sri krung brass

artist: ศรีกรุง บราส (sri krung brass)
album: ศรีกรุง บราส (sri krung brass)
tracklist:
01. สร้องแสงแดง (soi saeng daeng)
02. กระแต (kratae)
03. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
04. แขกต่อยหมอ (khaek toi mo)
05. แขกมอญ (khaek mon)
06. ไทรโยค (sai yok)
07. เขมรโพธิสัตย์ (khmer phothisat)
08. คลื่นกระทบฝั่ง (khluen krathop fang)
09. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian)
10. ก่อนสิ้นแสงตะวัน (kon sin saeng tawan)
11. มาลี นารี (mali nari)
12. นางในฝัน (nang nai fan)
13. ใจ (chai)
14. หยาดน้ำฝนหยดน้ำตา (yat nam fon yot nam ta)
15. โอ้ยอดหญิง (oi yot ying)
16. ค่ำแล้ว (kham laeo)
17. ใจบอบช้ำ (chai bop cham)
18. รอความหวัง (ro khwam wang)
19. ร่ายมนต์รัก (rai mon rak)
20. จำวันจาก (cham wan chak)
21. ความรักของฉัน (khwam rak khong chan)

this week, more great thai-international bachelor pad music from the sri krung brass! from what i can piece together about their history, the group was established by narot thawonbut circa 1935 as the house band for sri krung sound film studio, to provide incidental music for the films the studio produced. their membership, including bandleaders, would vary greatly over the years, from narot on to government public relations department band (later suntharaphon) veteran saman kanchanaphalin, and again to korean ex-patriot kangwan chonlakun (a.k.a. mr. charlie kang, born kang chulkoo), who handles the arrangements here. this collection features two of their original long-players combined onto one cassette: the first highlighting thai classical tunes in a "novel style" (where they were co-billed as/with eddy's trumpets team?) and a second revisiting more contemporary luk krung hits, both filtered through a range of cosmopolitan latin and soul influences.. enjoy!

[i must warn you, also, the compilers of this collection have gotten over-ambitious again, and the second side tails out before the final track is finished]

 

khlai arom kap wong dontri yot niyom tang tang

artist: various
album: คลายอารมณ์ กับ วงดนตรี ยอดนิยมต่างๆ (khlai arom kap wong dontri yot niyom tang tang)
tracklist:
01. รักเอย (rak oei)
02. ตาแสนกลม / เพลิน (ta saeng klom / phloen)
03. กราวกีฬา (krao kila)
04. งามแสงเดือน (ngam saeng duean)
05. นกเขาขะแมร์ (nok khao khmer)
06. สร้อยแสงแดง (soi saeng daeng)
07. ราตรีประดับดาว (ratri pradap dao)
08. สายทิพย์ (sai thip)
09. บุพเพสันนิวาส (bupphesanniwat)
10. หยดหนึ่งของการเวลา (yot nueng khong kan wela)
11. รักเมืองไทย (rak mueang thai)
12. เพียงคำเดียว (phiang kham diao)
13. นางฟ้าจำแลง (nang fa cham laeng)
14. ค่ำแล้ว (kham laeo)
15. ที่รักฉันคอยเธอ (thi rak chan khoi thoe)
16. แม้พี่จะขี้เมา (mae phi cha khi mao)
17. น้ำตาฟ้า (nam ta fa)

1-3 performed by วงดนตรี คีตะวัฒน์ (wong dontri khitawat)
4-7 performed by วงดนตรี วราห์ วรเวช (wong dontri wara worawet)
8-10, 15 performed by วงดนตรี ศรีกรุง (wong dontri si krung)
11-13 performed by วงดนตรี กังวาล ชลกุล (wong dontri kangwan chonlakun)
14 performed by วงดนตรี สง่า ทองธัช (wong dontri sa-nga thongthat)
16-17 performed by วงดนตรี รวมมิตร (wong dontri ruam mit)

this week, easy listening from mid-century bangkok's best orchestras! featuring a roster of groups in the mold of the government public relations department band (suntharaphon) who had cut their teeth backing the star singers of luk krung, these recordings are later efforts greatly influenced by american ensembles such as stan kenton's "artistry in rhythm" and "progressive jazz"¹, and likewise reflect the afro-cuban influence behind those works. some selections are instrumental versions of luk krung hits, some are prayuk-style thai classical compositions, and others are original pieces. expect "wall of sound"-style production, big brass, and dense latin percussion.. enjoy!

