Skip to content

Category Archives: CD reviews

Radio Pyongyang

28-Apr-08

Anna Lindgren explores some music from north of the DMZ

Radio Pyongyang coverTwo years ago, I found myself browsing the homepage of Seattle-based label Sublime Frequencies. They offer some really interesting CDs and DVDs, but with my interest in most things related Korea the CD called “Radio Pyongyang: Commie Funk and Agit Pop from the Hermit Kingdom” was the one that got me most curious. I got myself a copy and finally - here’s a review!

From Sublime Frequencies:

Schmaltzy synthpop, Revolutionary rock, Cheeky child rap, and a healthy dose of hagiography for Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, this is the now NOW sound of North Korea!

A hermit kingdom with a rich folk history and an even richer tradition in over-the-top praise for the ruling House of Kim, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains a diplomatic thorn and a culture never Neverland. Boasting a heady mix of Stalin opera, Tokyo karaoke and brooding impressionism, the sound of present-day Pyongyang distills into warped agit-pop and lost-in-time commie funk.

Radio Pyongyang is an audio collage of various North Korean music and other sounds gathered from North Korean CDs, live performances, TV and the actual “Radio Pyongyang” (though now called “Voice of Korea”) radio station. All compiled by Christiaan Virant. The concept is brilliant! Although I can’t help to think that this doesn’t go very well with the “respect other countries’ copyright the way copyright is implemented in your country’s law” thing WIPO has imposed on everybody abiding WIPO rules. And I’m very curious to know how the American music industry would react to somebody selling a US audio collage…

While I really, really like this audio collage there are some things about this release that don’t make me all satisfied. I think it’s really poor that there’s hardly any information at all about what is actually on the CD. Sure, what I said above about where these audio pieces comes from was information I got from the CD folder, but apart from that there’s nothing much. I want to know the title of the songs featured in the tracks on this CD. I want to know who sings those songs. I want details on where it was recorded. I would’ve also appreciated some personal take on every track from Christiaan Virant himself, but I would’ve been satisfied with the basic stuff I mentioned first. Just about everything I know about the songs on here I learnt from downloading and listening to every song featured at this site (which is the reason why there’s some North Korean music quite high on my charts…). Another thing that kinda bothers me is the condescending names on some of the tracks. Sure, I can understand there’s some humour in it, but I find it to be more mocking than funny.

First some brief background info:

  • Korean People’s Army Concert Troupe = 조선인민군협주단. Grand choir stuff of the same quality as The Red Army Choir, usually found praising Kim Il Sung / Kim Jong Il. Mostly males, but every now and then a woman can be heard singing the lead.
  • Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble = 보천보전자악단. Trot with female vocals and occasional male background vocals. Often sounds cheerful no matter the subject.

Both have released 100+ albums over the years.

Now, onto the actual contents! There are eight tracks in total and here’s a little something on them all:

1. Motherland Megamix (5:13)
The first track is like a taste of things to come - some army choir singing, some trot, some radio talk and more. It takes off with a woman and man talking pompusly about Kim Jong Il, soon followed by a piece from 당신이 없으면 조국도 없다 (No Motherland Without You). Then there are lots of random short clips preceeding a longer cut from a song I assume is performed by Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble. That one is followed by another upbeat instrumental song in the same style that actually features some italo beats! The ending is all spots from Voice of Korea by male and females in rather poor sound quality.

2. New Model Army (5:58)
The second track opens with the incredibly cheerful 통일무지개 (Reunification Rainbow). After a while it’s changed for the mellower 내 마음 즐거워라 with a solemn male voice talking to Kim Jong Il towards the end. Next comes a song with an intro that reminds me of the All In OST (probably another Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble song) followed by a woman talking about something juche-related in English while some mixed grand choir song takes off in the background with a pretty instrumental intro.

3. Numbers Game (6:38)
Something that was actually mentioned in the booklet was these number readings: “An eerie, detached female voice reading endless lists of Korean numbers” that transmitted “coded messages to foreign spies”. (Learn more about it here) Here’s some of the Korean melancholy. First the lady reading her thing without sounding too thrilled about it, then some song sung by a female that sounds really depressing. Towards the end a male talks in Korean and this continues for a while with a more dramatic soundtrack like instrumental background, sometimes mixed up with the sound of guns being fired. When this is over another song reminding me of the All In OST, this time it’s all instrumental with a trumpet taking the lead. Before the song comes to an end, there’s an almost instrumental clip with a guitar solo (!) which I’m guessing is from Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble.

4. Pride of the Nation (9:03)
Pride of the Nation opens with first a man and then a woman saying just that. To some background music the male then says in English that today is Kim Jong Il’s birthday and that the Korean people is proud to have hime as a leader. 바다의 노래 is the first song on this track and a woman actually has the lead part in this quite melodramatic piece. After this comes more army in the shape of 병사들은 대답했네. When they’re done a sad female voice is talking solemnly in Korean with some strings playing in the background. The final three and a half minutes are designated to a melancholic song with a female lead and a quite dramatic instrumental part.

5. Start ‘em Young (5:34)
This track is a collage with a bunch of songs sung by kids. The first song appears to be part of a play (there’s applause at the end) with some dialogue and militaristic wit. Then some clip with some kid singing alone, traditional style and a children’s choir singing something cheerful (I can’t really tell whether there’s a change in songs or if it just takes a different turn every now and then). The last piece starts of sung in minor with some amazing a-a-a-a melody sung in the background - I love that part!

6. Arirang (5:02)
Arirang is the name of a Korean folk song with several hundred years behind it available in a plethora of versions. This collection of Arirangs takes of with one and a half minute of 밀양아리랑 (Milyang Arirang). Next comes a minute with some other upbeat trot rendition of an Arirang I don’t recognize, but they do say 통일아리랑 an awful lot (still, it doesn’t seem to be the Tongil Arirang from the lyrics I’ve found). The last half of the song consists of a male giving info on the Arirang 2002 mass gymnastics performance in English, accompanied by a an orchestra playing Arirang in Hollywood 40s/50s soundtrack style.

7. Commie Funk? (3:38)
Like the title say this is actually quite funky, at least in the beginning. The first half is some song that I’m, again, guessing is performed by Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble (just because they appear to be featured the most on here). Same goes for the middle song. The last song is 내 이름 묻지 마세요

8. Motherland Redux (6:29)
First a couple of really upbeat trot songs: 간호원의 노래 soon followed by 젊음은 급행렬차. Then a quick spot in English for Voice of Korea by a male followed by the more solemn 우리의 총창우에 평화가 있다, which is easy to tell was originally for a grand choir despite Pochonbo’s electronic sound and female lead vocals. The grand finale of the entire album is 당신이 없으면 조국도 없다 (No Motherland Without You) - very grandiose.

