Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Revisiting a golden age
Life, John Clewley, Published on 04/06/2025
» Arabic popular music produced several divas in the 20th century, with each blessed with a powerful distinctive voice. Some of them included the "Egyptian Immortal" Oum Kalthoum, who dominated Arabic radio with her expressive voice; "Algerian Rose" Warda; Farouz, "The Star of Lebanon"; and "Syrian Mystic" Asmahan, whose life was tragically cut short at just 32.
Global grooves
Life, John Clewley, Published on 05/11/2024
» Manu Chao released his last studio album La Radiolina in 2007. Prior to that, he released Clandestino in 1998 and Proxima Estacion: Esperanza in 2001 to global acclaim. He took off with a huge ensemble to tour the world after that, which resulted in the live album Radio Bemba Sound System in 2004. And prior to that, he had already played his version of punk rock, inspired by The Clash, with the legendary band Mano Negra.
Farewell to a legend
Life, John Clewley, Published on 05/12/2023
» News of the passing of frontman and singer of The Pogues, Shane MacGowan, on Nov 30 sent shockwaves of sadness around the world of Irish music. Tributes were published across media, from the Irish president to his former bandmates.
Chase the cherry blossoms in Phu Lom Lo
Life, Karnjana Karnjanatawe, Published on 10/12/2020
» During the cold season, the mountains of Phu Lom Lo in Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park in Loei turn pink due to the blossoming of wild Himalayan cherry trees known in Thai as phaya suea khrong.
'Real Lord Of The Flies' shipwreck to become major movie
Life, AFP, Published on 26/05/2020
» The remarkable story of six boys stranded on a remote island that has been dubbed the "Real Lord Of The Flies" is to become a Hollywood movie, it was announced recently.
A tribute to Rachid Taha
Life, John Clewley, Published on 18/09/2018
» Rachid Taha, the iconoclastic and rebellious singer from Algeria, died last week in a Paris suburb. He was 59 years old. He had emigrated to France at the age of 10 with his family and emerged in the early 1980s with his band Carte de Sejour, which he founded in 1980 in Lyon. In 1986, he made waves with a cynical, mocking cover of chanson icon Charles Trenet's song, Douce France (Sweet France). Adding Arabic oud and drums and jumping into the song with a punkish snarl and biting (new) lyrics, this song set the tone for his entire career.
Vegan: The Chef
Life, Vanniya Sriangura, Published on 20/07/2018
» Following the favourably-received inaugural showcase in Bangkok last month, world-travelling plant-driven French chef Jean-Christian Jury is returning to the city to present yet another series of exclusive wine dinners at Anantara Siam hotel on Saturday and Wednesday.
Healthy and delicious!
Life, Published on 01/06/2018
» Attitude Rooftop Bar at Avani Riverside Bangkok hotel presents an exclusive plant-based wine dinner June 6.
When world music was opening our ears
Life, John Clewley, Published on 29/05/2018
» The 1980s was a period when non-Anglophonic mainstream bands started to make waves at festivals and music stores in Europe. Pioneering festivals like Angouleme in France exposed bands from Africa, Asia, Middle East and the Caribbean to international audiences. This is how the first wave of the boom in so-called "world music" started; these bands then began to release albums, which were often marketed from indie record stores. This is how we found out about Salif Keita, Mory Kante, Cheb Khaled and Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens.