Review by Saharial Tomi Kita: In Dreamz Pony Canyon Records, 2008 Having seen them perform at ‘The Peel’ and the Dano festival last year I succumbed to the temptation of buying the one album available at Yesasia.com. ‘In Dreamz’, released in February 2008, is Tomi Kita’s third album and consists of 14 tracks all composed … [Read More]
LKL articles by Saharial (page 4)
Map the Soul – a revolution for the music industry
Saharial shows her appreciation for the way in which hip-hop group Epik High’s new album is marketed: international fans are included, and even welcomed. On 21 March 2009, a website went live and promptly crashed under the weight of 300,000 hits. It was unexpected, but the kind of unexpected that you almost hope for in … [Read More]
Kim Kwang Seok – a folk singer still much loved today
Saharial discovers a folk singer from the 80s. A few months ago, when I finally got my hands on the special edition of Sung Sikyung’s 6th album, I fell in love with a song called Around Thirty – one of three live additions to the CD. Keen to have it on my Cyworld as a … [Read More]
A nomination for Artiste of the Year 2008
By Saharial I am sure, in fact I am positive, that my nomination this year will be met with accusations of bias and favouritism, but I am willing to weather that because I stand by my convictions. It also helps that KBS has also stated he has had a ‘personal renaissance’. My nomination this year … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2008: Saharial
Saharial presents her choices of 2008’s finest albums What a difference a year makes… When I look back on my choice of 5 from last year, I can smile happily and know that wishes do come true when I listen to the third album ‘Live and Let Live’ from Shin Hyesung. Released at the end … [Read More]
Things that just make me so sad
By Saharial It is becoming increasingly obvious to me, even as a distant overseas observer of the Korean entertainment industry, that something is going seriously wrong. This morning seemed to sum up far too many of the ills for, when I woke up, the news had broken that there had been yet another suicide, making … [Read More]
Catch Na Hong-jin’s Chaser while you can!
Saharial advises you to go see The Chaser on the big screen while you can. I was delighted when I discovered, at long last, a Korean film showing again in a city centre cinema, something that seems very rare these days. The basic story that I knew before I went in, was that it concerned … [Read More]
Korea at the Thames Festival 1 – Jump! and Last For One
By Saharial Looking out at the rather dull day I am having today, it would be hard for me to believe that the weekend was full of summer sunshine if I hadn’t got a little toasted at the Thames Festival on Saturday. After a long walk from St Pancras to Waterloo and then a nice … [Read More]
Grandpa as salesman
The Image of the Elderly in British and Korean Contemporary Advertising Lecture by Dr. Hyunsun Yoon Korean Cultural Centre, 24th June 2008 Report by Saharial, with photo by Matthew Jackson This informative lecture by Dr. Hyunsun Yoon examined the way the elderly are represented in both British and Korean advertising. A growing demographic, the elderly … [Read More]
Music at the 2008 Dano Festival in Trafalgar Square
Saharial wraps up on our coverage of the 2008 Dano Korea Summer Festival, and launches the LKL YouTube Channel with exclusive live video footage from her camera. Its now a week on from the Festival, but the memories still linger very happily. Of course, there was more going on than Noridan, with three musical sets … [Read More]
Imagination at play with Noridan
Saharial meets with the members of Noridan, the unexpected stars of the Dano Festival. Before going to the Dano festival in Trafalgar Square this year, the highlight for me was going to see the Yoon Band play again and feel thoroughly spoiled for having the opportunity twice. Much to my surprise, I actually found that … [Read More]
Yoon and Tall Lee crowd-surf in Kingston
Saharial reports from the Yoon Band’s gig at The Peel, Kingston, 6 June 2008 Arriving at 5.30pm, Y.B. (Yoon Band) was almost instantly swamped by the dozen or so Korean youngsters that had been lurking for a while, and amiably chatted to them whilst posing for photos and signing autographs. I chatted briefly to Lee … [Read More]
Im Sang Soo: Uncut
In this wide-ranging Q&A, director Im Sang-soo discusses censorship, politics, Korean cinema’s future, international filmmaking and his own uneasy relationship with power, money and history. Frank, provocative and often humorous, the conversation offers rare insight into one of Korea’s most uncompromising filmmakers. [Read More]
The versatile Yoon Band plays London
Saharial introduces the talents of the Yoon Band, which will be performing in Trafalgar Square on 8 June When I heard that the Yoon Band was coming to the UK for two gigs in June, I was almost jumping round my room with excitement. That my room is rather small and I suffered a few … [Read More]
Woyzeck: review
Sadari Movement Laboratory: Woyzeck Part of the London Mime Festival Review by Saharial I am not an expert on mime or dance in any way, and lack any technical terms of description and I also have no real point of reference or comparison as dance is not my forte. Thanks to Philip though I was … [Read More]
A nomination for artiste of the year
In more than a footnote to her Critic’s Choice article, Saharial reviews the achievements of Lee Minwoo this year My personal nomination for artiste of the year goes to Lee Minwoo a.k.a. ‘M’. In the last 12 months he has not only released a live album and a third solo effort, and held successful tours … [Read More]