My favourite track would be either Numbers Game, because of the beautiful melodrama, or Motherland Redux, since it contains so many good songs. I really like all of the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble songs on here (as well as the ones I’m only suspecting is them) since they have this (South) Korean oldies style going on that I feel so comfortable listening to.

This article first appeared in October 2006 in Anna’s journal at Last.fm, and is reproduced here with Anna’s kind permission

Links

Filed in CD reviews, DPRK | Comments (0) »

Bada # 3: Made in Sea

29-Dec-07

Bada # 3: Made in Sea(CJ Music, January 2006)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

After her lively second album, Bada’s third is a big let-down. Gone are the catchy pop tunes which show off her vocal range and bring a smile to the face. Instead we are faced with a run-of-the-mill R&B and dance collection, which could have been put together by anyone. The voice is still unmistakably Bada’s (a slightly thin, nasal sound which works OK with pop numbers but less well with the more soulful songs) but the musical style is generic.

After the seemingly obligatory instrumental introduction we get a slow, cheesy number which could serve as the soundtrack for a second-rate soap - “Find the way”. Bada herself isn’t responsible for this treat, that privelege belonging to Lori Fine and Mika Nakashima for an earlier Japanese release. The MV has rather a kitsch story line, but has the distinction of a couple of cameo roles from former fellow-members of SES, Eugene and Shoo. Here’s the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrK3hU5pThg

The next track is by Bada herself, a gentle ballad called Diary, which starts off promisingly but then betrays a certain lack of inspiration by relying on that “this-song-isn’t-going-anywhere-so-let’s-move-it-up-a-key” cliche only 34 seconds into the piece.

The fourth track, V.I.P. (Volume Instead Pause), is, according to Wikipedia, the track which saved this album from total obscurity, though for me the rapping is rather unnecessary. The rapping is even more disruptive in the track which follows, Destiny, which otherwise is the standout track, coming closest to replicating the heights of Bada’s outstanding second album. Here’s the V.I.P. video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4MhZDbqwMM

The sixth track (Forever Love) is a big dance anthem which sounds better on the CD than in any of the live versions available on YouTube. This leads one to suspect that there’s a lot of massaging which went into the CD production because, quite frankly, the live versions can charitably be described as enthusiastic but more realistically excruciatingly oversung. I suppose it’s to the artist’s credit that she doesn’t lipsynch.

Tracks 7-11 are all enjoyable, but add nothing to what is available on her second album. I hesitate to link to all the live versions I’ve managed to find, but here’s the most acceptable in terms of tuning, track 11, Here I am Waiting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STzdgMKHNGI

Then come the remixes. V.I.P. is resurrected as one of those hyperactive numbers which always seem to be playing when you go to the gym and are supposed to make you want to pump those weights that little bit harder. Best steer clear of this one. The final track is a karaoke version of Find the Way. Definitely not to be listened to. Without the vocal it’s even emptier than with.

In conclusion, not an album to rush out and buy, even if you’re a Bada fan (which I am).

Links:

Filed in Bada, CD reviews, VoDs | Comments (0) »

Two more 2007 album choices

20-Dec-07

Jang Sa Ik Vol 5As an appendix to the recommendations by the three critics who know Korean pop, rock and indie music much better than me, here are two further choices.

I can’t help but sympathise with Jenny when she comments that 2007 was not an outstanding year. My own purchases of Korean music are somewhat random. When I’m guided by people I trust, more often than not I like what I hear. When buying what seems topical or in the news, I’m less than successful.

As an example of the rogues’ gallery of turkeys I’ve mistakenly bought this year: Ivy’s Second, of which the most complimentary thing I can think of to say is that there are some pretty pictures; Dynamic Duo’s Third; and Lexy’s Third, which has forced me to consider recalibrating my rating system, because Super Junior T’s debut is certainly more worthwhile. Better is Wheesung’s fifth - though blandly middle-of-the-road - while at least Yangpa’s fifth gets a mildly positive recommendation for swing lovers.

Having explored some of the recommendations of the LKL critics, I’ll certainly take recommendations from them again. But rather than simply repeat what they have said, my two additions to the list of albums of the year come with the recommendation of Jay Kim in AM Records in Manhattan’s Koreatown.

Yi Sung-yol #2: In exchangeFirst up, an interesting fusion album from traditional singer Jang Sa Ik. His voice somehow manages to be mellow and craggy at the same time, while the arrangements involve Korean traditional instruments, jazz, and acoustic guitars - though thankfully not all at once. His fifth album (above left), released in December last year, is beautifully recorded and well worth the investment of time needed to get used to his sound world.

Secondly, an album I’ve already enthused about: Yi Sung-yol’s Second: In Exchange (right). Intelligent songwriting, sensitive singing, with catchy melodies and a variety of styles. This has been in my CD player constantly in the last few months.

A huge thank-you to Jenny, Anna and Saharial for their contributions. I hope you have enjoyed them.

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Albums of the year 2007, CD reviews | Comments (4) »

Evan #1: Hard to Breath

17-Dec-07

Evan - Hard to BreathJenny Wu reviews her album of the year

T-Entertainment, March 2007
SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

It seems as though the recent kpop scene has been increasingly riddled with generic and bland tunes. However, once in a while, I’ll come across something that’s worthy of my time. For every cloud, there’s a silver lining. This is where Evan (Yoo Ho Suk, former Click B member) comes in. Evan’s debut solo album is perhaps one of the best pop albums I’ve come across so far this year - a refreshingly varied mix of R&B and modern jazz influenced pop songs. Although his vocals nowhere near as powerful as say, Wheesung or Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky, they’re deliciously soothing. At times, his voice reminds me a bit of Jo Sung Mo’s, only not as high in register. Furthermore, while Jo Sung Mo sings your usual string of uninteresting ballads, Evan’s music manages to keep me awake. This doesn’t surprise me given that the album was produced by Tony An (former jtL/H.O.T. member). I’ve always thought Tony had a good ear.

Let’s skip the intro and go straight into the main tracks. The second track, ‘This Song’ is an R&B slow jam sets the mood for the rest of the album combining soothing rythmic beats and gentle acoustic guitars with Evan’s sweet vocals. It’s pretty short track… and before you get a chance to catch your breath, ‘Namjado… Eojjeol Su Eopda’ (track #3) begins. It’s the standout track on this album - an achingly beautiful ballad worthy of repeat. Next, we have track #4, ‘Eternal Sunshine,’ a fun mid-tempo mix of guitars & pop beats that oozes personality. He even does a little falsetto thing toward the end. Track #5, ‘Sarangeun’ is a simple jazz influenced piece. With only a piano in the backdrop, it allows listeners concentrate on his smooth and mezmerizing vocals. #6 ‘Ban (Half)’ and #10 ‘Where Is Your Heart’ are urban flavored tracks reminiscent #2, ‘This Song,’ only these two posess a little more attitude and angst.

