The Turning Gate

The Korean soundWave VIII

New albums by Clazziquai, Lucid Fall, Lucite Tokki, Instant Romantic Floor and 2nd Moon

Our mild winter has ended and cold-maker descended. It’s frakkin’ cold outside. Brave Seoul’s bitter chill just long enough to make your way to the record store, snag the latest in Korean indie, then get your frozen butt home. Settle in with blankets, cocoa and headphones, and spend some time with your new favorite songs. Here are a few of the things you might have found at the store.

Clazziquai – Robotica

It’s Clazziquai’s third remix album, and that’s probably reason enough to haul ass to the record store this season. Especially given that each of their previous remix albums managed to trump their forebears.

The blurb:

“In order to set itself apart from many other ubiquitous remix albums, Clazziquai’s Robotica recruits a spool of renowned Japanese artists to beef up its sound quality. The album contains a long list of remix cuts by Fantastic Plastic Machine (a.k.a. F.P.M), Mondo Grosso, and DAISHI DANCE in Our Lives (Track 9), Prayers (Track 8), and Fiesta (Track 10), respectively. Robotica offers a whole new experience, clearly distinguishable from the original songs. In addition, Korean fans will be delighted with the inclusion of Love mode (Track 7, 13) featuring artists like PE’Z and m-flo’s VERBAL. The two versions of the song were previously released only through the group’s Japanese albums.

“Korean musicians, like DJKayip from electronica project band Motet and band W’s DJ/keyboard player Han Jae Won, also lent their talents in Next Love (Track 12) and Lover boy (Track 11) respectively. Last but not least, Lee Seung Yeol of the legendary modern rock band U&Me Blue and whale of W pitch in their vocals. Offering a total of six new tracks that reflect Clazziquai’s unique electronica music style, Robotica professes to be not just another remix album, but a whole new package of regenerated sounds.”

The album features six new tracks, five remixes of songs from their third album, Love Child of the Centure, and two remixes of Love Mode previously only released in Japan.

Right-click to download Freedom.

Purchase Robotica from YesAsia.com.

Lucid Fall – Night at the Border

Lucid Fall‘s latest album sees Lucid Fall doing what Lucid Fall usually does, and Lucid Fall fans surely won’t be disappointed. The album offers up twelve new beautiful songs, focused primarily on acoustic guitar and/or piano, and Lucid Fall’s dulcet vocals.

The blurb:

“At the budding age of 19, Lucid Fall stunned everyone by winning the bronze prize at the 5th annual Yoo Jae Ha Music Competition in 1993. Formerly, the lead vocalist of the indie modern rock band MiSeonI, Lucid Fall entered mainstream popularity singing “With Your Hands” for the soundtrack of Bus Stop. The artist, known as Korea’s Damien Rice, returns with his third release entitled Night At the Border.

“Currently working on a Ph.D in Engineering at Lozan Graduate School in Switzerland, this multi-talented singer came up with the meaningful name of his album. The “Border” in his title refers to Switzerland, a landlocked country situated right in between the borders of neighboring countries, and also to his current endeavor of juggling music and science. His songs often contain poignant sentiments about the struggles of people in modern times. Moreover, his soft tender vocals that mimic the murmuring sounds of river flow beautifully complement the rich delicate melodies. Lucid was honored with the Best Pop Single award at the 3rd annual Korean Music Awards in 2006 – an achievement especially worthy of praise considering that the artist did not carry out any promotional activities in Korea.”

Right-click to download 빛 (Light) and 날개 (Angel).

Purchase Night at the Border from YesAsia.com.

Lucite Tokki

Lucite Tokki spent the better part of 2007 winning over audiences as support act for other Pastel Music bands. They made their first on-record appearance on Pastel’s 12 Songs About You compilation, and finally released their debut long-play album, Twinkle Twinkle, in December. For me, the album is a real treat. I’ve seen Lucite Tokki perform many, many times and never tire of their loveliness. As one of Pastel Music’s last releases for 2007, the album ensured the label left the year on a high note – and man, oh man, can Cho Ye Jin hit those high notes!

The blurb:

“‘Lucite Tokki’ sounds like the name of a collectible character, but there is a perfectly good reason why the band’s name comes with such adorable twang. Lucite Tokki began as Tokki, which translates to ‘a rabbit’ in Korean, because one of the band members actually looks like a cute bunny! Then a decorative plastic material called lucite caught the eye of the band and it was later adopted it into their name, giving birth to Lucite Tokki. Comprised of vocalist Cho Ye Jin, guitarist Kim Sun Young, and sessionist Lee Na Re, the trio share a history that dates back to 2005. Twinkle Twinkle is their first album release.

“Filled with youthful energy, Twinkle Twinkle features a line-up of multi-colored tracks that exude various facets of the group’s musical talent. Sooyoil (‘Wednesday’) (Track 1) and In My Tin Case (Track 2) opens with a sweet girlish overtone, but slowly builds up to project more depth and maturity in its sorrowful expressions. In My Tin Case was featured as a love theme in the movie Ne Sarang (‘My Love’) starring Im Jung Eun and Ryu Seung Yong. In A Hare And A Tortoise (Track 9), acoustic guitar and vocals playfully complement the cheeky lyrics. A melancholic track that will strike cord with broken hearts, principal song 12 wall (‘December’) (Track 3) reminisces about the significance of December, the month of breakup.”

Right-click to download 비오는 날 and 봄봄봄 (Bom Bom Bom).

Do yourself a favor; score Twinkle Twinkle on YesAsia.com.

Instant Romantic Floor

Instant Romantic Floor (IRF) is a side-project of Humming Urban Stereo (HUS) main-man Lee Jeereen. To be honest with you, I hate this record. It’s a stupid mess. Furthermore, IRF really sucks live, for serious, karaoke-style. Especially YeSlow (Lee Yong Hee); he’s an idiot.

