Thai popular music these days sucks. It's all a bunch of syrupy, oversentimental ballads, or it's over-the-top pounding techno dance. Kind of like pop music in the States, I guess.
But there's an alternative scene, where some cool stuff can be heard.
One of the better bands out there is called Apartment Khun Pa. I wish there was a decent website for the band, but there's nothing yet. They do have a CD out though. Their sound is a mixture of funk, punk and jazz and features some excellent guitar work.
Next up is a band called The Darlings, who sing Ramones-type harmonies. I could see them pulling off A Quick One by The Who. These guys are best experienced live, as I managed to this past Saturday night, where they were playing with four or five other punk bands.
I heard one other band here that simply blew me away, but I didn't get their name. They had a guitarist who could really play, though.
What's this got to with film? Well, Bangkok's indie music scene and its indie film scene are closely linked. There's a record label called Hualampong Riddim, which was credited for the music in the soundtrack to Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's latest film, Last Life in the Universe.
Also, the indie scene is the subject of a German documentary, Bangkok Beats: From Pop 2 Punk by Peter Stein and Gabi Krauss. It will premiere at 7pm on April 7 at the Goethe Institut in Bangkok. It features Apartment Khun Pa and Hualampong Riddim. A live gig will accompany the premiere party, featuring Darlings' label mates, the Eastbound Downers, and other acts.
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