Evan

The next few songs #7 ‘Nal Wirohaji Annneun Bam,’ #8 ‘Wiro,’ and #9 ‘Overcome’ are light and relaxing, melting all your troubles away. I especially like ‘Overcome.’ His voice sounds almost other-worldly in this one. Very sexy. This soothing quality of Evan’s music pretty much defines most of the album. Things start to liven up with #11 ‘All About Your Love,’ which is perhaps the catchiest song an the album. You’ll find yourself singing or humming along. I know I did.

The album wraps itself up with the ballads #12 ‘Always In My Head’ and #13 ‘Uri Eojjeomyeon Manyage…’ . Evan possesses a gentle sincerity that a lot of ballad singers lack these days because they’re too busy trying to impress us with their ability to perform difficult vocal stunts. Evan’s vocals flow seamlessly with the music allowing listeners to take in the whole song rather than distracting them with vocal acrobatics.

If you’re yearning for some decent (or excellent, in this case) pop music, I suggest you give this album a listen. You’ll find yourself coming back for more because there’s enough variety to keep you from getting bored. I have great hopes for Evan’s future.

This review originally appeared in Jenny’s blog Gravity, and is reproduced with permission

Filed in Albums of the year 2007, CD reviews | Comments (0) »

LKL critics’ choice: Saharial

15-Dec-07

Saharial, a moderator in the soompi forums and a self-confessed pop junkie, presents her selection of 2007 releases - and has some words of comfort for a disappointing release which didn’t make her list

Sung Si Kyung 5 - The BalladsFirst up is the King of Ballads — Sung Si Kyung. This sixteen track 5th Album called The Ballads opens with the number On The Street written by singer-songwriter Yoon Jong Shin, a long-time collaborator with Sung Si Kyung, and it’s a partnership that works very well. The song was the first single released from the album and proved very popular with fans and in the charts. Who do you love?, the follow-up single, also by Yoon Jong Shin, showcased Si Kyung’s ability to sing in English, as well as his more playful side with the dance that accompanied it on the gayo shows. As a whole though, the album is well thought-out and put-together, the right balance between Ballad and more upbeat, and is never too melancholy. As always, Si Kyung’s vocals are flawless, picking songs exactly right for his voice range and for his styles. Si Kyung himself worked on two of the songs.

Explore MLee Minwoo’s Explore M is a prime example of hard work and collaboration to produce a well-timed and well-polished album. Rather than stagnate with one image and style, each album M produces changes flavour slightly as he tries to push forward with his sound. M is a performer in the total sense of the word: the upbeat tracks are written to be performed, danced to and played in clubs for everyone to interact with. He collaborates with veteran performers such as JK of Drunken Tiger and those he has worked with before such as Tablo of Epik High. Having composed and produced eight of the tracks on the album as compared to two on each of Second Winds and Un-Touch-Able, you feel this one is pushing closer to the sound he is trying to achieve, and demonstrates his confidence as an artiste.

Fly to the Sky 7th albumFly to the Sky — No Limitations — their 7th album, is one that has been put together incredibly well. Typically an R&B album, it stands the replay test better than Transition with each of the twelve songs retaining the distinctive sound FTTS is known for. Each song keeps the balance between their vocals nicely timed, Brian’s vocals showing improvement due to his solo album training and Hwanhee’s as rich as ever providing the right balance. 3beolssae nal (track 9) has a catchy refrain to it, My Angel is a really sweet FFTS ballad, but for me Keolhunhaji ma (track 10) is worth buying the album for by itself. Lyrics, composition and arrangement by Cho Kyu Ch’an. I can’t comment on the repackage yet, but judging by this release, it’s worth it!

Hwang BoThe only female singer I’ve included in this list was Hwang Bo, formerly of the girl group Chak’ra and a regular on shows such as X-Men and Love Letter. Often teased for being ‘like a man’ and a tomboy, she’s a character I admired for standing out from the rest as being a strong independent lady. This admiration extends to her first solo album Lady in Black that shows a far softer and more feminine side to her than before and the revelation that she has a very interesting and complex voice. Slightly lower pitched and capable of a wide range of notes, it has a husky edge and a warm tone to it. I had no idea really what to expect from this album, but its slight bias to ballads and mid tempo prevent it from being a typical sexy singer style — something that befits a more veteran performer. It Girl is the closest track to the sexy style touted by many singers, but it’s nicely arranged and seems to echo the energy of her strong personality. I particularly enjoyed the ballads which show off that lovely huskiness in her voice and give it a depth of emotion others with higher and more purer tones cannot achieve.

Kim Dong Wan IsLast but not least on my list is the first solo outing of Kim Dongwan which is an interesting pick and mix of styles and collaborations. From the rock Scream to the duet with Shin Hyesung, there is a variety of styles that ensure each song stands out from the other and the album does not merge into a morass of mediocrity. My Love features fellow Shinhwa member Eric and was composed and produced by Minwoo, providing familiarity of style and ease of listening. Involving other artistes such as Shin Hyesung, Andy of Shinhwa, MC Mong, DBace and Wanted makes it almost a collaboration album, but despite the list it doesn’t give that feel when listening to it. It’s good to see Kim Dongwan finally getting his chance to shine as a solo artiste and given time he will only get better.

Of the albums I bought but didn’t include, The Beginning, New Days — Shin Hyesung’s second solo album, was the one that sadly disappointed me the most. It is a good album, and but that is mostly down to the beautiful voice that Shin Hyesung possesses. The choice of First Person as the ballad to be released was not the wisest one as it focuses more on his lower voice range which is not as strong as his mid to ultra high range. The song itself is quite monotonous in places whereas Island – a ballad perfect for his voice range — is not. Island would have made a much better opening release. ChungShim, (a.k.a. The Miss Terry song) whose catchy tune and ‘cute’ dance which was only the follow-up single, would also have made a better choice, its feel of seventies funk and the obvious enjoyment he took in performing it showed the happier fun side to his personality and would have made a refreshing change.

Shin HyesungThe album is not a disaster, indeed I do actually enjoy listening to it very much, but comparing it to his first album Love of May you can tell there is a lack of personal contact, with only one song being worked on by Hyesung himself compared to five in the earlier album. This year’s album itself was delayed since its original projected release of May, and Hyesung revealed at a concert he had recently split with a girlfriend so it’s easy to make the assumption that personal issues have dogged the creative process. It could however be something more, as a small article in June that indicated he and GoodEnt had temporarily parted company over unpaid wages, as had Eric Mun, something that barely seemed to register in papers.

