barefootbeach

I'd like to get some CD's that feature music from Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, Vietnam or Bali.
Do you have any favorite groups or collections from these countries? I'd like to get them before we go so we can listen to them on the journey. Thanks for sharing your SEA playlist!

Kathie

We have quite a collection from our trips, but we always buy them there. I really don't know how much is available in the US.

silverwool

I've bought CDs from land mines victims who play in Siem Reap. I suspect they are not available anywhere else.

Are you referring to traditional music or Asian pop? I suspect that not many shops would stock either genre in the US.

barefootbeach

I would like either...want to get some music that evokes SE Asia.

Vientianeboy

Have a look at Johnny Olson on Utube. Olson is a Kaen player, (Lao wind instrument), and a very good one. He has had Morlam written for him. He has also toured the States.

barefootbeach

Vientianeboy,
I loved his music!!!! And my husband loved the cute Laotian dancing girls behind him! The Kaen instrument is cool! However, he's really from LA (disappointing) and I can't figure out how to get his CD yet. What is Morlam? BTW, his name is spelled Jonny Olson.

Hanuman

barefoot,

You might find that there's not much difference in terms of the more modern to traditional music from the region and it will be very hard for someone who don't speak the local languages to distinguish the nationality of the music from one country to another. The pseudo pop/local fusion type of music is even harder to distinguish and lately, past 5 - 10 years, there have been a growing number of foreigners who record local music such as the example from above.

I would think classical local music will be a better choice for your purpose. Sadly I don't know where you can find them in your country but if you're coming over to the area do look and ask for them in the local music stores or even ask your hotel concierge where to find them.

BTW - Morlam is the Lao/Issan style "country" music with a good explanation here: http://www.morlam-luktung.com/morlam.html

Hanuman

More explanation of Thai music: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_o...lassical_music

Hanuman

I've found this page with example of the names of classical music from the region: http://www.asianclassicalmp3.org/

The links to the download does not appear to be working but you can at least get the names of the music from it.

Ryss

some great downloads may be done from www.classicsonline.com... plus you dont need to purchase the whole album... you can buy per track

Zeer

If you want modern Thai music then you can find some on iTunes.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/carabao/id250982691

http://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/th...ign-mpt=uo%3D4

http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/sil...ls/id256868830

http://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/se...ign-mpt=uo%3D4

http://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/ta...ign-mpt=uo%3D4

silverwool

There is a series called "The Rough Guide to the Music of ......." (lots of countries). May have something. More a sampler but could give you a feel for the music of a particular country. I have a CD by a Canadian/Chinese group called Red Chamber that I saw at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak last year. I enjoy it very much - is traditional Chinese music and may be available in the US.

I did a Google search and there are various sites with downloads of varying degrees of legality. Nuff said.

mohan

i love some Balinese Gamelan music. Here is a sample of it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRS13...eature=related

barefootbeach

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions...I'll check out the i-tunes selections and classics online...and I loved the gamelan music!

AskOksena

>>>SE Asia music: Favorites I can get in US<<<


Yo, 'barefoot' (nice handle, by the way),

Can't help you with 'in US' purchase selections, but as of ~ 8 days back, an all-time cherished 'gift shop' at the Bangkok Shangri-La hotel still had the little 'CD rack and headphone' area for perusing/listening. (Remain rather partial to that Thai 'khim' music; something to do with a certain evening ~ five years back at a certain 'al fresco' restaurant at the Peninsula.)

Savour your musical samplings, and for truly joyous tunes/visuals, SIA's 'in-flight' offerings. (Last Friday evening, flying SQ J ex-BKK, delightful as ever.)

Have fun and do kindly consider SQ - thank you.

macintosh (robert)


... "Are you shy?" ...

(My all-time favourite Bangkok 'shop girl', Feb. '10)

Vientianeboy

Barefootbeach, as Hanuman wrote, Morlam is the music of Lao and of Northern Thailand, (Isaan). It can be old or modern and there are even "operas" written in Morlam. Some of it can be quite suggestive, dealing sex, life etc.

I live here, (Laos), and I love this music and am interested in learning the Kaen. By the way, Jonny Olson is regarded as a big star here in Lao. I was on a bus with him from Kon Kaen to Vientiane and all the Thais were coming up and speaking to him. There is a fantastic clop on utube called Morlam Wizards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0e6tyj2mpY
Watch the little girl dancing, she is wonderful.

Vientianeboy

BFB, I am frequently woken by Morlam from the local temple on "Buddha Days", and my sister in law has hired some Morlam singers and musicians for next week to make boun, (merit), for her mother who died some years ago.

barefootbeach

Vientianeboy,
Thanks for sharing that clip. The little girls are precious....I love their hand movements!

AskOksena, I will visit Shangri-la's gift shop and be in aural heaven!