48 of Japan. The LP, which is available in vinyl and CD formats, was released in Japan last month, with the great lady attending events in Japan to celebrate the launch.
Big ban creates hot hit
Life, John Clewley, Published on 28/01/2014
» LA-based R&B singer Richard Berry wrote one of rock 'n' roll's most enduring anthems, Louie Louie, in 1955, releasing it on the Flip 321 label in 1957 on the B-side of a 7-inch single. You Are My Sunshine was the song on the A-side. It was released again later in 1957. Berry had a minor hit in the Northwest, but the song failed to reach the charts. Berry tried several follow-ups but to no avail. In 1959, he sold his rights to the song to the head of Flip 321 for US$750 (he was getting married and need the cash).
Songs of the 'babaylan'
Life, John Clewley, Published on 10/09/2013
» At last year's Penang World Music festival I had the opportunity to talk to Grace Nono, a most versatile singer, researcher and writer from the southern Philippines. After the event she sent me a copy of her first major publication, The Shared Voice (Anvil Publishing, Philippines), and I enjoyed reading it immensely. The book is about 10 traditional chanters, whom she terms "oralists", and Nono's 15-year journey to find her "own" voice.
Grooving Isan style
Life, John Clewley, Published on 02/04/2013
» Molam Aungkanang Kunchai's long-awaited return to Bangkok to play a concert of some of her greatest work from the 1970s came to fruition on Saturday at Sonic on Soi Ekamai. A delirious, packed crowd greeted her and her three-member hang krueang (chorus line) with rapturous applause as they showed Bangkokians and expatriates how to groove Isan style.
Vintage molam, contemporary vibes
Life, John Clewley, Published on 19/03/2013
» Angkanang Kunchai is one of the great voices of molam music. She was a successful singer with Surin Paksiri and the Ubon Pattana band during the golden era of the early 1970s and her 7-inch vinyl singles from that era always get the club crowds moving.