khine htoo: so

artist: khine htoo

album: so

tracklist:

01. chit chin ye ah pyit dan

02. lo nay taet nyan

03. arr nae chet

04. so

05. khart tar

06. tway wai lan khwae

07. nay nyo chain ah tway

08. shwe la thar hma

09. htwet loet ma yauk taet lan

10. sane par sane

11. lwan nya nay

12. yae san khayee

13. instrumental

i hope everyone will pardon another of my occasional digressions from thai music today, but i wanted to give a heads up to all n.y.-area readers: the legendary 70's burmese "stereo" star khine htoo will be performing in the city saturday, june 30th at the laguardia performing arts center in long island city.  he will be joined by tin zar maw, chaw su khin & supan htwar for their "3 generations tour u.s.a.".  khine htoo was among a handful of pioneering rock stars who won fame in the 70's & 80's for penning original compositions, or "own tunes" (the majority of burmese popular music consists of foreign cover songs) which he performed with his bands the phoenix and later the aces (who back him on this 1981 cassette).  all credit to dr. lun swe for originally sharing this classic recording at his blog.  enjoy!

waiphot phetsuphan & kaeo sarika

artists: ไวพจน์ เพชรสุพรรณ + แก้ว สาริกา (waiphot phetsuphan & kaeo sarika)
album: พุทธประวัติ ชุด 4: แหล่เที่ยวเมืองสุพรรณ (phuttha prawat, vol. 4; lae thieow mueang suphan)
tracklist:
01. แหล่เที่ยวเมืองสุพรรณ (lae thieow mueang suphan)
02. ชูชกพาสองกุมารตอนจบ (chu chok pha song kuman ton chop)
03. สารวันดิสโก้ (sarawan disco)
04. แหล่ชมสาวบางกอก (lae chom sao bangkok)
05. แหล่ชีวิตไวพจน์ (lae chiwit waiphot)
06. แหล่ปลาหมอ ปลาทู (lae pla mo, pla thu)
07. แหล่ตำนานพระปฐมเจดีย์ (lae tamnan phra pathom chedi)

this week, music from the king of lae, waiphot phetsuphan!  hailing from central thailand's suphan buri province, waiphot has for nearly half a century been among the biggest names in luk thung.  born into a musical family, waiphot was trained from the age of 2 in a range of local styles.  at 14 he joined a local liké theatre troupe, and at 16 won his first song contest.  he was discovered shortly after by singer chaichana bunnachot, who introduced him to ruam daokrachai bandleader samniang muangthong.  waiphot was greatly respected by audiences and fellow singers alike for his expertise in traditional forms and his uniquely powerful voice.  this cassette, with side 2 featuring one of his prominent latter-day proteges, kaeo sarika, is a collection of lae focusing on his home province.  the styles range from low-key ballads to up-tempo disco numbers, all imbued with lae rhythm & inflection.  enjoy!!

naruephon & surang duriyaphan

artist: นฤพนธ์ + สุรางค์ ดุริยพันธ์ (naruephon & surang duriyaphan)

album: เพลงไทยเดิม (thai classical music)

tracklist:

01. บุหลัน 2 ชั้น (bulan, 2nd tempo level)

02. ปี่แก้วน้อย (pi kaeo noi)

03. นกขมิ้น 2 ชั้น (nok khamin, 2nd tempo level)

04. ใบ้คลั่ง 2 ชั้น (bai khlang, 2nd tempo level)

05. ม้าย่อง (ma yong)

06. ขึ้นพลับพลา (khuen phlapphla)

07. แขกมอญบางช้าง 2 ชั้น (khaek mon bang chang, 2nd tempo level)

08. เขมรพวง 2 ชั้น (khmer phuang, 2nd tempo level)

this week, a rare glimpse here into the thai classical tradition!  you'd be forgiven for thinking, from the content of this site, that i don't have much interest in thai classical music.. but that's really not the case.  rather, it's down to the fact that i like to have as much background as i can on the artists i present here, and that the world of classical releases is, more often than not, totally devoid of discographical info.  that said, this week's cassette is well-annotated, due to the presence of two star vocalists, mr. naruephon & ms. surang duriyaphan.  this brother-sister duo are the children of khru nieow duriyaphan, head of the thai fine arts department under luang wichitwathakan in the 1930's.  here they are backed by khana duriyaphan, the legendary group of instrumentalists assembled by their father.  this is thai classical vocal music of the first order.. enjoy!

suthat phonsathit: fon chang nang chak

artist: สุทัศน์ พรสถิตย์ (suthat phonsathit)

album: ฝนจางนางจาก (fon chang nang chak)

tracklist:

01. ฝนจางนางจาก (fon chang nang chak)