Perhaps this album is the result of a turbulent year, but out of all the Shinhwa members to have released a solo effort this year, his does unfortunately rank lowest. Exemption from the army means he will have more then enough time to rebuild his esteem and smooth things out personally and creatively so that his next effort will move him forward as an artist. I am a fan of Shin Hyesung, and my review is not a criticism of his character or who he is as a person. As a fan though I do worry that composers for him will become complacent and pass off lesser songs to him, knowing that his voice and fans’ love can smooth over any shortcomings in melody and arrangement. I’m keen to see and hear more from Hyesung, perhaps in collaboration with Minwoo, someone he has worked with for many years and who understands what his voice is capable of. Perhaps he could follow the route of Sung ShiKyung, Yoon Jong Shin and change to a company that allows him to develop his own distinct ballad style without the pressure of being a cash cow. Live performances during Shinhwa concerts and an admiration of Seo TaiJi and the Boys indicate that there is more than just a desire to break hearts with ballads. I hope he gets that room to grow and surprise fans with a wide choice of styles, and I look forward to seeing his next effort.

The k-pop world will go through some pretty big changes next year as many of top artistes sign off from their current careers to do their required 2 years National Service. Sung Si Kyung, Kangt’a, Minwoo, Kim Dongwan to name but a few will depart throughout the year leaving a great void for new acts and returning old ones to fill. The strong fan-base they have, and their talent will make it an easy return I think, and the time will pass fast, we hope, and more than likely with a few dramas and ’scandal’ to keep everyone busy in the meantime.

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Albums of the year 2007, CD reviews | Comments (4) »

LKL Critics’ Choice: Anna Lindgren

10-Dec-07

Adult Child: B TL B TLTo me, 2006 was a pretty weak year, music-wise, and it wasn’t really till the very end of November that it began to shape up. That’s when - after a two month delay - adultchild finally released their debut album, B TL B TL. Filled with soft slow paced mellow music, cosy guitar play and lovely female vocals, adultchild had with the assistance of Soda (aka Oldfish) refined the sound from their demos and came off as full worthy label mates of Pastel Music’s premier mellow act, Bluedawn. Their formula with a careful beginning that gradually builds up towards a stronger end works great on me. Hopefully the attention adultchild have gotten from their participation on Tearliner’s Coffee Prince OST will last and we’ll get to hear much more from this band in the future.

Bluedawn - When spring comesSpeaking of Bluedawn, their 보옴이 오면 (When Spring Comes) is another noteworthy release of late 2006. While I have enjoyed the music of Bluedawn since the release of their self titled debut, it wasn’t till I got this particular album in my hands that I realized why most of my k-indie listening friends held them in such high regard. There’s nothing but loveliness on this album. It’s a delight to listen to the voice of Dawny (한희정) pared with these beautiful melodies. Acoustic guitar, electronic elements and the occasional piano - they’re all perfectly balanced. The whole arrangement makes me feel at ease. Sadly, this album serves as Bluedawn’s “goodbye” album. At least they left with flying colours.

DonawhaleBut Pastel Music has more to offer than adultchild and Bluedawn when it comes to dreamy stuff with sweet vocals. In the same category, there’s also donawhale that saw the release of a self titled debut album in May. Compared to the other two, donawhale have a little more “action” - a rock element, if you may - in their songs and on this album they also have a wider span. From the lovely piano solo that is 비오는 밤 to the amazing 아카시아 which, as Jenny said in her review, is more of a light alternative rock track with a certain airiness. It’s hard to describe exactly why 아카시아 has such appeal to me. Suffice it to say it’s the kind of song that can keep me up all night, just listening to music, even when I have to get up early. Some of that quality can be heard in every song on this album. I can hardly wait to hear how they will administer it till their next release.

Same Old StoryOnto something different. The end of last year also brought a couple of really good releases from Dope Entertainment: the first full length albums of Same Old Story and Hollow Jan. Listening to good music will usually put me in a good mood. Then there’s the kind of music, like that of Same Old Story, that in addition to having a mood enhancing effect on me will also create an energy surge. It’s rare for an album to contain nothing but such tracks without every song sounding like another, but Same Old Story actually pull it off. This is melodic punk of the kind commonly labeled emo. I don’t always know what they’re singing about, but I don’t have to either. The enthusiasm conveyed by the vocalist alongside the guitars is really all I need.

Hollow Jan - Rough Draft in ProgressI consider myself to be something of an omnivore of music, but there are some genres I tend avoid. One is screamo, the obvious reason being I don’t like screaming people. Thus I was surprised to find myself thoroughly enjoying Hollow Jan’s Rough Draft in Progress as just about all lyrics are screamed out. There is, however, a perfectly good explanation for this. Just like there are genres I tend to avoid, there are genres I favor over others. One favored genre is post-rock - somewhat generalized it’s about beautifully orchestrated instrumental pieces performed on the same kind of instruments as most rock bands would use - and that’s pretty much where I’d put the background music of Hollow Jan. If I dislike screamo, doesn’t the vocals ruin the experience of the background music then? I’d argue they don’t. Instead they add to the dynamics that make listening to post-rock so intriguing. Admittedly, on of my favourite tracks on this album is the all instrumental “Water from the Same Source”, but as it surpasses the original of Rachel’s it just shows how good these guys really are.

MOT - Strange Season cover artIn addition to great albums from Bluedawn and a bunch of newcomers (more or less), the past year also offered one of the comebacks I have anticipated the most: that of MOT. Considering how much I liked their first album I was bound to get disappointed with Strange Season. Although with the wonderful 클로즈 and the exquisite 서울은 흐림, where the soothing voice of Dawny can be heard over a Scandinavian ringing piano, the initial disappointment passed faster than expected. Despite a fairly varied album, every song on it sounds like the MOT I like so much. I can’t say that every song is great, but the overall quality of the album certainly is.

Jelly Boy - They Dream Daydream EverydayBack to Pastel Music: This year’s biggest surprise was no doubt Jelly Boy’s They Dream Daydream Everyday. His first album didn’t even come close to my high expectations (after all he is a Pastel artist), so I had written him off as somebody not to care too much about. Being the Pastel junkie that I am, however, I had to listen to Jelly Boy on various compilations anyway and as his second album was released some songs of his had grown on me enough for me to decide to give him a second chance. Lucky I did. Jelly Boy (해파리소년) is obviously not afraid of trying different genres and the results of his efforts are commendable. In addition to the electronic based indie pop/rock I associate with Jelly Boy there are also post-rock tendencies, cabaret flavours and the mellow dreamy kind of music the previously mentioned Pastel bands focus on. His instrumentals are all gorgeous and every song has it’s own charm. Now I’ll have to listen to his first album again.

