prayun yomyiam & chinnakon krailat

artists: ประยูร ยมเยี่ยม + ชินกร ไกรลาศ (prayun yomyiam & chinnakon krailat)
album: : ดังระเบิด 2 (dang raboet 2)
tracklist:
01. ลำตัดประชันสด แม่ประยูร ปะทะ ชินกร ไกรลาศ (lamtat prachan sot: mae prayun vs. chinnakon krailat, pt. 1)
02. ลำตัดประชันสด แม่ประยูร ปะทะ ชินกร ไกรลาศ (lamtat prachan sot: mae prayun vs. chinnakon krailat, pt. 2)

today we remember the brilliant career of national artist chinnakon krailat, who sadly passed away this week at the age of 71. 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 features him performing a live lamtat duel with fellow national artist mae prayun yomyiam.

memorial services for dr. chinnakon will be held at wat prasri mahathat in bang khaen from the 19th to 25th of may.

preview:

khana orot arab: lamtat chiwit

artist: คณะ โอรสอาหรับ (khana orot arab)

album: ลำตัดชีวิต (lamtat chiwit)

tracklist:

01. ออกแขกแบบภารตะ (ok khaek baep bharata)

02. สองไม้ชีวิต (song mai chiwit)

03. ผู้วิเศษ (phu wiset)

04. ตลกน้ำขึ้นน้ำลง (talok nam khuen nam long)

05. ลำตัดชีวิตออกลิเก (lamtat chiwit ok like)

06. ลำตัดทำนองสากล (lamtat tham nong sakon)

07. อีแซว ชายหญิง (isaeo chai ying)

this week, some fantastic central thai muslim music! a number of musical styles associated with central thailand (liké, lamtat, etc.) have their origins in malay artforms, though they have long been integrated into the majority buddhist culture. there are, however, still a handful of muslim practitioners.. including today's star of voice & violin, mr. orot arab! i'm not sure where the group is from originally, but i believe they've been based in bangkok for some time. this cassette was produced by yanavy sound (note their classic mosque & crescent logo) which, as we're told us on the recording, is located behind the old phra khanong rama theatre off sukhumvit road. sad to say, last i heard mr. orot arab was comatose in minburi hospital¹.. if anyone knows how he's doing please fill us in.

preview:

sonphet la buat

artist: ศรเพชร ศรสุพรรณ (sonphet sonsuphan)

album: ศรเพชรลาบวช (sonphet la buat)

tracklist:

01. บอกบุญทางอากาศ (bok bun thang akat)

02. จิ๊กโก๋ลาบวช (chikko la buat)

03. โกนหัวใจหาย (kon hua chai hai)

04. ลาสาวเข้าโบสถ์ (la sao khao bot)

05. นาคคนจน (nak khon chon)

06. แตรวงการกุศล (trae wong kan kuson)

07. ลำตัดงานบวช (lamtat ngan buat)

08. รถทัวร์บอกบุญ (rot tour bok bun)

09. ลิเกการกุศล (like kan kuson)

10. เด็กหน่วยเร่หนัง (dek nuai re nang)

tomorrow is khao phansa, the beginning of what's sometimes called "buddhist lent", which will see many thai men leave secular life on a 3 month monastic retreat for the wet season. in celebration, i'd like to share what might be the most unique and raucous music on the topic of this event in my collection. this album commemorates suphanburi-born star sonphet sonsuphan's entry into monkhood, gathering the talents of famous lae songwriters chiw phichit & yotthong bunthup. you'll hear disco swells, yodeling, psych-y organ licks & guitar sounds augmenting a handful of folk genres traditionally associated with the ngan buat ceremony. enjoy!

preview:

khana wang te: chai yen yen

artist: คณะ หวังเต๊ะ (khana wang te)

album: ใจเย็นๆ (chai yen yen)

tracklist:

01. ลำตัดใจเย็นๆ (lam tat chai yen yen)

02. ลำตัดอนิจจังสังขาร (lam tat anitchang sangkhan)

03. ลำตัดน้ำมาปลากินมด (lam tat nam ma pla kin mot)

04. ลำตัดกำเนิดกุมาร (lam tat kamnoet kuman)

05. ลำตัดสุกาษิตเตือนใจ (lam tat suphasit tuean chai)

06. ลำตัดเป็นหญิงแสนยาก (lam tat pen ying saen yak)

07. ลำตัดเป็นชายแสนลำบาก (lam tat pen chai saen lambak)

08. ฉ่อยบอกรักฝากใจ (choi bok rak fak chai)

at long last, our first entry of lam tat music!  traditional or folk music (especially in a form intended for local consumption, rather than the tourist market) can be a bit difficult to find in thailand.  recently, though, i spotted this tattered old tape on the street, and now i can finally share some of this great music with you!  lam tat, long since associated with thailand's central provinces, is in fact descended from malay islamic antiphon.  it typically features opposing male & female choruses, each led by a soloist who improvises lyrical barbs & double entendres in a "battle of the sexes" through wordplay.  the musical backing is no more than a frame drum & finger cymbals.  the ensemble here is the famed wang te group, led by national artist wangdi nima, who, i'm sad to say, we just lost this past june at the age of 87.  i think you'll agree that this tape is really wonderful, despite the decay at parts... and as an added bonus, mae khwanchit siprachan makes a special guest appearance!  enjoy!!

preview:

MRPT163 by monrakplengthai