02. กลับมาทำไม (klap ma tham mai)

03. หนุ่มนาหน้าหนาว (num na na nao)

04. กำแพงรัก (kamphaeng rak)

05. อย่ากามถึงความรู้สึก (ya kam thueng khwam ru suek)

06. ห่วงอ้ายบ่อหนอ (huang ai bo no)

07. สายกินขาด (sai kin khat)

08. จดหมายจากผู้แพ้ (chot mai chak phu phae)

09. เกียงนาสัญญารัก (kiang na sanya rak)

10. ขอผิดหวังวันนี้ (kho phit wang wan ni)

this week, some great old molam sounds from suthat phonsathit!  i wasn't able to find any information online about mr. suthat, although the tape names (as producer) sane phetchabun, the famed songwriter who contributed songs to the landmark "mon rak luk thung" soundtrack.  suthat could hardly have been a nobody back in the day, then; simply one of many molam from the late 80's/early 90's whom time forgot.  the music here is a great example of lam phloen from that era; excellent khaen, phin & sax over drum machine & keys.  enjoy!

sotsi phromseksan: chut lam phloen

artist: สดศรี พรหมเสกสรร (sotsi phromseksan)

album: ชุดลำเพลิน (chut lam phloen)

tracklist:

01. ลำเพลินชีวิตชาวนา (lam phloen chiwit chao na)

02. ลำเพลินกกขาขาว (lam phloen kok kha khao)

03. ลำเพลินเหล้าดองยา (lam phloen lao dong ya)

04. ลำเพลินตีกลองน้ำ (lam phloen ti klong nam)

05. ลำเพลินชมสไตร์ส (lam phloen chom satai)

06. เต้ยอีสานแล้ง (toei isan laeng)

07. ลำเพลินลองใจแฟน (lam phloen long chai faen)

08. ลำเพลินลารักลาเรียน (lam phloen la rak la rian)

09. ลำเพลินโดนต้ม (lam phloen don tom)

10. ลำเพลินพี่มือ (lam phloen phi mue)

11. ตลุงลำเพลิน (talung lam phloen)

12. ดนตรี (instrumental)

this week, some really fantastic 70's countryside funk from molam sotsi phromseksan!  sotsi is from surin province in south isaan, where roughly half the population are khmer speakers.  she got her start singing the kantruem folk style before being picked up by local songwriter seksan saenphum, who penned her early hits.  later she would team up with southern thai luk thung star chatthong mongkhonthong for a string of duets & answer-songs.  the songs collected here are some exemplary vintage lam phloen with full-band backing, wild intros & rhythm changes, crazy guitar effects, retro synth sounds & more!  this is not one to miss... enjoy!

achan duangchan khemachitto

artist: อาจารย์ ดวงจันทร์ เขมจิตฺโต (achan duangchan khemachitto)
album: เทศนานิทานธรรม (thetsana nithan tham)
tracklist:
01. เทศนานิทานธรรม ตอน 1 (thetsana nithan tham, pt. 1)
02. เทศนานิทานธรรม ตอน 2 (thetsana nithan tham, pt. 2)

this week, we have some beautiful sacred music from thailand's northeast; achan duangchan khemachitto performing thet lae!  despite buddhist monks being prohibited from performing music, there does exist a tradition of very melodic & expressive vocalizations used for reciting sacred texts, and even sermons composed in klon (the same poetic form used by molam) known as thet lae.  lae can be heard during all sorts of festivals in isaan, and was a significant influence on early luk thung music.. there's even a history of bandleaders courting talented young preachers to become recording stars (including mr. dao bandon, for instance).  this tape, however, features the original formula; a solitary voice, unaccompanied & unpolished.  i haven't been able to find out much about our monk, a. duangchan khemachitto, but i would assume he is affiliated with wat phrathat phanom woramahawihan in nakhon phanom, the chedi of which graces the cover of the j-card.  enjoy!!

chaichana bunnachot: chai nang muean thang rot

artist: ชัยชนะ บุญนะโชติ (chaichana bunnachot)
album: ใจนางเหมือนทางรถ (chai nang muean thang rot)
tracklist:
01. ดอกดินถวิลฟ้า (dok din thawin fa)
02. ใจนางเหมือนทางรถ (chai nang muean thang rot)
03. หัวอกหนุ่มโสด (hua ok num sot)
04. แม่แตงร่มใบ (mae taeng rom bai)
05. สุสานคนรัก (susan khon rak)
06. แหล่อวยพร (lae uaiphon)
07. ใจน้อยจริงน้อง (chai noi ching nong)
08. ลูกเขยผู้กว้างขวาง (luk khoei phu kwang khwang)
09. ลาสาวเข้ากรุง (la sao khao krung)
10. สาวสุพรรณโสภา (sao suphan sopha)
11. น้ำตาพ่อ (nam ta pho)
12. ฆ่าพี่เสียเถิด (kha phi sia thoet)
13. เกาะสมุย (ko samui)
14. แหล่ชูชก ตอน 1 (lae chu chok, pt. 1)
15. แหล่ชูชก ตอน 2 (lae chu chok, pt. 2)
16. เสียงสั่งจากบ้านนา (siang sang chak ban na)
17. ลูกสาวชาวนา (luk sao chao na)
18. หยาดเหงื่อเหนือคิ้วนาง (yat nguea nuea khiw nang)
19. หิวจะตายอยู่แล้ว (hiw cha tai yu laeo)
20. สำนึกผิด (samnuek phit)

