Rhythms of I-sarn Vol.1 is part of a series of CDs featuring the Best of Thai Classical and Folk music from the Northern, the Central and the I-sarn regions. Applying a special recording and mixing technique the series focuses on making Thai music more accessible to the untrained, and especially to the Western ear. For this album album Thailand's foremost artists have been invited to contribute their outstanding artistry and knowledge. Besides the captivating rhythms of the ever cheerful I-sarn music, these great masters present a fascinating range of sounds of the Northeastern region, some of them rarely recorded before.
There are many outstanding tracks and I particularly liked the Long Lar farewell song, sung so beautifully by Mukda Songserm, Chalard's exceptional vocals on Lam Tang Yoo Uai Porn Pi Mai, all the Phu Thai songs and, of course, the sublime solos and general trickery of master khaen player Sombat Simlar. He is such a good khaen player and the quality of these recordings really does bring out all the rich tones of his instrument.John Clewley - The Bangkok Post (19 September, 2008)
Masters of I-sarn
Chalard Songserm, male voice
Mukda Songserm, female voice
Sombat Simlar, kaen, talking
Thongsai Tubtanon, pin, percussion
Tinnakorn Attapaiboon, wod, various percussion
Thongchai Samsri, male voice (Drue), sor guntruem (trua klang & lek)
Sayan Tonglamul, ponglang, klong yao, various percussion
Sayan Butworn, pin, phee pood thai, ponglang, klong yao, percussion
Executive Producer: Hucky Eichelmann for AMI Records