[i must warn you, also, the compilers of this collection have gotten over-ambitious again, and the first side tails out before track 7 is finished]

 

wara worawet: khrueng sai thai banleng, vol. 2

 

 

artist: วราห์ วรเวช / วงเครื่องสาย คณะ วัชรบรรเลง (wara worawet & wong khrueang sai khana watcharabanleng)
album: เครื่องสายไทย บรรเลง ชุดที่ ๒ (khrueng sai thai banleng, vol. 2)
tracklist:
01. ลาวดวงดอกไม้ ; แม่แล้ลำปาง (lao duang dok mai ; mae lae lampang)
02 . ตับ วิวาห์พระสมุทร (คลื่นกระทบฝั่ง ; บังใบ ; แขกสาหร่าย) (tap wiwa phra samut (klueng krathop fang ; bang bai ; khaek sarai))
03. ตับ ขอมดำดิน (เขมรพระประทุม ; เขมรเขาเขียว ; เขมรเป่าใบไม้ ; เขมรเอวบาง) (tap khom dam din (khmer phra prathum ; khmer khao khiao ; khmer pao pai mai ; khmer aeo bang))
04. เพลงประจำคณะวัชรบรรเลง (phleng pracham khana watcharabanleng)
05. น้ำลอดใต้ทราย เถา (nam lot tai sai, thao)
06. ลาวสวยรวย เถา (lao suai ruai, thao)
07. เพลงประจำคณะวัชรบรรเลง (phleng pracham khana watcharabanleng)

5, 6 sung by ยุพา วัชรนาค (yupha watcharanak)

this week, we'll hear our third entry from wara worawet! a physician by profession (graduating from the university of pennsylvania in 1961), mr. wara was also a prolific songwriter (having a number of luk krung and thai sakon-style hits to his name), as well as a leader of the musical association of thailand under patronage of his majesty the king. on this cassette, he tries his hand at the prayuk movement, a trend of "modernizing" thai classical music to appeal to an increasingly globally-minded local audience. in particular, this recording features a khrueang sai phasom or "combined string" ensemble, conducted by suwit bowonwatthana, which i believe features so u and so duang (fiddles), khlui (flute), and percussion plus the cosmopolitan additions of harmonium, khim (chinese-style dulcimer), and violins. the repertoire is mostly popular classical pieces, with a few original compositions. the first side features a pair of interesting medley-style suites on the themes of the ocean (2) and cambodia (3), respectively. the second side includes 2 vocal pieces in thao form featuring singer yupha watcharanak. enjoy!

khana a. kalasin an-thanon: hae sot dontri phuen ban hao, vol. 1

artist: คณะ อ. กาฬสินธุ์ อั้นถนน (khana a. kalasin an-thanon)
album: แห่สดดนตรีพื้นบ้านเฮา ชุดที่ 1 (hae sot dontri phuen ban hao, vol. 1)
tracklist:
01. แห่สดดนตรีพื้นบ้านเฮา ชุดที่ 1 ตอน 1 (hae sot dontri phuen ban hao, vol. 1, pt. 1)
02. แห่สดดนตรีพื้นบ้านเฮา ชุดที่ 1 ตอน 2 (hae sot dontri phuen ban hao, vol. 1, pt. 2)

this week, another excellent offering from takker audio! while i haven't been able to track down any info on a. kalasin an-thanon or his band, i'd assume they're denizens of khon kaen like their label-mates khana rung thawi (though kalasin's name makes me think they could be from just across the provincial border). as with our previous album from takker, we've got 2 nearly 20-minute-long parade-music phin workouts, with a keyboard workstation (looks like a roland xp-10) carrying much of the weight. and while our achan's face-mask might seem eerily contemporary, i'm thinking this recording probably dates from a previous pandemic time (swine flu, 2009?). i picked this up at the sadly defunct major grand in khon kaen in 2010.. miss that place!

