It’s So Romantic Mr P ! ! !
Ummm. . . what did you say Ms S ? ? ?
She Says:
This week we want to share some cool tunes with you ! ! ! There is so much more to the Korean music scene than just Gangham Style and K-pop and in this post we want to share some of the Korean Indie bands we have been listening to recently. It is cool, relaxed and chilled post this week, but we hope you will like it!!!
He Says:
So it’s not just Gangnam Style after all ! I confess that I know little about Korea and even less about it’s music scene. I have, however, tracked down some fine music over the last couple of years and thought you might like to hear what’s going down in downtown Seoul. No K-pop this time, just good old “indie” stuff that’s full of charm.
Pairubu – 3rd Line Butterfly – Sexy
He Says:
“Tee hee !” the video is hilariously full of double entendres, perhaps that’s what drew me to this number. It’s an interesting sound too, not at all what I would have expected. 3rdLB have been around quite some time. They had a “break” for a few years but are now active again. An interesting band, I think.
She Says:
I love this track ! ! ! Third Line Butterfly actually have been around for a long time. They formed in 1999 and have been making interesting and unusual music ever since. They actually tour overseas quite often and have even played n the USA and UK, so maybe you will be able to see them ! ! ! They treat the voice like a musical intsrument in many of thier songs and the sound is more important than the words often and this is the case here I think. It is lovelytrack that I hear new things in every time I hear it ! ! !
Sakura - Hello – Sogyumo Acacia Band
She Says:
Sogyumo Acacia Band are a duo that formed in 2002 and released thier first album in 2005. Thhis track is from the sound track of the TV Drama the Snow Queen which was a modern version of the fairy story. Actually there was also a drama made about them called Sogyumo Acacia Band Story which is a fictionalised version of their story so far. which was released in 2009. I really like the vocals in this track and the sense of space it gives me. It is one of my favourite chill out tracks ! ! !
He Says:
So pretty ! This is more where we are going this week than 3rdLB. Gentle sounds, wistful singing and gorgeous melodies. This one is lovely for just letting the sound wash over your. A beautiful little song.
Sakura – J-Rabbit – R U Tired ?
She Says:
J-Rabbit is a two girl duo who make really nice laid back music. All the instruments are played by Dawoon Jung and the vocals are sung by Hyesung Jung. The name comes from their surnames (they are not related) and the fact they were both born in the year of the rabbit. I am a secret bossa nova fan and love this track, but not all their tracks are bossa nova and they have a wide range of styles actually, but always cheerful and laid back. I hope you like it ! ! !
He Says:
I love J Rabbit ! ( ever since I found out about them all of 2 weeks ago !) Their videos are full of fun. They seem to be really enjoying themselves and they make lovely , “homely” music. Just a couple of friends having a good time. How can you not like that ?
Pairubu – Big Baby Driver - Spring I Love You Best
He Says:
This is the track that started my search for Korean music off. I really love it, it’s cute and full of charm. Yes, she does get some of the grammar wrong and it’s a bit wonky but that’s part of the appeal for me. Her album is much more bluesy in feel, she’s not a bad guitar player and her vocals are full of feeling. Great stuff.
She Says:
I do not know so much about Big Baby Driver, but I really like her folk style and I think she has a lovely voice ! ! ! In some ways she reminds me a little of Queen Vera with the simplicity of her tracks. She usually sings and writes in English so it makes her music accessible to a wide audience and she has written and performed the themes for a number of drama’s and movies. I really loved this track.
Sakura – UkelelePicnic – The Sea
She Says
This track is from the album Aloa Feel Good Greeting which was their second album released last year. Ukelele Picnic is Korea’s most famous Indie Ukelele band and was formed in 2010. Actually it was formed as a side project for three very accomplished musicians. Singer TJ is vocalist the indie band Hajji, Lee Byung-hoon is producer and song writer who has won awards for his movie sound tracks, and Kim Jin-ah is a famous korean traditional instrument player. But there is really some magic chemistry when they play together and the sense of fun really comes through in the music ! ! !
He Says
How fun is this ! The singer here is gorgeous, which helps and it appears to have been filmed in Hawaii ( which helps too, for me). Funny how ukes have spread across the world in recent years. A few years back I actually won a guitar pedal in a guitar magazine for writing a letter in defence of the uke. I was called, by the editor “A strange chap”. Ha ! Turns out I was right. Put on your flip flops, grab a surfboard and join in the fun. Watch out for the jellyfish though…and the sharks….
Pairubu – Raspberry Field - Can You
He Says
Two things I love about this. Firstly the song. It’s a real charmer . I always admire a foreign artist who sings in English as well as this. Top song. Secondly, I love the fact that her “name” was chosen in honour of one of her favourite songs. The Beatles Strawberry Fields. How funny is that ! ( quite funny, I think !). Thank Heavens she isn’t a big Winnie the Pooh fan !
