Local indie alive and well

A collective's comprehensive debut compilation provides a solid glimpse at the potential of the local music scene

As you can probably gather from the name, the Future Sound of Bangkok is a collective with big dreams. It was born out of shared love for indie music between producer Sumate Kittanasopa, aka Yaak Lab, DJ Nor and musicians Wannarit “Pok” Pongprayoon (Stylish Nonsense) and Ruttha “Mai” Rungsang (nolens.volens). With its presence on Facebook (their website www.futuresoundofbangkok.com doesn’t seem to be functioning at the moment), FSOB is a place where Thai music lovers can expect to find news, updates, events and recommendations on non-mainstream music both locally and internationally.

After almost four years of existence, FSOB decided to put out its first compilation called Future Sound of Bangkok 2014. Featuring 13 tracks from local indie bands and artists, the collection leans heavily towards electronic music and its many sub-genres from synth-pop and electro to ambient and experimental hip-hop. Album opener Mai Mee Kam Tam (Without Doubt) by Cut the Crab, an electronic three-piece hailing from Yaak Lab’s own label Box Records, is the most pop-oriented of the bunch. “There’s no answer, pay no mind/There’s no answer, I don’t want to understand,” sings an unidentified female vocalist over addictive synth loops.

Gramaphone Children (Jaree Thanapura) and N.Y.T.E (Nudsko, Yaak Lab, Tatexpression, Error Monday) serve up a slice of vintage electro complete with distorted vocals on Stimulation Overdrive and Meet Us Tonight, respectively. If you’re a fan of early Daft Punk or Chromeo, then you shouldn’t have any problem embracing their sounds. Keeping the momentum going is Casinotone & DCNXTR’s Ploy Pla, an upbeat, ’80s-inspired post-break-up anthem dedicated to the “millions of fish in the sea”, and Plastic Section’s Horse’s Mouth, the only rock ‘n’ roll number on the record.

The second half of the album, however, sees quite a shift in tempo, starting with a couple of downbeat offerings like Q’s Chanchala Tee 31 (featuring Grovimmbom) and Space360’s Venue (featuring Japanese pianist/vocalist Nacca S Natsuka). Our early favourite, DCNXTR’s Summer Rain, also makes an appearance here with its swirling synths and reverb-drenched vocals. Other standouts include rock-infused electronica The Sound, a collaboration between Oscillator II and electro diva Gene Kasidit and experimental hip-hop The Edge, Headchef’s solid debut single with Stylish Nonsense’s Pok on the keyboard. Wrapping things up nicely is closer Rescind (Live Tweak Circa 2003) by the country’s electronic pioneer Nolens.Volens. The track is a no-nonsense, all-out techno jam that wouldn’t sound out of place in Berlin’s world-renowned club Berghain.

Future Sound of Bangkok 2014 proves once and for all that the local indie music scene is alive and well, not to mention bustling with amazing talent. The album may focus primarily on electronic acts, but fret not, it contains just enough pop sensibility to make it enjoyable. Expect more great things from these guys because the future, as it happens, is already looking bright. n

THE PLAYLIST

After releasing an excellent compilation, The Sound of Siam, on UK-based Soundway Records, the men behind The Paradise Bangkok molam nights, have kicked it up a notch with their own label Studio Lam. The label’s debut LP, 21st Century Molam, is brought to us by The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band. Lead single Kwang Noi Chaolay (A cunning little deer) is a full-on jamming session led by molam’s most distinctive musical instrument, the khaen, flecked with modern twists like slinky basslines and hi-hats. Watch this space for a full album review.

Nicki Minaj (featuring Skylar Grey)/ Bed of Lies

The queen of giant snakes gives us a glimpse of us her vulnerable side on Bed of Lies, the latest single featuring vocalist Skylar Grey on the chorus. Lifted from Minaj’s third record, The Pinkprint, the track is a confessional ballad in the same vein of her earlier release, Pills N Potions. “Do you ever think of me when you lie?/Lie down in your bed, your bed of lies,” Grey sings wistfully. And before the whole thing turns into an incorrigible schmaltz fest, the Anaconda singer cuts in with her angst-ridden flow aimed squarely at her ex: “You could never make eye contact/Everything you got was based off of my contacts.” Now, Nicki, that’s more like it.

Cristobal and the Sea/ Disquiet

One in a while, a band comes along and challenges your notion of musical genres. Cristobal and the Sea is one such band. Made up of members from Portugal, Spain, France and England, this international outfit trades in offbeat sounds that are too eclectic to pinpoint as one. Take for example Disquiet, the second single off their debut EP Peach Bells, where they throw in a heady mix of askew guitar, percussive elements and flute. If that sounds intriguing, we can assure you that it is and then some.

Sam Smith/ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Another Christmas tune has rolled in this week, and this time it’s courtesy of breakthrough British crooner Sam Smith. Unlike Peter Andre and his cheery Christmas Time’s For Family we featured last week, Smith chooses to take on one of the holiday staples, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Backed by nothing other than a few piano chords, he gives it a stripped down, almost hymn-like treatment. It is a gorgeous rendition of the classic which also serves as a little reminder of how amazing Smith’s vocal performance is.

Imagine Dragons/ I Bet My Life

Imagine Mumford & Sons with an American accent, that’s essentially what Imagine Dragons’ first single from their upcoming sophomore full-length sounds like. Following their hugely successful debut Night Visions, I Bet My Life finds the American alt-rock quartet treading down a dirt road and locking themselves in a barn — sonically speaking, of course. According to frontman Dan Reynolds, this Mumfordian folk stomper celebrates the bond between him and his parents after a fallout. n