namphueng phet-uthai & her group: tham khwan nak, pt. 2

artist: น้ำผึ้ง เพชรอุทัย - ละเอียด ลูกอุทัย - สุวรรณ แก้วน้ำ (namphueng phet-uthai, la-iat luk-uthai & suwan kaeonam)
album: ทำขวัญนาค 2 (tham khwan nak 2)
tracklist:
01. สอนนาค (son nak)
02. พระสุริยง (phra suriyong)
03. อวยพรนาค (uai phon nak)
04. บายศรี (bai si)
05. เชิญขวัญนาค (choen khwan nak)
06. บายศรีเวียนเทียน (bai si wian thian)
07. ชูชกสองกุมาร (chuchok song kuman)
08. ฉ่อยเรื่องชูชก (choi rueang chu chok)
09. มัทรีกลับจากป่า (matri klap chak pa)
10. มัทรีตัดพ้อ (matri tat pho)
11. พาชูชกชมนก (pha chuchok chom nok)
12. อวยพรลา (uai phon la)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we have part 2 of namphueng phet-uthai and her group's excellent ceremonial sounds! as namphueng's stage-surname suggests, our artists are based out of uthai thani province in thailand's central plain and specialize in music for any number of events where sacred sounds are required (at the time of writing, you can still book them to perform at your own event!). we've heard from these folks once before here, way back in 2010, when they provided a soundtrack to the thot kathin & thot phapa merit-making festivals. today, we join them at a tham khwan nak, or ordination ceremony for a novice monk. the group includes fellow singers la-iat luk-uthai and suwan kaeonam, performing poetry by sangwian miluenam. while the first side finds them backed by the "78 sound" piphat ensemble as in part 1, the second side finds accompaniment paired down to a more drum-and-fiddle-based group. enjoy!

preview:

namphueng phet-uthai & her group: tham khwan nak, pt. 1

artist(s): น้ำผึ้ง เพชรอุทัย - ละเอียด ลูกอุทัย - สุวรรณ แก้วน้ำ (namphueng phet-uthai, la-iat luk-uthai & suwan kaeonam)
album: ทำขวัญนาค 1 (tham khwan nak 1)
tracklist:
01. ปาริตะวา (paritawa)
02. เชิญเทพยุดา (choen thepphayuda)
03. เคารพพระคุณ (khaorop phra khun)
04. กำเนิดนาค (kamnoet nak)
05. โศรกสะเดาโยง (เจ็บท้องคลอด) (sok sadao yong (chep thong khlot))
06. หมอตำแยทำคลอด (mo tamyae tham khlot)
07. กล่อมนาค (klom nak)
08. พระคุณ พ่อ แม่ (phra khun pho mae)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we have some excellent ceremonial sounds from namphueng phet-uthai and her group! as namphueng's stage-surname suggests, our artists are based out of uthai thani province in thailand's central plain and specialize in music for any number of events where sacred sounds are required (at the time of writing, you can still book them to perform at your own event!). we've heard from these folks once before here, way back in 2010, when they provided a soundtrack to the thot kathin and thot phapa merit-making festivals. today, we join them at a tham khwan nak, or ordination ceremony for a novice monk. her prayuk group includes fellow singers la-iat luk-uthai and suwan kaeonam, backed by the piphat ensemble "78 sound", performing poetry by sangwian miluenam. unlike many tapes, where i've stumbled across a random numbered volume on its lonesome, cliff managed to secure both parts of this set, so next week we'll hear the second half.. enjoy, and stay tuned!

preview:

wara worawet: phleng banleng khrueangsai phasom, vol. 7

artist: วราห์ วรเวช / วงเครื่องสายผสม คณะ วัชรบรรเลง (wara worawet & wong khrueang sai phasom khana watcharabanleng)
album: เพลงบรรเลงเครื่องสายผสม ชุดที่ 7 แสนคำนึง (phleng banleng khrueang sai phasom, vol. 7: saen kham nueng)
tracklist:
01. แสนคำนึง (saen kham nueng)
02. ครวญหา (khruan ha)
03. แสนสุดสวาท (saen sut sawat)
04. สุดสงวน (sut sanguan)
05. สารถี (sarathi)
06. สาวสอดแหวน (sao sot waen)

this week's cassette is part of a generous bequest gifted to us by educator cliff sloane, a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

this week, we'll hear our second entry from wara worawet! a physician by profession (graduating from the university of pennsylvania in 1961) mr. wara was also a prolific songwriter (having a number of luk krung & thai sakon-style hits to his name) as well as a leader of the musical association of thailand under patronage of his majesty the king. on this cassette, he tries his hand at the prayuk movement, a trend of "modernizing" thai classical music to appeal to an increasingly cosmopolitan local audience. in particular, this recording features a khrueang sai phasom or "combined string" ensemble, conducted by suwit bowonwatthana, and based on the traditional thai string ensemble (which typical featured so u and so duang fiddles, chakhe plucked zithers, khlui flute and percussion). to my ear, the phasom aspect regards the addition of accordion, chinese-style dulcimer, and perhaps some other elements that a more astute listener than i could divine? the repertoire features work from a number of prominent thai composers including luang pradit phairo (son sinlapabanleng), luang sano duriyang (thongdi thongphirun), luang sano duriyang (thongdi thongphirun), montri tramot, and phra pradit phairo (mi duriyangkun), several of which are based on more ancient melodies and which in turn feature further arrangement by mr. wara.. enjoy!