She Says
Raspberry Field a really nice Duo and I really like their style ! ! ! Soy who is the main singer in the duo, has had a long career in the entertainment industry she was the leader of K-pop girl group T.T.Ma from 1999 until 2000 and following that worked in TV a presenter on a music show. But I think since forming Raspberry Field in 2010 she has really matured as an artist and her voice is fantastic ! ! !
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She Says:
We hope you have enjoyed chilling to some of the cool indie tracks that are being made in Korea just now. There is so much more to Korean music than just Gangnam Style ! ! ! We had a lot of fun making the post and we hope you liked it ! ! !
He Says
So , there ya go ! Six songs that give a little taste of the alternative to K-pop that’s on offer in Korea ( and Japan). I’ve been very impressed at how well crafted the songs are and how the musicians are drawing from all sorts of different sources and yet making their own sounds. “Indie” seems to be flourishing in the Orient at the moment. Fine by me.Hope you found something to enjoy here. I certainly did.
~ ♥ ~ ♪ ~ ♫ ~ ♪ ~ ♥ ~
Mr P ! ! ! I am NOT sulking . . .I am being complicated ! ! !
3rd Line Butterfly was perfect – minimal brilliance, with an individual idea for their sound… lovely and interesting. Ace.
Hi Shane ! ! !
Thank you for reading and listening and taking the time to comment ! ! !
I am really happy you liked 3rd Line Butterfly. I think they are a really nice band and very creative ! ! !
I’ve been enjoying 3rd line butterfly, so much – I’ve been listening to a mix of the dreamtalk album on soundcloud … it’s brilliant.
trouble is I can only find it to buy on itunes (I refuse to pay Apple for artists work) but I have found a copy of the album in a shop (in Seoul – they’ll send me some socks too – weird)
Couldn’t understand anything from the record label – so can’t order anything straight from them … and they seem to delete things really quickly – Ice Cube e.p. for instance.
There’s a box set – but that’s unavailable in the UK – and would be really expensive – if they did have it.
I’m now listening to ‘Vol. 1 – Self-Titled Obsession’ – from about 2000 (it says here) – some speedier and grungier tracks – all good so far.
anyway – got to say a big thank you to you both for the post….
It’s perfect listening for me and something I’d never have stumbled across myself.
Hi Shane ! ! !
I know imports can be really expensive ! ! ! Maybe Mr P can give you some hints about where to locate then cheaper.
I am really pleased you enjoyed 3LB ! ! !
Glad you liked them, they are rather good aren’t they.
Unfortunately the only place I know to buy their albums, apart from Korea, is i-tunes ( in fact this is a new development too, until recently it was practically impossible to buy this stuff at all).
Yesasia have the Ice Cube e.p. but I think postage would be expensive
that’s usually the problem.
http://www.yesasia.com/global/line-3-butterfly-ice-cube-ep-limited-edition/1030438077-0-0-0-en/info.html
It’s really frustrating , actually, there are a couple of Japanese albums I covet but if you try to buy they cost an arm and a leg.
I’d found the 10th anniversary box set on yesasia too – but my Ms. would probably not be happy if I spent £50 on that for OUR 10th anniversary – if it was packaged in Tin or Aluminium I’d be laughing – but no such luck.
kpopplus – has the Dreamtalk album – I’ll keep some posties in work using that.
Cheers for the info.
If I get really hooked I’ll have to send panthersan over to Korea for a record shopping trip before his visit back to England … heehee.
Reblogged this on Struggling Muso and commented:
This Korean band reminds me of Architecture in Helsinki (http://www.architectureinhelsinki.com/)
Thank You for reblogging our post ! ! !
I liked 3rd Line Butterfly too, not afraid to use space in the song. The second one was a bit too easy to listen to for me, but I liked the beginning. J Rabbit have the best hats!
Big Baby Driver is really sweet, it reminds me of some of the freak folk I like and the UkulelePicnic song is so sunny, I really appreciated the warmth and relaxing mood as it’s sleeting here.
Raspberry Fields sounds a little too American for me, if that makes sense (Mr Bethnoir just made me watch the film Rock of Ages which is a kind of glee for soft rock fans and the earnest, high vocals drove me mad), but it is very well done.
I am really glad to hear of all these interesting bands from Korea. I had no idea! Mind you I was shocked at the quality of gothic rock coming out of Greece, Italy and South America, just goes to show how much talent there is around the world.
Have either of you thought of doing a post concerning visual kei? Or have I missed it? I would love to know more about that too and you present the music so well, I’d be really interested to hear your selections (or not if it’s not your thing). Thanks for another interesting and light hearted post.
Thanks for listening and glad you found something to like here.
The quality is, I think, very high and it’s a shame that Korean bands don’t get more exposure in the west.
We did think about Visual Kei and got as far as choosing tracks but found it really rather difficult, I don’t think either me or Sakura are really huge fans and it’s hard to relate to if you don’t really appreciate the music.
Perhaps we’ll have another go sometime.
I quite understand. My experience of visual kei is that they look better than they sound, but I thought perhaps I’d missed out the best ones or something! Or maybe that’s the point? Anyway, thanks again for another interesting post.
Hi Beth ! ! !
I am pleased you enjoyed the post ! ! !