Tearliner - Polaroid LifeI would’ve loved to put Tearliner’s Polaroid Life - another highly anticipated comeback of the past year - among the titles above, but it didn’t fit. Still, it would not be my finest recommendations if I failed to mention the one song that I have listened to more than any other in the past year: 함께라면. This incredible song, which isn’t even three minutes long, was put in my cell phone in May. Since then I have traveled for hours and hours - up to eight hours at a time - listening to nothing but this particular song. Acoustic guitars and Liner singing in Korean to this beautiful melody is good enough. Add some strings and it’s great. Add some percussion and it’s awesome. Add a piano and it’s off the scale.

Links:

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Albums of the year 2007, CD reviews | Comments (0) »

LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Jenny Wu

05-Dec-07

2007 was not an outstanding year for Korean music to be brutally honest. I found myself liking this song here and that song there, but only a few albums as a whole have commanded my attention this past year. The following are my top 5 picks for best Korean albums of 2007. My criteria for inclusion on this top 5 list are as follows: listenability, consistency, and variety. Listenability = I enjoy listening to the album. Consistency = the album contains very few, if any filler tracks. Finally, variety = the first song does not sound exactly like the second song, the second song does not sound like the third song, and so forth. All of these criteria are highly subjective of course, but that’s what made writing this article fun. It’s purely opinion.

Evan - Hard to BreathMy choice for 2007 album of the year is former Click-B member, Evan’s (Yoo Ho Suk) debut solo album, ‘Hard to Breath.’ If you ignore the grammatically incorrect album title, this album comes pretty close to being flawless. Produced by former H.O.T/jtL legend, Tony An, it is a brilliant gem in a sea of dull, uninspired albums the Korean music industry has cranked out this year. It’s definitely the best pop album I’ve heard in a while. Evan’s vocals are soothing, sincere and never pretentious while delivering a refreshingly varied mix of R&B and modern jazz-influenced tunes. This album is simply a breath of fresh air.

Que Sera Sera OSTFilling in the #2 spot is the Que Sera Sera OST. This has to be one of the best Korean drama OSTs I’ve heard in a while. It features some of the best names in Korean music such as Alex and Horan of Clazziquai, Loveholic, and My Aunt Mary. Newcomer W & Whale’s contribution is especially not to be missed. Most of the songs on the album are moody, but ‘Wolgwang (Moonrise)’ is sleek, shiny, stylish, and exciting. No, it’s not a fancy sports car. It’s just a really good song. The one thing that ties the whole album together though is an unspoken air of sophistication.

Fly to the Sky 7th albumI don’t think you can call yourself a true fan of kpop if you haven’t heard of Fly to the Sky. Brian’s crystal clear vocals and Hwanhee’s rich powerhouse pipes are a winning combination. Ballads are a staple in Korean music and when it comes to their execution, Fly to the Sky is pretty much as good as it gets. That’s why Fly to the Sky’s seventh studio release gets my vote for the #3 spot. Since their baby-faced debut in 1999, the duo has grown tremendously and subtly reinvented their sound with each album release. Change has done them good. Be on the lookout for a couple of soulful blues-inspired tracks in addition to their signature R&B ballads on their latest album.

Rumble Fish - Open the SafeMy next pick is Rumble Fish’s third album, ‘Open the Safe.’ It’s pretty safe compared to the bolder and louder sound of their previous two albums. Nonetheless, it deserves a spot on this list for being such a solid well-rounded album. You’ll find a mix of rock ballads, upbeat rock tracks, big-band styled tunes, as well as jazz and bossa nova influenced tracks in ‘Open the Safe.’ Can you say versatile? In addition to variety, Rumble Fish also has Choi Jini’s commanding yet feminine vocals. I have yet to hear a ‘bad’ song from these guys.

DonawhaleRounding out the top five, we have Donawhale’s self-titled debut album which is a mix of alternative rock and soft pop with an ethereal feel. Their sound is light, dreamy, and slightly eccentric without ever being boring. Gentle female vocals that seem to echo from a distance add to the effect. Let Donawhale take you to another world. The band truly possesses a sound that they can call their own. This album may take a little time to appreciate; but it’s the perfect CD to spin after a long stressful day at school or work.

After 2006’s impressive string of good releases, 2007 was a bit of a slump for me when it came to new music. Thankfully, there were a few exceptions. I’m hoping for a better 2008.

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Albums of the year 2007, CD reviews | Comments (5) »

Yi Sung-yol #2: In exchange

21-Nov-07

Yi Sung-yol #2: In exchangeFluxus Records, May 2007.

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

This was one of my gullible speculative purchases foisted on me by Mr Jay Kim at AM Records in Manhattan’s Koreatown. Bless him — he’s getting to know me too well. This one’s a cracker.

Yi (이승열) has a gorgeous mellow voice — but with the occasional rough edge to make him seem more human. The voice reminds me of Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy, and like Hannon he can write a great tune with a great chorus. There’s a good mix of slow ballad-style, mid-tempo and folky numbers, but nothing energetic. You’ll find yourself humming these songs for long after you’ve turned the CD player off. Try Buono Sera, Track 3, for a catchy number, and for a key change before the last verse which actually slips through surreptitiously without the abrupt gear change that you find in your typical cheesy Korean R&B album. In fact one shouldn’t make such comparisons. This stuff is in a completely different division.

A further treat is in store in the fourth track (가면), with the delectable voice of Loveholic’s 지선 joining for a well-matched duet. Unfortunately, Yi seems most popular for his slightly miserable tracks, and I couldn’t find any YouTubes to demonstrate either this track or my other favourites, the slightly more up-tempo Track 6 (스물 그리고 서른) and track 10 (방!), both of which demonstrate Yi’s wide vocal range: two and a half octaves including a well-controlled falsetto at the top.

One of the slightly tantalising things for a non-Korean speaker is the macaronic nature of the lyrics. Every now and then you catch a phrase of English — slightly meaningless out of context — before the song lapses back into Korean. No doubt the sentence as a whole makes perfect sense.

Here are the videos I’ve managed to track down:

Track 2, 기억할게:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSBwJns_YI4

Track 5: 우리는 (Que Sera OST)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MZavPP5v34

Links:

Filed in CD reviews, VoDs | Comments (1) »

Ji-Eun #1: Rain

18-Nov-07

Ji-Eun #1: RainReview by Jenny Wu

(Yedang Entertainment, May 2007)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

YG Entertainment’s Kim Ji Eun has finally debuted. Her debut has been pushed forward for quite some time now, making this album all the more anticipated. As most die-hard YG fans already know, she gained fame through appearances on other artist’s albums (Jinusean, Taebin, Wheesung, and Lexy to name a few) stealing people’s hearts with her sweet and strong vocals.

