We are heading back to Cambodia today, more specifically to Mondulkiri Province, home of the indigenous Bunong people.
In 2017 Les Cartes Postales Sonores, a label that specialises in field recordings of indigenous music, issued a compilation titled "Bunong Pop Songs". It is available on Bandcamp on a "name your price" basis.
Like many field recordings, none of the performers are identified. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it is great that their music is being brought to a wider audience. On the other, not crediting any of the artists by name has a whiff of exploitation about it. Let's hope they were at least paid.
The album is dedicated to Lok Ta, evidently one of the leading lights of the Bunong music scene who died in 2016. It is not mentioned whether Lok Ta features on the album but the musicians provide a fine tribute, as these snappily titled tracks show:
"▲ 1" - Groovy Bunong Man
"▲ 5" - Groovy Bunong Woman
Here's a video featuring the mbuat, a traditonal Bunong instrument that resembles bamboo bagpipes. Go on, you know you want to.
Another fab Friday in the company of corking Cambodian tunes, Ernie. A really good run of posts this week, this caps it off wonderfully. I share your reservations about the whiff of exploitation and, as you say, I hope the performers received some payment.
ReplyDeleteGreat clip to close, as usual, too.
Thanks for the kind words, Khayem. Have a good weekend. I will be spending at least part of mine trying to work out a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon for you - although I am currently finding it too complicated for my simple brain.
DeleteYour guest selection would be very welcome, Ernie. C had the right idea: she suggested starting with Kevin Bacon and working back from there. Would have made mine a whole lot easier, but the retentive in me relished the challenge, especially the last one starting with Mike Nesmith!
DeleteCurrently playing "Cambodian cassette archives - Khmer folk and pop vol 1", I think you would like it. A lot. Looking forward to listening your tracks today
ReplyDeleteOf the two tracks I particularly enjoyed Groovy Bunong Man, however it was the clip that really grabbed my attention. What a fascinating sound the mbuat makes. I loved it. Can you recommend any recordings that prominently feature the instrument?
ReplyDeleteApart from a battered copy of an old Herb Alpert & His Tijuana Mbuat album, no I can't. But I'll do a bit of research and see if I can find anything.
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