Cambodian retro

Cambodian Space Project's new release features trademark covers of classic Khmer rock'n'roll

29/05/2012
Bangkok Post

The Cambodian Space Project burst on to the scene with a maxi-single vinyl release, I'm Unsatisfied, Cambodia's first vinyl for 30 years, in 2010.

The Phnom Penh-based outfit then followed this with their debut album, 2011: A Space Odyssey (Metal Postcard, Hong Kong), which catapulted the band to international fame.

Last week, bandleader Julien Poulson was in Bangkok to dub promo copies of the band's new album, Not Easy Rock & Roll (Metal Postcard) and catch up on the local music scene. World beat had the honour of receiving the first copy of Not Easy Rock & Roll. After being on the road almost continuously for nearly two years, Poulson said that he was enjoying a low-key visit.

The band has toured Asia, Australia and Europe, performing at huge festivals like Womad Adelaide and small clubs (WTF patrons will remember Poulson performing with singer and partner Srey Thy earlier this year) and has recorded for BBC Radio in London.

The new album is due for release in July, to coincide with the Space Project's collaboration with musicians for the music event, BT River of Music, which will feature as part of this year's Olympics in London.

Colin Bass, a stalwart of the long-lamented 3 Mustaphas 3 band and an expert and aficionado of Indonesian music, is to curate the Southeast Asian part of event, which will bring together another 3 Mustaphas 3 musician, Ben Mendelson, Sambasunda's singer Rika Tila for West Java and a host of musicians from Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Brunei.

Recorded at the same time as the debut album, the new release features the band's trademark covers of classic '60s and '70s Khmer rock'n'roll, bookended by two songs written by Srey Thy. Poulson explained that Srey Thy is the one who comes up with the ideas of how to cover songs by late Cambodian stars like Pan Ron and Ros Soreysothea. "Typically, Srey Thy will take a song like Cher's hit Bang, Bang (She Shot Me Down) and via listening to that version, Nancy Sinatra's and the local Khmer ones, she comes up with something different... creating her own atmosphere," he said.

Driving, buzz-saw guitars, the pulsing backbeat of drummer Bong Sak, cool sax and Srey Thy's voice feature on the album, while the wailing sound of the Khmer fiddle, the tro, accompanies her singing to great effect on several tracks. There are lots of foot-tapping, uptempo rockers here, as well as the more spaced out, trippy sounds of the two songs written by Srey Thy. The final song, a hauntingly sad lament, is one of the best songs I've heard the band record - a beautiful song that lingers long in the memory. Look out for the album in July. In the meantime, you can check out The Cambodian Space Project on YouTube and on their Facebook page.

This year's Rainforest World Music Festival, now in its 15th year, will be held on July 13-15 in the Cultural Village, outside Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The annual festival, set at the foot of jungle-clad Mount Santubong, is a fun way to enjoy music in the bush.

Under a new artistic director, this year's line-up, headlined by Congo's Kanda Bongo Man and Mamadou Diabate from Burkina Faso, looks to be a nice blend of traditional and pop music.

Joining the two African stars will be Le Trio Joubran from Palestine, Khusugtun from Mongolia, Raiz De Cafezal, a group of Brazilian Amazonian indigenes, the String Sisters, a group of fiddlers from the Nordic countries, Scotland, Ireland and the United States, Cankisou from the Czech Republic, Danyel Waro from Reunion and Hata-The One, a band of musicians from Malaysia, Korea, Turkey and Taiwan.

Malaysian musicians will also join the festival, along with Sarawak's own Rhythm Of Borneo and The Music Of Sarawak, both of which will be representing the diverse nature of local music and instruments.

I've seen Kanda Bongo Man several times and he never disappoints, so it'll be worth it just to see Rainforest fans go nuts to some serious Congolese dance music. I've also seen Danyel Waro, who sings a hauntingly beautiful style of music called maloya from the Indian Ocean island of Reunion. I'm looking forward to seeing them both again this year. More information from: www.rain forestmusic-borneo.com.