First of all, there’s nothing atrociously bad on this album. However, there’s nothing to rave about either. I barely sat through the entire album on my first listen. Nothing commanded my attention. She has a great voice so I thought I’d give it another chance. I came to the same conclusion after listening to the whole album more than once - it’s tedious and uninspired.

Why a more impactful song wasn’t chosen as the opening track is a mystery to me. My heart sank quickly at the end of the first track. Most of the songs on this album are bland, forgettable R&B ballads, namely tracks #1, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Wow. That’s a huge portion of the album. Yawn. Wherever you are, make sure you have a pillow and blanket with you just in case you fall asleep. The only ballad I somewhat enjoyed on this album was the title track #2 ‘Rain.’ Even this song gets old after a few listens though. This blandness doesn’t apply solely to the albums ballads but to the more upbeat songs as well. #4 ‘Seontaek’ is a mid-tempo track featuring Wheesung that starts off with promise with its subtle input of acoustic guitars but ends up as another repetitive piece of drivel. Wheesung’s little out-of-place rap doesn’t help. I’ve noticed that Wheesung usually appears on other artists’ albums as a rapper. I wish this weren’t so. He’s an amazing vocalist and he needs to show this off. It would have been nice if it were a duet instead. On track #5 ‘One Night Lover’ with Song Baek Kyung of 1TYM, Ji Eun trades her R&B diva status for that of a pop princesses.’ One word description? Flat. A lot of her songs sound like they came from a big pool of ready-made songs that weren’t made with a particular artist in mind. Track #6 ‘I’m Sorry’ and #12 ‘Geunyeowa Na Sai’ are slightly better because they have catchy choruses. Did they strike a chord with me? Again, the answer is no.

Ji-eun

I can’t help but feel disappointed with this album. I was hoping for something a little a more inspired, a little more creative, with a little more… oomph. What I got instead was stale, cookie-cutter, and ho hum. The problem lies not with her vocal abilities but with her songwriters and producers. Ji Eun clearly has potential. You can hear it in her voice… but great vocalists are a dime a dozen in the Korean music industry. What she needs to do is set herself apart from every other singer out there with a style she can call her own. I’m sorry for the lack of description in this review because there’s not much to describe. Let’s hope this gloomy weather passes quickly to make room for sunnier skies.

This review originally appeared in Jenny’s own blog, Gravity, and is reproduced with permission

Filed in CD reviews | Comments (0) »

Jang Yoon Jung - first album

14-Nov-07

Jang Yoon Jung - first album(Sony Music, October 2004)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

Jang Yoon Jung was the first of the younger generation stars to experiment with Trot. Brought out in late 2004, her first album was a hit with older and younger buyers alike, and encouraged other Trot revivalists to have a go. Those who came after were somehow less successful, let down by their composers and so geared towards a younger audience that their songs lost any flavour of the original.

Jang’s album feels a lot more authentic. For starters her opening track, 어머나 [1], has the steady Ppongtchak drum rhythm that one expects, albeit a little faster. This song, more than any other, brought the new style to people’s attention, and gave Jang a niche after a slow start to her career.

The instrumentation of the songs mark the album out — with the accordion giving the collection a slightly eastern Mediterranean feel throughout, while other instruments include soprano sax, steel-string acoustic guitar and solo trumpet, as well as the obligatory tinny-sounding synthesizer (reproduced, one suspects, using slightly more sophisticated computer wizardry than was at the disposal of original Trot musicians).

The opener is a deservedly popular track, though one should not expect particular sophistication. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_k_nRyC7ns

The second one, (여자의 거울) is a slow ballad with the solo trumpet adding atmosphere. Although the cheesy synthesizer sound is prominent here, giving the song an authentic base, the emotion is not so over the top as one might expect.

If the second song is nicely relaxing, the third (후!) rudely wakens you with a raucous electric guitar and raw-sounding sax introduction before settling down into a mid-tempo swing number, while the fourth (눈물의 블루스) opens with another raw sax solo before again settling down to something which sounds as if, if Jang tried really hard, she could produce a n authentically over-the-top performance in terms of fake emotion — but this time she restrains herself, which is a disappointment.

The fifth track (수은등) is a really straight and simple ditty, while the sixth (변심) has pretensions to be a disco anthem, appropriately enough followed by the slow dance (바보 같은 미소) with a big chorus. A slow waltz follows (비에 젖은 터미널) and then an attempt at the foreign market with a touching ballad in English — IOU — which doesn’t really fit with what has gone before [2].

So far, so middle of the road and unobjectionable. But then we go off the rails with the remix. 어머나 indeed. Whatever credibility the rapper had before he participated in this miserable effort is totally shattered by the revelation that he’s more into early Spice Girls than anything more “real”: his rhythm bears a startling resemblance to that of the girl band’s hit Wannabe. We end with karaoke versions of the first two tracks for you to do your own singalong version — probably the most catchy of the songs in this collection.

In general, this is tuneful, toe-tapping, hum-along stuff. If you are not looking for great depths of musical sophistication or emotion it’s perfectly enjoyable. It’s interesting for what it’s trying to do, and is by no means unpleasant or irritating, but there are probably other albums far more deserving of your hard-earned Won.

Links:

  1. Roughly translated as “Oh my goodness!”[back]
  2. Strangely, not that I’m an expert, her English pronunciation seems more accurate than her Korean. Maybe when singing in her native tongue she adopts the Korean equivalent of the ubiquitous mid-atlantic drawl which is so obligatory for English bands[back]
Filed in CD reviews, VoDs | Comments (0) »

Clazziquai #3: Love child of the century

03-Nov-07

Clazziquai #3: Love child of the century(Fluxus Music, June 2007)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

Clazziquai’s third album revisits much of the material from their previous efforts, but somehow fails to repeat the freshness. In an attempt to do something new, they have come up with a bigger, poppier sound, with the emphasis on a wall of synthesised support for their previously more transparent style.

Take as an example of the new, bigger sound, track 2, Lover boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abYmNiwDSY8

or the third track, 생의 한가운데:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGGIXiFEDkI

The sixth track - Last Tango - in contrast is a much more acoustic number — a slow Latin sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30oPae5LiLs

– but we’re immediately back into the electronica for the seventh track.

There’s the usual high standard of singing from Horan and Alex, and there’s the same feel-good atmosphere, so if you’re a completist, don’t hesitate, but if you’re choosy and already have their earlier work maybe you should try something different. I leave you with track 12: Friday Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mK_aIhj_qc

Links:

  • If you have the clunky browser and weird plugins necessary to navigate the typically impenetrable Korean website technology, every track of this album can be sampled at Clazziquai’s official site. Maybe.
  • Otherwise you can buy the album at YesAsia
Filed in CD reviews, Clazziquai, VoDs | Comments (0) »

Donawhale debut album

31-Oct-07

DonawhaleReview by Jenny Wu

(CJ Music, May 2007)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

When I first laid my ears on this album, all I could think was, “what loveliness!”

