• LIFE

  Farewell to a maestro

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 10/04/2024

  » The world of molam has been in mourning since news emerged that Thailand's greatest phin player Thongsai Thap Thanon passed away on March 20 at his home in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani, at the age of 77. The phin is a two- or three-stringed Isan Lao lute that is part of the trinity of molam instruments, along with the iconic khaen (free reed bamboo mouth organ) and the sor (fiddle).

• LIFE

  Suave guitar grooves

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 28/03/2023

  » The late Malian singer and guitarist Ali Farka Toure took his music on the road, travelling from his beloved farm in Niafunke, in northwestern Mali, to thrill audiences around the globe, until his untimely death in 2006.

• LIFE

  Tunes for the chill season

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 09/11/2022

  » The music scene has been given a boost this year with the return of tourists and the reopening of entertainment venues. Festivals are returning to the provinces this month and the local circuits for rock and luk thung are back, too. The summer festival season in Europe, Japan and North America also returned and coincided with lots of summer and now winter music releases. The World Beat desk is groaning under the weight of new music.

• LIFE

  Saying goodbye to cultural giants

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 18/01/2022

  » The world of Thai country music (pleng luk thung) was reeling from news of the death of luk thung legend and National Artist Waipoj Phetsupan last Wednesday. Waipoj, 79, was one of the Big Four central Thai luk thung stars -- Chaichana Boonachote, Chai Muang Singh and Kwanjit Sriprachan, all National Artists, are the others -- all of whom are masters of all the central folk styles.

• LIFE

  Suphanburi Soul

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 30/04/2019

  » It's been a while since Bangkok-based Zudrangma Records has released any new compilations. Last week, the label put out two compilations that will be of great interest to fans of Thai (Central Plains) traditional music and molam from Isan.

• LIFE

  A decades-long musical dialogue

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 18/10/2016

  » His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej created much joy among Thais of all ages with his musical performances, broadcasts and compositions, which lasted throughout his long reign. His Majesty composed more than 48 songs, ranging from blues, jazz and popular dance tunes to patriotic anthems and New Year celebrations

• LIFE

  Music to move to

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 26/07/2016

  » The fascinating sounds of "Lollywood" (Pakistani cinema) soundtracks have been exploding from the World Beat turntable for the past week, courtesy of an excellent recent double vinyl compilation, 'Life Is Dance!' Plugged-In Sounds Of Wonder At The Pakistani Picture House (Finders Keepers, 2011). The compilation was sourced from EMI Pakistan's vast archives by Chris Menist, DJ partner of Zudrangma's Maft Sai and a member of local favourites the Paradise Bangkok Molam International band, and is a part of the series called "Sounds of Wonder".

• LIFE

  March of the brass bands

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 25/08/2015

  » Military marching bands brought Western music to Asia, beginning a process of cultural fusion and interaction that continues to this day. Christian religious music came along at the same time, often in the form of hymns, but I'm not sure that hymns had the same impact as the dramatic, crashing sound of brass instruments played by marching musicians.

• LIFE

  Get into the groove

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 29/04/2014

  » Record Store Day was held at events at record stores around the world on Saturday. The event, which began in the USA in 2007 to encourage record stores and fans of vinyl in the US and UK to buy more records, was a huge success. Media ratings agency Neilson said it was “the most successful Record Day ever for vinyl”.

• LIFE

  Obits to African giants

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 11/02/2014

  » Two giants of African popular music passed away recently: Congolese bandleader and singer Tabu Ley Rochereau and legendary producer Ibrahima Sylla. Both of these musical icons helped to popularise African music not only within the continent but beyond it and on to the international stage.

1 2 Next Last