The blurb (don’t believe a word of it):

“Instant Romantic Floor’s appeal lies in their sweet, versatile sounds that boast a wide range of music genres including Bossa Nova, house, and hip hop. Amazingly, Instant Romatic Floor became known in the industry through their fans’ word of mouth. Now, all eyes are on them as they present a new album entitled First Love Class. All three members – Brown Bunny (a.k.a. Lee Ji Lin), the front-main rapper, YeSlow (a.k.a. Lee Yong Hee), and Sugar Flow (a.k.a. Song Hwa Young), the main vocalist who also directed the music video for one of the songs in the album – pitched in their songwriting skills, proving that they are not just another flash in the pan.

“Their 2005’s self-titled album Instant Romantic Floor still remains to be one of the most prized collection of easy listening, addictive songs, perfect for any party environment. First Love Class takes on the baton of its predecessor by opening up with Bic Vic Party, a dazzling, flamboyant number, followed by a romantic tale of Twist in My Love and YeSlow’s rap assisted The Last Waltz. All in all, with its magical blend of funky beats, stylish sampled tunes, and trendy lyrics, First Love Class promises an experience reminiscent of one’s first love.”

Right-click to download Twist My Love. Or don’t.

If you really must buy First Class Love, you can do so on YesAsia.com.

2ndMoon Project – Alice In Neverland

2nd Moon Project‘s Alice In Neverland is an interesting melange of indie and new age. The album is entirely instrumental, and features a long list of instruments. Here be guitar, piano, violin, cello, handclaps, sitar, accordian, drehleier, irish whistle, clarinet and more. Here be beautiful artwork and photographs, alongside beautiful music. Here be Casker as a featured guest. Here be goodness, and there be you, thinking to yourself, “Oh, I should try this, because it sounds a helluva lot better than IRF.” And it is, for serious.

For whatever reason, although the band is called 2nd Moon, the album cover shows them in English as Monologue Project.

The blurb:

“Inside a tiny studio with just two microphones, 2nd Moon made their demo cut of Seochok Haneuleh (‘Westside Sky’), the theme song to MBC drama Ireland. It became their signature song that even overshadowed other soundtrack songs delivered by top artists like Kim Jang Hoon and Lee Hyun Woo. They soon released a self-titled album, which received triple honors at the prestigious 2006 Korean Popular Music Awards for Best Album of the Year, Best Newcomer, and Top Jazz-Crossover Album. Featuring a variety of traditional world instruments and music, their debut album is certainly an inimitable rarity that deserves every penny of its acclaim.

“2nd Moon whips out yet another unique concept for their second album entitled Alice In Neverland. Its witty title is purely based on the group’s imagination of what would happen if Alice from Alice In Wonderland ended up in Peter Pan’s Neverland. Now consisting of five members and calling themselves ‘Bard’ (meaning ‘wandering minstrel’ in Gaelic), 2nd Moon attempts Irish traditional music for Alice In Neverland, featuring a variety of Irish instruments like whistle, wooden flutes, guitar, and bodhran, an Irish percussion instrument. For stronger beats, a Spanish instrument called cajon was incorporated as an alternative to conventional drums. One of the album’s highlights include the vocal contribution of iconic 90s singer/songwriter Jang Pil Soon in Geu Yeoreum Gajang Choyonghan Bada (‘The Quiet Sea In One Summer’) (Track 6).”

Right-click to download 내게 말하기 Feat. Casker and 나비의 집 Feat. 하림.

Nab Alice In Neverland from YesAsia.com.

Coda

Pastel Music celebrates their 5th anniversary this month with three concerts from January 25-27. Swan Dive will be supported by Sweetpea, Sogyumo Acacia Band and Yozoh on the 26th, and by Swinging Popsicle and Casker on the 27th. On the 28th, Swinging Popsicle, Humming Urban Stereo and Taru will perform. Here’s the poster.

Also in celebration of their 5th anniversary, Pastel will be releasing a new compilation album of spankin’ new songs from their spankin’ cool artists, as follows:

01 December – Belle Epoque
02 스웨터 (Feat.Taru) – Humming Urban Stereo
03 곁에 (Early Recording Ver.) – Jiteun
04 True Romance – Sentimental Scenery
05 보고 싶어서, 안고 싶어서, 만지고 싶어서… – low-end project
06 한쪽 뺨으로 웃는 여자 – Misty Blue
07 하모니카 소리 – Yozoh
08 눈 내리는 소리 – Donawhale
09 Are You Ready? – Sweetpea
10 Lie – Instant Romantic Floor
11 달의 뒤편 – Casker
12 지랄이 풍년이네 – Bulssazo
13 Regretto – Tearliner
14 좋은 사람 (캐스커 Remix) – Fanny fink
15 별이 되어 – Hwang Bora

Be on the lookout for this discful goodness in local record stores, but only if you’re in Korea. If elsewhere, YesAsia.com is taking orders.

I’ve also been told that Misty Blue will be releasing a new album sometime in 2008.

Some bad news. Having had a falling out, Pastel Music is officially finished with The Melody. Despite earlier reports and (my) high hopes, there will be no further releases by The Melody. The previously reported digital single has been canned. 유 (Yu) will never see the light of day. There will not be a second album, with or without Taru.

On the upside, Taru has been performing on her own and will be releasing a solo album at some point, hopefully in 2008. But Pastel has a bad habit of pushing things well past initial projections, so don’t hold your breath. I’d be more surprised to see the album in 2008, than I would be to see it pushed back to 2009.

Until next time, happy listening, good hunting and stay warm.

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