Indie bands often fall into the trap of blandness when they take themselves too seriously. I have little patience when it comes to dull tunes. Thankfully, I found no such problem with Donawhale’s debut album. Their music is light, dreamy, and slightly eccentric without ever dipping over into the ‘boring’ category.

The album opens with ‘Close Your Eyes,’ putting me on an otherworldly high. The gentle female vocals seem to echo from a distance creating a dreamlike ambiance. The second track, ‘Hole’ starts off slowly but the song escalates and spreads in volume with it’s expertly controlled drumming. It’s a bit noisier with the heavy drumming and clashing cymbals, but like all their songs, it still maintains a dreamy lightness to it.

Another highlight of this album is track #4 ‘Echo.’ I can’t decide whether to crown ‘Close Your Eyes’ or ‘Echo’ as my favorite song of the album. It starts with caution, but once the second half of the song kicks in, it’s pure love. It’s makes me feel as though I’m being transported to a whole different world.

Those who are fans of the Korean pianist, Yiruma will undoubtedly enjoy the instrumental track #5 ‘Bioneun Bam.’ It’s simply amazing. The story behind the song is that rainy nights will eventually give way to clear morning skies. The romantic (and never flashy) style of this piece just screams ‘Yiruma.’ It would be all too easy to trick someone into thinking this was Yiruma piece if they didn’t know any better. My only complaint is that it feels more like an interlude than a full-blown track at 2 minutes and 21 seconds long.

Donawhale

I was introduced to Donawhale through the next song, ‘Spring Day’ which was first released on ‘Cracker,’ a Korean manhwa soundtrack featuring a huge line up Pastel (label) artists including Misty Blue, Swinging Popsicle (a recent favorite of mine), Bluedawn, and Tearliner, just to name a few. I’m so happy that I gave this album a try because honestly, ‘Spring Day’ did not catch my attention at all. It’s a nice piano lullaby, but that’s about it (see for yourself at Orienkorean’s YouTube channel).

I’m gonna make this post shorter by skipping to the good stuff. Track #9 ‘Akasia,’ like ‘Hole’ is a bit louder than the usual Donawhale song but it maintains a certain airiness that defines the band’s sound. There’s a lot of tinkering with synthesizers in ‘Akasia’ that makes me feel like I’m speeding through time and space. Their music is like a mixture of new age sounds with light alternative rock. A large majority of their songs are like that actually.

The album closes with Jelly Boy remix of ‘Echo.’ The remix doesn’t change the original melody too much. Instead, it blends some electronic elements within the original to create a new song. I’m surprised that I like this remix so much because I’ve tried Jelly Boy and decided that I’m not a big fan. His stuff is either a hit or a miss.

With such a solid debut, Donawhale holds a lot of promise. Give Donawhale a listen if you’re into soft pop or indie rock with an otherworldly touch. They’re not for everyone because their music will totally escape you at first listen if you don’t give it your full attention. This album may take time to appreciate, but with it’s calming effect, it’s the perfect CD to spin after a long stressful day at school or work.

This review originally appeared in Jenny’s own blog, Gravity, and is reproduced with permission

Filed in CD reviews | Comments (1) »

Clazziquai #2: Color your Soul

18-Oct-07

Clazziquai - Colour your Soul(Fluxus / Seoul Records, October 2005)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

Clazziquai’s second main album has some of the same formulae as their first, the blend of lounge, electronica and Latin, but includes an additional influence: a slight funk element. There’s a slightly greater emphasis on the bass, and the horns in the background of some of the tracks - for example, #4, Cry out loud - give the album a greater energy than the first.

Here’s some of the YouTubes I managed to find:

Fill this night (track 3), showing some of the new funk elements

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbQ0STtQoOY

춤 (track 9) - a slow Latin number

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcDzOAojiWU

Color your soul (track 10) live version. Strangely, there don’t seem to be any MVs of this title track anywhere to be found. The version on the CD is in tune, unlike the live version here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zx9gVTbseg

Be my love (track 15) - from the hit TV drama “My lovely Samsoon”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp7JFw-ZqRs

Be my love - English version (track eight)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7mhVc8vztA

Links:

Clazziquai

Filed in CD reviews, Clazziquai, VoDs | Comments (0) »

Casker #3: Between

16-Sep-07

Casker: Between CD cover(Lupin Records, December 2006)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

Review by Jenny Wu

Casker consists of vocalist, Lee Yoong Jin, and producer/composer/arranger/DJ Lee Juno. While their previous albums are just as fantastic, I think their third is a lot better-rounded. There’s a heavier concentration on vocals in this album than their previous albums which concentrated more on beats and kept vocals at a minimum. I don’t know why though… because the Lee Yoong Jin is a wonderful vocalist. Depending on the song, her voice has the ability to morph from soft & sweet to sassy to other-worldly… but they’re always classy. You want great vocals? Check. You want groovy electronic beats? Check. You want low-key bossa nova style tunes? Check. It’s got a bit of everything. Not only is the album very well-rounded, it’s also a lot more accessible to the average k-pop listener in terms of sound than their previous two… which might explain why I fell in love with these guys only after this release. I guess my ears are more in tune with polished sounds rather than raw, abstract sounds.

Casker

No track on this album should be skipped in order to fully appreciate this album. That is why I’m going to cover every single track in this review.

The album starts of with ‘Nuevo Cancion,’ a short intro best described as a mixture of fresh rainfall, guitar strumming, and cat meowing. It sounds odd, but it sparked my interest… Suddenly I found myself immersed in the second track, ‘Inhyeong’ (인형) which can be summed with two words: ‘mellow siesta,’ the same words that appear in the description of their homepage. That’s exactly what this is. They make great use of the accordion in this song as well as throughout the rest of the album. Who knew accordions could sound so good?

After mellowness comes excitement. The third track, ‘Gamyeon’ (가면) is probably the catchiest and most techno-influenced track on the album. If techno music were beer, this song would be wine. Very smooth and slick beats. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks.

I mentioned earlier that Yoong Jin’s vocals are chameleon-like. Tracks #4, ‘Modeun Toyoil’ (ëª¨ë“ í† ìš”ì¼) and #6, Jeongjeongi (ì •ì „ê¸°) are prime examples. Slick and futuristic vocals in the previous track give way to soft and dreamy vocals to match the mood of these two bossa-nova inspired tracks.