preview:

sianglaem kaemmumang: atchariya molam #1

artist: เซียงแหลม แกมหมู่มั่ง (sianglaem kaemmumang)
album: อัจฉริยะหมอลำ # 1 ฟังเสียงเขียงฟักลาบ (atchariya molam #1 fang siang khiang fak lap)
tracklist:
01. ฟังเสียงเขียงฟักลาบ (fang siang khiang fak lap)
02. ฮักสาวอาชีวะ (hak sao achiwa)
03. ชีวิตฮ้างคือฮังมดแดง (chiwit hang khue hang mot daeng)
04. จักรยานพาเพ (chakkrayan pha phe)
05. วอนลมห่มใจ (won lom hom chai)
06. ฮักเลี้ยวลำเสียวเค็ม (hak liao lam siao khem)
07. ไซหลังหล่า (sai lang la)
08. โทษฆ่าแขวนคอ (thot kha khwaen kho)
09. อ่านกิน (an kin)
10. ฝากรักออกอากาศ (fak rak ok akat)
11. หนี้ (ni)
12. หลุมดักใจ (lum dak chai)

this week, some great molam prayuk from sianglaem kaemmumang! i don't know much about mr. sianglaem (real name: bunthiang suepsunthon), but a helpful youtube commenter¹ has identified this album as classic "kalasin-style", and the album is brought to us by the phairot phanit company out of neighbouring roi-et province, which seems to situate the music fairly efficiently. from a quick survey online, it looks like sianglaem was still performing, as part of the laemnarong promotions group, as recently as 2013. the singer is author of most all the lyrical content on this 1996 cassette, and music is provided by the consistently excellent a. num phuthai. enjoy!

preview:

surachai sombatcharoen: rak sao ban klai

artist: สุรชัย สมบัติเจริญ (surachai sombatcharoen)
album: รักสาวบ้านไกล (rak sao ban klai)
tracklist:
01. รักสาวบ้านไกล (rak sao ban klai)
02. สวรรค์เวียงเหนือ (sawan wiang nuea)
03. ทำบาปใต้ถุนทำบุญบนศาลา (tham pap tai thun, tham bun bon sala)
04. ทุ่งนาคอยน้อง (thung na khoi nong)
05. คนหลายใจ (khon lai chai)
06. ถวิลดอกฟ้า (thawin dok fa)
07. ฝันค้าง (fan khang)
08. คนขี้เมา (khon khi mao)
09. หอมแก้ม (hom kaem)
10. นับวันเฝ้าคอย (nap wan fao khoi)
11. เราไม่ว่ากัน (rao mai wa kan)
12. สวรรค์บ้านนา (sawan ban na)

this week, we'll hear some classic 70s luk thung from surachai sombatcharoen! son of suraphon sombatcharoen, the star singer often called "thailand's elvis", surachai led a priveleged upringing compared to the early lives of many luk thung stars (highschool in england, higher education in bangkok) notwithstanding the troubles that attended his father's fame: young surachai recounted receiving threatening phone-calls, dodging gunfire, bombs and other extreme actions from his father's many rivals. over the years, surachai has found fame as singer, actor, radio d.j. and even politician. this cassette primarily features 1970s-style stage band disco, occasionally dipping into more traditional sounds with angkhalung and piphat ensembles joining in, all from the pen of songwriter chaiyaphon mueangsuphan. enjoy!

preview:

withep kanthima & the champagne band

artist: วิเทพ กันธิมา + วง แชมเปญ (withep kanthima & the champagne band)
album: ดนตรีลานนาผสมสากล ชุด บรรเลงคำร้อง (dontri lanna phasom sakon chut banleng kham rong)
tracklist:
01. เพลงดาดน่าน (phleng dat nan)
02. ซีจานตุง (si jantung)
03. เขมรกล่อมลูก (khmer klom luk)
04. จันทร์โลม (chan lom)
05. เพลงกันตรึม (phleng kantruem)
06. เพลงเร็ว (phleng reo)
07. ลำหลวงพระบาง (lam luang phrabang)
08. คางคกปากบ่อ (khang khok pak bo)
09. มอญดูดาว (mon du dao)
10. ลำเพลินอีสาน (lam phloen isan)
11. เสเลเมา (se le mao)
12. changing of the guards

this week's post marks the seventh in a series of cassettes gifted to us by educator cliff sloane. a former professor of ethnomusicology and founder of asianclassicalmp3.org, a major influence behind this blog.

