It's been a while since Bangkok-based Zudrangma Records has released any new compilations. Last week, the label put out two compilations that will be of great interest to fans of Thai (Central Plains) traditional music and molam from Isan.
Label owner DJ Maft Sai (Nattaporn Siangsukon) told World Beat last week that he had decided to release two musical projects that he had wanted to do for some time. Suphanburi Soul: Kwanjit Sriprajan, The First Lady Of Lae Music features the music of National Artist Kwanjit Sriprajan and her wonderful lae singing (lae is music often used for religious ceremonies like entering the monkhood; it features witty and sometimes serious singing to a basic musical soundtrack), and DIY Disco Molam: Rarities From The Khaen Sang Label, which features the music of innovator and molam musician Soonthorn Chairungreuang of Sarakham.
Photos: John Clewley
The Suphanburi Soul compilation comes after Maft Sai and his DJ partner Chris Menist organised a concert several years ago for Kwanjit and her ensemble.
"It was inspired by Porn Pirom," said Maft Sai. "I asked her to sing some of the songs she had recorded with Porn Pirom as producer, and I liked the production sounds -- great brass [from military bands]." Porn Pirom was known as a master of lae singing but his singing style was smoother than that of Waipot Petsuphan (Kwanjit learned from working with both bandleaders before she set up her own successful troupe).
Kwanjit Sriprajan.
"The songs she recorded were released but were not destined for radio. Temples bought them for their ceremonies. The lae she produced stands out -- the production is outstanding and not flashy at all," he said.
Maft Sai said that he was surprised to find out that after she recorded her lae songs, which were eventually released on two separate albums, she was never asked to perform them. The concert featured her first attempt to perform them. I have to say that I was amazed when I saw her sing some of these songs. I realised that she really does have soul.
He also noted that it was the first central Thai musical production released by the Zudrangma label. He said that it would be of great interest to those vinyl collectors who like the lae singing of Waipot (hugely popular with overseas vinyl collectors) and Porn Pirom. Kwanjit is not only a national artist (that should be "treasure"), she is also one of what I call the Big Four -- Kwanjit, Chai Muang Singh, Chaichana Boonachote and Waipot Petsuphan -- all of whom can perform all the local central folk styles (pleng pun bahn) like e-seow, choi and pleng giow khao, as well as lae, likay, ramwong, ram thone and, of course, pleng luk thung. Highly recommended.
The second compilation showcases the work of molam glawn bandleader Soonthorn Chairungreuang and the few productions he made. "This is a personal project that began in 2007 when I heard my first single. What is this? Euro disco meets molam? It was strange and curious, and I was intrigued," he said.
It turns out that Soonthorn released only seven singles on the obscure Khaen Sang label, and they were never reissued. He came from a family of molam musicians and singers and was highly regarded by fellow molam musicians for his mastery of the poetic glawn style. His records were hugely popular but never reissued, and they are very hard to find today. But what did Maft Sai like about the music?
"His music has a unique production sound, very spare but with weird disco elements from him and his family." And I have to say, after listening to the compilation, there aren't many molam records that sound like his work on the Khaen Sang label.
Soonthorn died in 2004 without anyone finding out what had inspired his wonderful music. He made these recordings with family members but no one is sure exactly when. Ratri Sriwilai, known as one of the originators of the molam-sing sound in the mid-1980s, told me last year that Soonthorn, her brother, was the one who "invented" the sound. Indeed, she appears on the funky Chern Bump track on side two.
This is a great compilation that had me dancing around my keyboard. I like new songs every time I listen to the album; Toey Bump, Chern Bump and Ti Kaa Laai are my current favourites. Highly recommended.
Both albums available online (zudrangmarecords.com) or at the Zudrangma store on Sukhumvit 51. Only available on vinyl.
I will be playing a selection from these two albums at my next World Beat night at Studio Lam on May 9. See you there!
John Clewley can be contacted at clewley.john@gmail.com