Might I add that the person who created the tracklist is a genius? You always get something different with each track. Similarly styled songs are never placed back to back. In between all the dreaminess of #4 and #6 is the frenetic ‘Nabibuin’ (나비부일) (MV below). Lee Juno is at his best here with the mixing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unInOWZi9Nw

Of course, with the genius tracklisting, you can expect that after the madness of ‘Nabibuin’, comes cool calmness. Track #7, ‘Dal’ (달) which is engulfed in a very lounge-y, mellow atmosphere… yet it’s also slightly creepy with it’s lyrics, ‘I’m watching you…’ The slow and deliberate beats only add to the ominous feel of the whole song.

Next up are some party beats with #8 Night People - a very sassy yet sophistcated song. Track #9, ‘Nu’ features rapper Kjun. This is the closest you’ll come to hip hop on this album. Despite Kjun’s added vocals, this song is still very Casker-like in style with it’s eclectic mix of beats.

The album slows down once again with track #10, ‘Malhal Su Eomneun Iyagi’ (ë§í• ìˆ˜ 헚는 이야기) which is reminiscent of #7 minus the eeriness. The slow, slick beats continue with track #11, ‘Soul:Free’ which is sung entirely in English. Each track flows effortlessly into the next… and you begin to relax. Perhaps Yoong Jin and Juno’s goal is to hypnotize listeners into deep sleep? Track #12, ‘Huyu’ (í›„ìœ ) twinkles with soft, whispery vocals delicate sounds… it just might lull you into sleep with a stupid grin on your face if you’re not careful.

We started with rain, we’ll end with rain. Track #13, ‘Mangbuga’ (망부가) presents more interesting beats and wraps things with the subtle hum of fresh rainfall as the song fades out.

‘Between’ is just an incredible album. Clazziquai is the closest comparison I can come up with in describing Casker’s sound. But even then, I think they’re very different. They’re just too unique. People looking to try something different (but not too different) should check out Casker. I could lounge around all day listening to their stuff.

Links:

Originally posted in Jenny’s blog Gravity, and reproduced with permission.

Filed in CD reviews, VoDs | Comments (0) »

Park Hyun Bin #1: Gondre Mandre

02-May-07

Park Hyun Bin #1: Gondre Mandre(Released August 2006)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

Possibly my most disappointing speculative purchase ever, this is the second stop in my journey through the younger generation of artists who appear to be involved with the Trot revival. As with my first encounter, I can’t make the connection between what I’m hearing and what I’m told Trot is all about. At least with SuJu-T’s dreadful single there was something concrete to react against. This album is peculiarly characterless. The music style is more south or south-east Mediterranean than anything else, although the instrumentation in most of the numbers is so synthetic that it’s difficult to locate anywhere.

Possibly the most distinctive track is the third, which opens with a nod to Enrico Morricone’s soaring film scores, and settles down into a ballad. Not unpleasant until the harmony starts: the vocalist providing the harmony has the fuzzy, undeveloped sound of a 15-year-old whose voice has just broken, and he really struggles to hit the notes.

Other tracks blend into each other, with relentlessly jolly synthetic drum beats punctuated with brass interjections trying to give a flavour of a Spanish fiesta, or a unison string section pulling the sound towards the Middle East.

The title track recalls some of the livelier Gypsy Kings songs (though without the energetic sparkle of the latter’s steel-stringed acoustic guitars) - until the unwelcome intrusions of a minor-key quote from Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. As if once is not enough, the track gets two further outings at the end of the CD, and you reach for the STOP button to prevent further torture from this inane collection.

Links

Filed in CD reviews, Park Hyun-bin | Comments (2) »

Super Junior T: Rokkuko

30-Apr-07

Super Junior T: Rokuko(Released February 2007)

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

Every now and then in my somewhat random purchases of Korean pop music I hit upon a gem. By the law of averages, every now and then I have to come across a dud. This is one of them.

I’ve started investigating Trot, and perversely thought I’d start with its latest reincarnation and work backwards in time to the classics of the genre. I’m hoping that Super Junior T’s version of Trot bears as much relation to the real thing as Britney Spears does to Maria Callas, because I find it incredible that a proud nation with 5,000 years of history can produce such a monstrosity as this, or that millions of ajummas and ajossis would be happy listening to it.

The main track of this diabolical single is as irritating as (but less catchy than) the Crazy Frog ring tone, and with about as much musical content. It’s the sort of number an alcopop-fuelled 8-year-old might dance to while on an Ibiza holiday, and then cringe with embarrassment when reminded of it a few months later. Savour its spectacular awfulness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PIORuNZM54

The video looks like something out of a kiddies’ TV show, but at least the garish visuals distract your attention from how empty the music is. According to the blurb at YesAsia, Yoon Myung Sun, the writer responsible for this ditty, also wrote popular trot singer Jang Yoon Jeong’s “Oh God” (presumably 어머나!). He must be prone to the odd off day.

The other two vocal tracks are cover versions of other peoples’ irritating songs. The third track deserves special mention as a cover version of Chu Ga Yeol’s (shall we say?) homage to the last movement of Beethoven’s Op13 piano sonata. On the plus side, the writer can be commended for plagiarising something worthwhile (and by someone who’s in no position to sue), but surely if you’re going to steal a classic tune you should treat it with some respect and not combine it with some rather naff rapping.

The disk is rounded off by instrumental versions of the first three tracks, but the only instrument involved is a computer programmed by a hyperactive chipmunk. The only reason why this disk has half a gold star is because I didn’t want you to think I’d awarded five white ones.

Links: YouTubes of Yoon Myung Sun’s hits and misses:

Super Junior T

Update 18 August 2007

I apologise to Yoon Myung Sun and to SuJu fans for doubting whether this single is part of the Trot tradition. Having listened recently to some Yi Paksa, King of Disco Ppongtchak, I can see where Rokkuko has possiby come from. If the mighty Yi can be thought of as being part of the Trot tradition (which must be a pretty broad church), then I see no reason which SuJu T can’t as well. That doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it though.

Filed in CD reviews, Super Junior, VoDs | Comments (6) »

Park Jung-hyun #5: On & On

09-Mar-07

Lena Park 5: On & OnRelease date 2005

SterneSterneSterneSterneSterne

Lena Park (박정현) delivers a top-notch R&B album with no real weak spots. Some of the numbers could come straight from a Lee Soo-young album - big orchestral sound backing a great tune - while others are more internationally inspired. There are some almost celtic influences - shades of Enya (at the slower end) and the Coors (at the more up-tempo end) infuse some of the songs; while there’s a very unusual 6th track which has a laid-back male close-harmony group backing a lounge-style jazz vocal.

Generally sensitive orchestrations, with minimal use of that infuriating tinkly thing, and commendably restrained use of the “it’s-the-last-chorus-so-let’s-shift-up-a-key” cliché.

Filed in CD reviews | Comments (0) »

Delispice #3: Sad b