our seventh tape from cliff again features the talents of lanna artist withep kanthima. born in 1954, withep trained from a young age with his father in the local music of northeast thailand, studying a range of folk instruments and performance styles. aside from this paternal instruction, withep was also a student of chao sunthon na chiang mai, our previously featured performer from cliff's collection. like his teacher, withep made his name hand-crafting local instruments and instructing young musicians at the chiang mai college of dramatic arts, marking that institution's first hire of a folk musician, according to cliff. he passed away in 2006 at the age of 54^[1]. this fourth cassette from withep finds him taking up the pi nae, a northern reed oboe, running through melodies drawn from lanna, thailand, laos, cambodia, indonesia and america (specifically, bob dylan). accompanying withep is a modern rock combo, "the champagne band", with electric bass, drumset and keyboards, as well as an assortment of local instruments. enjoy!

preview:

saman kanchanaphalin: accordion play thai classical music

artist: สมาน กาญจนะผลิน (saman kanchanaphalin)
album: เดี่ยวแอคคอเดี้ยน ไทยเดิม-สากล (accordion play thai classical music)
tracklist:
01. แขกมอญ 2 ชั้น (khaek mon 2 chan)
02. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
03. เขมรไทรโยค (khmer sai yok)
04. ลาวดำเนินทราย (lao damnoen sai)
05. สีนวล (si nuan)
06. คลื่นกระทบฝั่ง (khluen kratop fang)
07. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian)
08. ขับไม้บัณเฑาะว์ (khap mai bantho)
09. แขกเชิญเจ้า (khaek choen chao)
10. แขกต่อยหม้อ (khaek toi mo)
11. ค้างคาวกินกล้วย (khangkhao kin kluai)
12. ลาวเจริญศรี (lao charoen si)

this week, another classic from suntharaphon bandleader saman kanchanaphalin! while most famous for the many big band pop tunes he's written for various jazz-age bangkok balladeers, we've also heard saman playing a selection of classical tunes on the marimba and a selection of modern numbers with a piphat mon orchestra. on this cassette, the instrument of choice is the accordion, and the a-side features classical melodies performed in “thai style” (meaning only percussive accompaniment) while the b-side is done in “international style” (with a jazz combo behind). another interesting prayuk-style endeavor from mr. saman.. enjoy!

preview:

the isn't: sarawan

artist: อิสซึ่น (the isn't)
album: สาระวัน (sarawan)
tracklist:
01. สาระวัน (sarawan)
02. พบกันหน้าสยามแสควร์ (phop kan na siam square)
03. คนบวม (khon buam)
04. สิ่งที่พ่อให้มา (sing thi pho hai ma)
05. เขาดินวนา (khao din wana)
06. ไม่มีที่ว่างสำหรับเรา (mai mi thi wang samrap rao)
07. เจ็บดีแท้รัก (chep di thae rak)
08. รักที่แสนเศร้า (rak thi saen sao)
09. เขาลืมเราได้ เราก็ลืมได้ (khao luem rao dai rao ko luem dai)
10. บนเส้นทางรัก (bon sen thang rak)
11. ทัศนาจร (thatsanachon)
12. แม่สาวตางาม (mae sao ta ngam)
13. เซิ้งสากล (soeng sakon)
14. วิญญาณในภาพถ่าย (winyan nai phap thai)
15. ศรีราชา (sriracha)
16. ชาวดง (chao dong)
17. เลือกดูซิ (lueak du si)
18. คอยเธออยู่ (khoi thoe yu)
19. แกะเจ้าเล่ห์ (kae chao le)
20. หนึ่งมิตรชิดใกล้ (nueng mit chit klai)

this week, some 1970s folk-rock fusion from the isn't! the group was founded by brothers asanee & wasan chotikul from the northeastern province of loei ("isn't" being a referance to "isan"). much of their material was a light folk-rock in the style of simon & garfunkel (with a good amount of copy-songs present), but they recorded a few numbers with a heavier guitar sound as well, and even made some attempts to integrate thai/lao folk influences in addition to the anglo-american. they broke up after these recordings were released, with asanee playing alongside rewat buddhinan in the oriental funk and butterfly for a time, before coming back together as simply asanee-wasan and thereafter topping the charts for at least a decade.

preview:

sri krung brass

artist: ศรีกรุงบราส (sri krung brass)

album: บรรเลงศรีกรุง (banleng sri krung)

tracklist:

01. ตลุงปีใหม่ (talung pi mai)

02. ตลุงพระมะเหลเถไถ (talung phramale the thai)

03. ตลุงเฝ้าคอย (talung fao khoi)

04. ตลุงชาวทะเล (talung chao thale)

05. ตลุงสุดมือคว้า (talung sut mue khwa)

06. ตลุงเมา (talung mao)

07. ตลุงไม่เคยรัก (talung mai khoei rak)

08. ตลุงชีวิตชื่น (talung chiwit chuen)

09. ตลุงคู่ชื่น (talung khu chuen)

10. ตลุงเริงสุข (talung roeng suk)

11. ตลุงสงกรานต์ (talung songkran)

12. หาดกับฟ้า (hat kap fa)

13. สวรรค์ในตา (sawan nai ta)

14. รักมีกรรม (rak mi kam)

15. อาวรณ์รัก (awon rak)

16. ไฟสวาท (fai sawat)

17. พบกันทางใจ (phop kan thang chai)

18. นวลละออ (nuan la'o)

19. หนึ่งในฝัน (nueng nai fan)

20. ช้ำเพราะรัก (cham phro rak)

21. ชื่นรัก (chuen rak)

back this week after holiday travels, we've got a great old tape of big band instrumentals! from what i can piece together about their history, the sri krung brass were established by narot thawonbut in 1935 as the house band for sri krung sound film studio to provide incidental music to the films the studio produced. when public relations dept. band veteran saman kanchanaphalin took the helm decades later, the group became an outlet for his experiments in "modified thai classical music". on this cassette, however, what you have is your favorite thai pop melodies and percussive, folk-style talung numbers filtered through a herb albert sort of vibe. pretty nice stuff, enjoy!

preview:

chinnakon klong yao

artist: ชินกร ไกรลาศ (chinnakon krailat)

album: ชินกรกลองยาว (chinnakon klong yao)

tracklist:

01. ชินกรกลองยาว (chinnakon klong yao)

02. กลองยาวชินกร (klong yao chinnakon)

03. บ้านไร่น่ารัก (ban rai na rak)

04. เพชรร่วงในสลัม (phet ruang nai slum)

05. คืนนี้พี่ไม่กลับบ้าน (khuen ni phi mai klap ban)

06. ยอยศพระลอ (yo yot phra lo)

07. ลูกทุ่งเสี่ยงเทียน (luk thung siang thian)

08. เพชรฆาตใจ (phetchakhat chai)

09. น้ำตาใจ (nam ta chai)

10. ฟ้าแปลงนาง (fa plaeng nang)

this week, a sampling of national artist chinnakon krailat's brilliant career! dr. chinnakon's work was some of the most successful blending of pop music with influences from thailand's broad variety of folk & art musics. after starting out as a ramwong singer in his home province of sukhothai, chinnakon was picked up by "modernized music" impresario phayong mukda, with whom he made his most famous recordings. this tape has some great, dance-able drum & organ driven numbers, but my favorite is the beautiful "yo yot phra lo" with its piphat orchestra backing. enjoy!

preview:

dontri chin prayuk

artist: the stylers

album: ดนตรีจีนประยุกต์ (dontri chin prayuk)

tracklist:

01. พบรัก (phop rak)

02. ลมโชย (lom choi)

03. ไก่ขับหาคู่ (kai khap ha khu)

04. เพลงรักทิวหญ้า (phleng rak thio ya)

05. ปักษาเบิกฟ้า (paksa boek fa)

06. นิจนิรันดร์ (nit niran)

07. มอบหัวใจให้เธอ (mop hua chai hai thoe)

08. แม่ยอดกะล่อน (mae yot kalon)

09. ดอกตู้เจียน (dok tu chian)

10. เลื่อนลอย (luean loi)

11. คนลวง (khon luang)

12. สะพานรัก (saphan rak)

happy lunar new year! in celebration, here's some "modern chinese music" from thailand! to be honest, i'm not 100% sure that this cassette is actually by singapore's the stylers, but i'm reasonably certain; it was part of a series in which every other volume is credited to them, so i'm just deducing. plus it sounds like them! with a mix of chinese instruments (erhu, yangqin, various flutes) and "modern" elements like electric guitar and synthesizer, the band runs through a set of instrumentals in typical stylers' style. the animal noises on the first track are especially pertinent, this being the year of the horse! enjoy it!!

preview:

