Tags: Korean

Review: Khruangbin might be the most logical and fitting choice for a Late Night Tales compilation in recent memory. The Texan psychedelic chill artists have always had a sense of the exploratory and unknown running through their blissful grooves, and the fundamental idea behind this series was always about opening up doors to new musical discoveries for listeners.

In many ways, the Houston trio have gone above and beyond. Melding a breadth of sounds that have emerged from an equally diverse set of cultures, we visit Hindi-disco, South Korean rock, African bass, Belarusian folk. Capped off with an exclusive version of Kool & The Gang's 'Summer Madness' conceived by the compilers themselves, it's a case of 15 gateway tracks all of which belong to artists and genres that are crying out for you to dive in.

Review: Given her South Korean roots, it's perhaps unsurprising that Peggy Gou has chosen to give a platform to Mogwaa, a producer who has long been a fixture on the South-East Asian country's electronic music scene. His debut EP for Gudu is genuinely impressive, offering synth-heavy, mid-tempo takes on house and nu-disco awash with colourful melodies and sun-kissed chords. Opener 'From Above' is a bubbly, energy-packed affair that gathers momentum throughout, while 'Spacial Bliss' cannily combines live drums and guitars with sparkling washes of sound, cascading melodies and a deliciously tactile bassline. Over on side B, 'Fizz' sees Mogwaa add synthesized Gayageum melodies to a punchy electro beat, before 'Cloudride' rounds things off via turn-of-the-90s Italian deep house sonics and more gorgeous, life-affirming lead lines.

Review: Ahn Chi-haeng, a towering figure in Korea's gayo scene, made his mark in the 1960s through the 8th US Army entertainment circuit, later leading the popular 1970s soft rock band Young Sound. By the early 90s, he was a powerhouse in the music industry, known for his Midas touch as a producer. At the age of 60, Ahn shifted gears, embracing his Buddhist faith through a series of experimental sutra recordings. Unlike traditional sutra renditions, Ahn infused these spiritual texts with hip-hop beats and guitar riffs, making them both spiritually resonant and musically engaging. The 2004 release of these recordings, originally meant for a small Buddhist audience, found a second life a decade later when younger listeners discovered them online. This reissue, part of Beatball's effort to spotlight Ahn's extensive catalog, selects six standout sutras from the 2004 double CD. The tracks, including 'Hip Heart Sutra' and 'Mantra of Avalokiteshvara', are meticulously remastered by Dave Cooley, bringing new energy to the beats and ensuring these unique pieces resonate with both Ahn's original intent and today's listeners. This vinyl release offers a rare opportunity to experience Ahn's innovative fusion of spirituality and modern music.