For Kings of Convenience, Quiet Is Still the New LoudBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Norwegian folk-pop group Kings of Convenience made their debut nearly nine years ago with an album that declared ``Quiet is the New Loud.'' Since then, Eirik Glambek Boe and Erlend Oye have taken their ``quiet'' sound to a new level with sparse acoustic and melancholic tunes that have been embraced by fans around the world, especially Korea. In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Boe said they believe in creating their sound using as few elements as possible. Two guitars, two voices and a smattering of piano or viola is all they need to make music. Their minimalist approach is showcased in their first album in five years ― ``Declaration of Dependence.'' ``With the new album it just feels like we have moved even further into the territory of our style. We didn't want to change the whole basis of our band. Quiet is still the new loud,'' Boe said. The album title, Boe said, can apply to different kinds of relationships. ``It seems people are more dependent on the people around them than we usually like to admit. We wanMar 30, 2010
Album ReviewsJeff Beck `Emotion & Commotion' (Warner Music Korea) Legendary British guitarist Jeff Beck still likes to take risks with his music, as shown on his first album in seven years, ``Emotion & Commotion.'' He paired his guitar with a 64-piece orchestra for most of the album, on which he does covers of Puccini's ``Nessun Dorma,'' ``Somewhere Over the Rainbow'' from Wizard of Oz and ``Corpus Christi Carol.'' The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist shows no sign of aging, experimenting with his guitar and sound. He collaborated with singers Joss Stone on ``I Put a Spell on You'' and ``There's No Other Me,'' Imelda May on ``Lilac Wine'' and Olivia Safe on ``Elegy for Dunkirk.'' There are also original tracks ``Hammerhead'' and ``Never Alone.'' - Cathy Rose A. Garcia Massive Attack `Heligoland' (Warner Music Korea) Seven years after their last album, Massive Attack is back with ``Heligoland,'' named after the German archipelago. The British duo is in top form with their moody and simple but brilliant album. The opening track ``Pray for Rain,'' featuring TMar 30, 2010
Jisan Rock Fest Reveals First Line-upBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Summer is still a few months away, but preparations are already underway for two of Korea's biggest rock festivals. British rockers Muse, electronic act Massive Attack and Scottish folk group Belle & Sebastian will be hitting the stage at the Jisan Valley Rock Festival this summer. The Jisan Valley Rock Festival, in only its second year, will be held at the Jisan Forest Resort in Icheon for three days, from July 30 to Aug. 1. Aside from the international bands, Korean rock acts Moonshiners, Schizo, 3rd Line Butterfly and Yi Sung Yol are also slated to perform at the festival. Rival Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival will be held a weekend earlier than Jisan Valley, from July 23 to 25, at the new sports complex Dream Park in Incheon. However, no line-up or ticket details have been announced as of yet. At the Jisan Valley Rock Festival, Muse will be headlining the last day. The band has performed in Korea several times, including a headlining performance at Pentaport in July 2007 and a concert this January. Muse, composed of Mar 23, 2010
Scorpions Releases Final Sting in the TailBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter German rockers Scorpions shocked fans around the world when they announced in January their retirement after more than 40 years in the music business. Frontman Klaus Meine believes it is only right for the Scorpions to end on a high note. ``We've been in this crazy rock world for four decades now. We are actually very happy to release our new album. ... We thought that it wise to wrap this thing up when we are at our highest level. But we are planning to do a world tour for at least two years, so it's not completely the end. Dear fans, please don't cry! This is a time to celebrate and let's enjoy the party,'' he said in an e-mail interview. The Scorpions, best known for the hits ``Winds of Change,'' ``Rock You Like a Hurricane,'' ``Still Loving You'' and ``Blackout,'' was founded by guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Since then, the hard rock band has released 20 albums and sold millions of records around the world. The band's current line-up also includes lead guitarist Matthias Jabs, bassist Pawel Maciwoda and drummer James Kottak. ThMar 21, 2010
Jang Sa-ik Eyes Global StageBy Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter For singer Jang Sa-ik, who turns 61 this year, it was a big challenge to perform in the United States on his first overseas tour three years ago. There were no backdrops, flames or dancers gracing the stage. Jang simply stood behind a microphone, wearing a hanbok, the traditional Korean costume, on the stage of the New York City Center. Accompanied only by a choir, an acoustic guitar and drums, he riveted the audience. "It was not easy for us to perform in the U.S. At first. the theater staff looked at us as just a traveling performing troupe from a small country in Asia," Jang said in an interview with The Korea Times. His staff had difficulty in preparing the concerts as the venue didn't allow them to conduct a sound check or onstage rehearsal time, he said. "So I thought I would show who I am to all of them. Actually, I sang powerfully and enthusiastically and with my full energy. When the concert was over, the attitude had changed - the audience was enthralled by my performance and showed great respect to us." Thanks to hMar 17, 2010