MRPT203 by monrakplengthai

sunthon chairungrueang & chumthong siangsane

artist(s): สุนทร ชัยรุ่งเรือง + จูมทอง เสียงเสน่ห์ (sunthon chairungrueang & chumthong siangsane)

album: ลำนิทานพื้นบ้านประยุกต์ (lam nithan phuen ban prayuk)

tracklist:

01. กลอนสิทธัตถะออกบวช (klon sitthat ok buat)

02. กลอนพิมพาพิลาป (klon phimpha philap)

03. กลอนนายฉันกลับคืน (klon nai chan klap khuen)

04. กลอนนางพิมพาฮ่ำไฮ (klon nang phimpha ham hai)

05. กลอนท้าวคูลูได้ข่าวนางอั้ว (klon thao khu lu dai khao nang ua)

06. กลอนนางอั้วผูกคอตาย (klon nang ua phuk kho tai)

07. กลอนกาดำถูกลอยแพ (klon ka dam thuk loi phae)

08. กลอนยายย่างจำสวน (klon yai yang cham suan)

09. กลอนกาดำฮ่อยดอกไม้ (klon ka dam hoi dok mai)

10. กลอนมโนราห์จากภูเงิน (klon manora chak phu ngoen)

11. กลอนศรีธนออกศึก (klon si thon ok suek)

12. กลอนมโนราห์ไกลศรีธน (klon manora klai si thon)

back up to isan this week for some outstanding, danceable folktales!  our molam here are mr. sunthon chairungrueang of chaiyaphum province and ms. chumthong siangsane from khon kaen.  the word prayuk ("practical" or "applied") in the title of this album refers to practitioners of a folk genre who've elected to experiment with incorporating influences from popular culture.  mr. sunthon here saw some success in (i'm guessing) the late 70's introducing the international dance craze known as "the bump" into traditional lam klon music.  i imagine this cassette was recorded a few years subsequently; the pop influences, while discernible, are played down a bit in favor of the traditional.  wonderful phin & khaen performances and relaxed grooves linger in the background while two expert singers slowly unravel classic buddhist folktales.  to my ears, this is just some of the most genial, mood-elevating music there could be... enjoy!

preview:

MRPT166 by monrakplengthai

khana arab bombay: nasib prayuk

artist: คณะ อรับบอมเบย์ (khana arab bombay)

album: นาเสปประยุกต์ (nasib prayuk)

tracklist:

01. นาเสปประยุกต์ ตอน 1 (nasib prayuk, pt. 1)

02. นาเสปประยุกต์ ตอน 2 (nasib prayuk, pt. 2)

this week, another installment of fantastic thai-muslim music!  this cassette features a prayuk or "applied" version of the malay nasib.  for a description of that genre, let me defer to jon ward, of the inimitable excavated shellac: "nasib, or "song of fate" ... is an aching, slow lament; a deeply melancholic popular song type which is built around the singer’s misfortune in life ... the origins of the nasib derive ... from indonesian/malaysian stambul theater music ... where theatrical groups would perform musical dramas, many with stories which had origins in india or the middle east ... nasib is sung by a singer who is in fact playing – or at the very least channeling – a character or situation from these classical stories, rather than singing [t]he[i]r own blues."  here the characters of nasib take one step further in their journey!  in it's prayuk form, thai nasib seems to stress group participation, with a solo singer & chorus trading call & response, as well as greater variations in tempo.. whether these are local innovations or a return towards the genre's theatrical routes, i couldn't tell you.  i also wish i could say more about our performers, khana arab bombay, but i can't find anything.  any further information would be greatly appreciated... until then, enjoy!

sangkhit prayuk: thai classical music

artist: สังคีตประยุกต์ (sangkhit prayuk)
album: เพลงไทยเดิม (thai classical music)
tracklist:
01. ลาวเจริญศรี (lao charoen si)
02. ลาวกระแซ (lao krasae)
03. ลาวกระทบไม้ (lao krathop mai)
04. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian)
05. กระแต (kratae)
06. มโนห์รา (manora)
07. แขกต่อยหม้อ (khaek toi mo)
08. จำปาทอง (champa thong)
09. สายสวาท (sai sawat)
10. สร้อยแสงแดง (soi saeng daeng)
11. เขมรไทรโยค (khmer sai yok)
12. เขมรเป่าใบไม้ (khmer pao bai mai)
13. เสเลเมา (se le mao)
14. บังใบ (bangbai)
15. มอญดูดาว (mon du dao)
16. ทะเลบ้า (thale ba)
17. ลาวดำเนินทราย (lao damnoen sai)
18. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)

this week, "classic goes modern dance"! pleng thai prayuk is an umbrella term for the many attempts, occurring roughly from the 60's until the 80's, to update thai classical & folk melodies with western instruments and song styles. this movement gave birth to shadow prayuk along with any number of modernized versions of molam, lam tat, isaew, etc. this cassette features what i assume to be one of the earlier attempts at such fusion, probably immediately predating the shadow trend. pieces from the classical canon are re-figured into thai-style latin jazz & lounge music settings. unfortunately, i have very little info to share about the ensemble.. though it wouldn't surprise me to learn that either mr. phayong mukda or the suntharaphon collective were involved. enjoy!!