this week, vintage luk thung from "national artist" mr. chaichana bunnachot!  one of the earliest practitioners of thai country music, chaichana has remained a favorite throughout the years as both a singer & songwriter.  hailing from central thailand's chachoengsao province, he grew up working on a mango plantation before joining his uncle's liké troupe, where he learned to sing all manner of folksong.  eventually, he left for bangkok with his brother and the two sang at bus terminals throughout the city, earning some renown as street performers.  chaichana soon turned his talents towards the new style being pioneered by khamron sambunnanon, which would come to be known as luk thung.  he came to the attention of songwriter & bandleader phayong mukda, who penned his earliest songs.  from there he worked with other songwriters like phaibun butkhan & phiphat boribun before eventually coming into his own as a songsmith.  for many generations chaichana has been a star performer and mentor to younger singers, and is still performing today! enjoy!

sunday productions, vol. 103: hol pha moung khmer

artists: various
album: sunday productions, vol. 103; hol pha moung khmer
tracklist:
01. hol pha moung khmer
sung by keammorak sayraymoun
02. shdie sreay kor min phor
sung by keammorak sayraymoun
03. chnam thmie sreay min phor
sung by keammorak sayraymoun
04. chorng touv na noun lorng
sung by meas saly
05. srear khrong chit khnear
sung by molika
06. mom phrie chor
sung by keammorak sayraymoun & keammorak sreaypovkhor
07. songsha khgnom eruy
sung by meas saly & molikaour
08. ouk dog long sneh kom phog cham
sung by keammorak sayraymoun
09. chom reang chun por kashi kor khmer
sung by meas saly
10. chagn neang luk prohok
sung by molika
11. bong khmer phun khmer
sung by meas saly

every now and then, i get requests for certain artists or styles that people are interested in hearing more from. over anything else, i'd say music in the kantruem style is the most requested, so when i came across this album recently (despite it being released across the border in cambodia) i couldn't resist sharing.  kantruem is a music associated with the khmer people in the southern edge of thailand's northeast, and much like contemporary molam, modern kantruem is characterized by elements of the minority's folksong superimposed upon thai popular song structure.  this album, featuring various singers from phnom penh's "sunday productions" group, is quite good.  if you can look past the slick production, there are some very interesting instrumental flourishes (whether from the classic fiddle or the synths), and the whole thing has a great energy that's tough to deny.  enjoy!

phuean: sawatdi pi mai

artist: เพื่อน (phuean)
album: สวัสดีปีใหม่ (sawatdi pi mai)
tracklist:
01. สวัสดีปีใหม่ (sawatdi pi mai)
02. หยุดใจไว้กับเธอ (yut chai wai kap thoe)
03. รักเนี้ยบๆ (rak niap niap)
04. ป่านฉะนี้ (pan chani)
05. แก้วตา (kaew ta)
06. ใจคนคอย (chai khon khoi)
07. ดูดูดูดูแสนเศร้า (du du du du saen sao)
08. รักบึงเก่า (rak bueng kao)
09. ปุ๊น... ปั๊น (pun... pan)
10. งานวัด (ngan wat)
11. ป้ากะปู่ (pa ka pu)
12. ว้าเหว่ (wa we)
13. พรุ่งนี้ (phrung ni)
14. เพียงเอ่ยคำลา (phiang oei kham la)
15. สักกะติ๊ด (sak ka tit)
16. ผิดนัด (phit nat)
17. ตี๋ดอยตุง (ti doi tung)
18. อะโห... ชีวิต (aho... chiwit)

what better way to ring in the new year than with warm wishes from thailand's most dapper dogs & cats?  courtesy of alexandra, we have the album "happy new year!" from a band identified only as "friends" (although individual songwriters are credited within the gatefold)  i don't have a great deal to say about this tape that the cover art doesn't say on its own.  the music?  well, the opportunity to hear a thai take on the characteristically technophilic production values of 1986 might interest some people, but it also might not.. either way, happy 2012!

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!!