Guitarist Gary Moore to Visit in AprilBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Blues guitarist Gary Moore is finally coming to Seoul for his first concert here on April 30. The 57-year-old British musician-songwriter, who is best known for ``Still Got the Blues'' and ``Parisienne Walkways,'' will be performing April 30 at the Olympic Indoor Fencing Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. Since he started his career in the 1960s, Moore has performed with the likes of B.B. King, Colosseum II, Thin Lizzy and blues band Skid Row. He has had a prolific career, releasing 26 albums from his debut album ``Grinding Stone'' in 1973 to ``Bad for You Baby'' in 2008. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1952, Moore got into rock-and-roll first by listening to Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Seeing Jimi Hendrix and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers perform in his hometown in the 60s led Moore to the blues-rock sound that he would become known for. Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green was also a big influence in Moore's early days, acting as a mentor for the young guitarist. Later in his career, Moore paid tribute to his mentorMar 16, 2010
Wonder Girls Leave for the USPop girl group, Wonder Girls, left for the United States Saturday to step up efforts to produce their first local album there, winding up their short stay in Seoul. "Wonder Girls left to the U.S. yesterday afternoon," said a spokesman of JYP Entertainment, the management agent of the pop group, Sunday. "The group will concentrate on preparation for its first local album, a little delayed, upon arrival at the U.S." Wonder Girls returned to Seoul March 11 from Singapore where they stayed for about one week to attend the ad promotion. They had returned to their home country early this month. They attended the promotion event of global cellphone brand, Sony Ericsson, in Singapore as they were chosen as models for the phonemaker's Asia-Pacific region. All the five members, including new face Hyerim, got on board the U.S.-bound flight Saturday afternoon, after the short two-day rest in Korea. "The group was earlier scheduled to release its first U.S. album in February or this month but is obliged to delay the album due to change of one member with new face," the spokesman saiMar 15, 2010
Korea W Philharmonic Sets New Model for OrchestrasBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Once upon a time, a group of friends voluntarily collected money so that a high school music teacher could realize his dreams of becoming a conductor. In the early 1980s, local music schools didn't even have a conducting major. It was almost like a fairytale that Kim Nam-yun was able to pursue his studies in Chicago, with just $3,000 raised by friends and family. There were only three other Koreans studying conducting in the United States at the time. After years of training as a penniless student, along with a failed business venture on the side to support his family, Kim made a place for himself in the American music scene. In 1998, after his tenure as music director of the Chicago Academic Chamber Orchestra, Kim founded the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra, which now performs regularly at Carnegie Hall in New York. In addition to playing staple classical repertoires, such as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the New Jersey Concert Choir (which Kim also created), the orchestra has premiered new works such as Park Beom-hun's Gayageum ConcerMar 10, 2010
Pink Martinis Music Takes Fans Around the WorldBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter American orchestra band Pink Martini is promising to take fans on a ``rollicking around-the-world musical adventure'' when it hits the stage in Seoul on Saturday. ``Our Korean audience can expect to travel all around the world for the price of one concert ticket. Our music includes all different genres in many different languages, and so the audience will be able to have a special musical experience with us. Our Korean fans should expect a lot of dancing, too,'' China Forbes, Pink Martini's lead vocalist, told The Korea Times in an e-mail interview. Pink Martini is best known for its unique musical style ― a frothy mix of different genres and languages. The band is the brainchild of pianist Thomas Lauderdale. In 1994, he invited Forbes, an old friend from Harvard, to be the band's lead singer. ``We would share our favorite music with each other and sing arias together in the college dormitory. Some years later after graduation, Thomas called me up and asked me if I would be interested in joining him. We started Pink Martini wiMar 9, 2010
Underworld’s Darren Price to Perform at Club EdenBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Darren Price, DJ and engineer for British electronic group Underworld, will be holding a solo show at Club Eden, Gangnam, Saturday. The 41-year-old has traveled around the globe, playing gigs from Bosnia to Tasmania as well as the biggest festivals around the world. Price has been a long-time DJ for Underworld's live performances. He was in Seoul last fall for the group's headlining gig at the dance festival Global Gathering 2009. The group, composed of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, is known for their mix of techno, house and pop music. Price started as a DJ in the late 1980s, after going to clubs and making mix tapes for his friends. In 1989, he began playing at raves and clubs around London, and soon enough, he was all over the country. He started touring with Underworld as their concert DJ in 1994, and now he's a part of Underworld Live, playing his own music during their shows. Price has done remixes for Underworld, such as ``Born Slippy,'' ``Push Upstairs,'' and ``Banstyle,'' as well as for other acts such as Depeche MoMar 9, 2010