shadow prayuk

artist: various
album: ชาโดว์ประยุกต์ (shadow prayuk)
tracklist:
01. พม่ารำขวาน (phama ram khwan)
02. แขกต่อยหม้อ (khaek toi mo)
03. ต้นบรเทศ (ton borathet)
04. ยะวา (yawa)
05. สร้อยแสงแดง (soi saeng daeng)
06. นางนาค (nang nak)
07. กระแต (kratae)
08. กลองยาว (klong yao)
09. กราวกีฬา (krao kila)
10. สีนวล (si nuan)
11. สุพรรณหงษ์ (suphannahong)
12. ไทรโยค (saiyok)
13. มอญกละ (mon kla)
14. ลาวกระทบไม้ (lao krathop mai)
15. ลาวเสี่ยงเทียน (lao siang thian)
16. ลาวคำหอม (lao kham hom)
17. ซัดชาดรี (sat chatri)
18. ลาวแพน (lao phen)
19. ลาวครวญ (lao khruan)
20. นกขมิ้น (nok khamin)

tracks 1-5, 7-8, 12, 17: พี.เอ็ม.พ๊อกเกทมิวสิค (p.m. pocket music)
tracks 6, 10-11, 13-16: จอนนี่ส์กีตาร์ (johnny guitar)
tracks 9, 18-20: เดอะซันออฟพี.เอ็ม. (the son of p.m.)

this week we'll hear from some of thailand's fantastic shadow bands & their surf-rock rollicks through the classical repertoire! the shadow movement was the brainchild of maestro phayong mukda, who had already begun experimenting with updating thai classical melodies to a latin/big band format. to complement the changing live music scene of 1960's bangkok, which was moving from spacious dancehalls into more intimate nightclub settings, phayong saw a need to condense his modernized ensemble. following a wildly successful asian tour by cliff richard & the shadows, phayong settled upon a similar combo of electric guitar, organ, bass & drums, and to emphasize the compact nature of the group, he called them "pocket music" (which also happened to be his own initials!). he gave his adoptive "son" khabuan mukda the lead organ slot, backed by chakkrin rasana on guitar & don sonrabiap on the drums, though chakkrin soon left to join rival organ star noppharat thiposot's band, johnny guitar. p.m. went through several more line-up changes, first expanding to 7, then settling down to 5 as backers for drummer-turned-frontman don sonrabiap in the 70's. shadow music seems all but forgotten in thailand, but you can find lots internationally, either anthologized by sublime frequencies or online at radiodiffusion internasionaal, as well as in a great recent post at brain goreng... enjoy!!

thai classical music angkalung ensemble

artist: thai classical music angkalung ensemble
album: ยะวา (yawa)
tracklist:
01. มโนราห์ลุยไฟ (manora lui fai)
02. ลาวดำเนินทราย (lao damnoen sai)
03. ลาวครวญ (lao khruan)
04. ลาวดวงเดือน (lao duang duean)
05. สร้อยแสงแดง (soi saeng daeng)
06. เขมรไทรโยค (khmer sai yok)
07. ลาวคำหอม (lao kham hom)
08. ยะวา (yawa)
09. ลาวกระแซ (lao krasae)
10. ลาวเจริญศรี (lao charoen si)
11. แขกอาหวัง (khaek a wang)
12. แสนคำนึง (saen kham nueng)

bit of a curiosity this week, we've got some old thai-style javanese music! the instrument featured here is the indonesian angklung (อังกะลุง (angkalung) in thai), a set of tuned bamboo rattles. the angklung was brought to thailand in the early 1900s by thai composer luang pradit phairo, following a royal visit to java in the entourage of his patron prince woradet. upon return, pradit adapted the instrument to the local tuning system, and it became a popular favourite. in the latter half of the century, it came to be a staple for school bands, much in the manner of handbell choirs in the u.s. or u.k.. the songs on here are mostly based on thai classical melodies, and backed up by a nice band, full of drums & a bit of electric organ. very cool!