As Mr P says . . we did start one about VK and their are really good bands also, but I think it was me that kept delaying because I could not get into the post for some reason. I could not find the right approach and that made me struggle with it, maybe in a few weeks we will revisit it again . . .
I went to a VK concert in the summer and it was really good fun with all the girls dressed as Gothic Lolitas and doing all the special dances and gestures synchronised together. Umm . . .I am thinking now ! ! !
Hi. Only managed to listen to the first three earlier before being called away, and gotta shut down for the night now.
Enjoyed 3rd Line Butterfly – a bit like a smoother Sneaker Pimps, maybe? Is that typical of them?
The Sogyumo Acacia Band song was lovely; very blissed out.
But by then I was so chilled that J-Rabbit, which really is not my thang at all, on many levels, just irritated me. Sorry.
* NOTE TO SELF * – Must, must pay more attention to these posts.
Thank you, you two.
Hi DSD ! ! !
I am really happy you liked the post ! ! ! I hope you can find time to listen to the rest sometime.
I am sure J-Rabbit will grow on you ! ! !
Unlike DsD, I quite liked J-Rabbit, despite them not being my thing!
Now, my grasp of Korean isn’t very good, Sakura, but I suspect Pete Wentz is a better songwriter
(I’m only messing – thanks for some very deep and perceptive comments over on my post, I finally got a chance to put together a quick reply to your most recent one just now)
The Ukelele Picnic song was pretty cool too (although again not my usual thing).
I have a question for you both: is there much punk/alternative rock in Japan and Korea? I’ve heard Shonen Knife obviously, but is there anything else along those lines?
Hi AIP ! ! !
Thanks for reading and commenting ! ! ! I am really pleased you liked J-Rabbit ! ! ! Ukelele Picnic are great fun also ! ! !
We made our very first He Said – She Said post on Japanese punk actually.
http://thespillblog.co.uk/2012/01/11/japanese-punk-he-said-she-said/
And then also we made a post about Punk, Thrash and Indie from my home prefecture of Okinawa . .
http://thespillblog.co.uk/2012/02/08/home-at-last-okinawa-indiethrash-and-punk-he-said-she-said/
There is a really very vibrant punk, alt rock and Indie scene in both Japan and Korea, and maybe we should make another punk post soon ! ! !
I am very pleased you enjoyed the post ! ! !
Oh Lordy ! Is there much else ! Yes, there is and a lot of it is wonderful beyond words.
In fact my discovery of Japanese punk/rock was what brought me and Sakura together and also revitalised my flagging interest in music.
There was a great site that posted hundreds of old albums, alas it was liquidated when Mr Megaupload was caught by the rozzers down under.
There are still a few bloggers who post albums from time to time and it’s now easier than ever to buy stuff from either i-Tunes or from second-hand dealers in Japan. The CDs are often really cheap ( I’ve paid as little as 30p) but postage can be really high.
As Sakura says check out our older He/She said posts for a taster.
Bands I recommend would include
Indian – Hi ( aka In-Hi0
Blue Hearts
The Discocks
Shit Faced
Lolita No 18
Be warned though, this stuff is more addictive than smack.
Thanks you two! I should really comment on this more… I read it every week but I always seem to be short on time these days
Thanks for those…all very nice, 3rd Line Butterfly was my favourite too!
Raspberry Field was my favourite although I do like a bit of ukulele. All in all very laid back – perfect, as I have the builders in, taking down a wall. Aggh!
Thank you both for a great selection.
Thanks very much for this.
3rd Line Butterfly are most definitely my faves from this set but listening through led me to Jung Cha Sik who has a sound I like a lot.
Cheerio
Oh Smacksoft. That was another great find:
Hi Fuel ! ! !
I am really happy you are getting in to some Korean indie ! ! !
Hello ! Thank you for this, most enjoyable and relaxing. I liked all of them bar the Ukelele Picnic and am not sure why I wasn’t touched by that one as I like the sound of ukelele. Baffled. Loved the 3rd Line Butterfly.
Sakura, I had a peak at your other post. Congratulations on getting into University to study for your Masters – what subject? lr
Hi LR ! ! !
I am really happy you liked the post ! ! !
I will be studying International Communications and Translation so it will be hard work but I hope it will be fun also ! ! !
I hope you are well. I have been busy lately and so have not been on RR or The Spill as much as I would have liked to.
Love
Sakura x x x
That sounds like a very harmonious combination. How many languages will you be required to speak and translate? lr
Hi LR ! ! !
I will translate from English and Mandarin into Japanese but I will specialise in English.
I am looking forward to it very much but I am a little scared of course also ! ! !
I hope you are well ! ! !
Love
Sakura x x x
I’m sure you’ll do very well and I wouldn’t worry about being a little scared. A splash of fear can be a positive.
I’m fine, very busy and really looking forward to the spring.
I went to see Django Unchained recently and nearly fell off my cinema seat
when Jim Croce’s I’ve Got A Name was fed into a scene. I’m not on RR that much anymore but I always keep a look out for your posts here. Love lr