Ngoc Khue – Giot Suong Bay Len
The ever-changing Ngoc Khue is moving on without Le Minh Son. Her junior solo, Giot Suong Bay Len, marks a fresh transmogrification in her musical direction. Together with an imaginative producer Phan Cuong who weaved traditional instruments into contemporary grooves, red dragonfly Ngoc Khue casts her voodoo spells into Nguyen Vinh Tien’s avant-garde folklore compositions that are based on the form of ca tru.
What makes the album so hypnotizing is the constant metamorphosis in Ngoc Khue’s presentations, which are full of tumult. She pushes and pulls her deliveries, ebbs and flows her vocals, bends and glides her phrasings to give her performances both playful and doleful effects. On “Giac Mo Dai Dang,” she transforms her voice into a child and invites the bell to ring with her own playful vocalization while the traditional string (dan bau) plucks against the upbeat rhythm. Elsewhere she starts off the title track with a spirit-possession ritual called len dong. By the time she’s into the trance, the funereal horn improvises over the mid-tempo beat to support her spiritual ecstasy. In the dirge-like sound of “Loi Hat Vong Nuoc Xoay,” her singing is like a threnody in memory of those who lost their lives in the twisted flow of water. In contrast, she knows how to ride her youthfulness along the groovy acoustic bass lines and exotic timbre of dan bau in “Trai Lang Toi.” It’s about time there’s a dedication to the boys in the (countryside) hood. Most of the traditional songs are about the ladies.
While many Vietnamese singers make marketable albums to put food on the table, Ngoc Khue stays true to her art. She doesn’t like to fit in and although she doesn’t say it, her album suggests a fuck-you-if-you-don’t-feel-me attitude. So those antediluvian expatriates who still love Vietnamese music just like the way she was thirty years ago shouldn’t even come near this unconventional music. It would be too modern for your damn ancient taste.
Dude, did you check out the video I posted on my blog? She’s my kind of girl (that is.. she’s actually got some baby fat on her). I’m not sure I dig those ultra-thin honey that’s glazing on ThuyNga as well as ASIA videos. At any rate, I’ll have wait ’till my bro comes back from VN to listen to this CD. However, the video on Giot Suong Bay Len & Ba Toi sound pretty wicked.
Bravo! Ngoc Khue my kind of girl too.
An excellent & creative album. Vietnamese music at its best! All tracks are impressive in their own way.
Her ealier album “Ben Bo Ao Nha Minh” (2004) is fantastic too.
You can watch Ngoc Khue performing “Giot Suong Bay Len” in “Duyen Dang Viet Nam 15″ DVD. She also perform this song and “Ba Toi” in “Bai Hat Viet Nam 2005″ DVD.
ok..thanks for the warning..i’ll stay away from this album.
(Actually, Don, he may have meant me as well… :o) I have been called everything just short of “ancient.” In my own blog, no less! :o) )
The composer/arranger does a good job integrating traditional Viet folk instruments, rhythm, and melodies into the modern beats. Am still getting used to Ngoc Khue’s voice and her presentation of these songs. I will say that her technique is good, considering some are fairly difficult songs to sing (to wit, “Ba Toi,” where there is no place to properly breathe during any given phrase.) All said, this one of those albums that will need to “grow on me!”
Nope..it’s direct at me..and yes, believe or not, after all these years i still like my pho?? the way it is..no need to “jazz it up” with ketchup or mustard…
Props to Donny for his reviews of Ngoc Khue’s cd. I’ve been intrigued by her singing since I read your Ben Bo Ao Nha Minh review.
“So those antediluvian expatriates who still love Vietnamese music just like the way she was thirty years ago shouldn’t even come near this unconventional music. It would be too modern for your damn ancient taste.”
I must say though, it’s possible to like both, ya know!
I am sorry to post it here. Anyone knows the links where I can listen to song “Rơi lệ ru người” that Trinh Cong Son wrote for Khanh Ly? Thanks in advance
Nguyen, absolutely. I still love old music dearly, but I am also open for the new as well. Good music is good music.
It’s human nature to want to be challanged and inspired by new things but this tendency to try new things diminishing with age. for example, if you are in the age group 20-35, you will likely to try sushi to see if you like it, but when you are 39..not a chance.
My bad, Don. I thought you’re around my age or younger. I still disagree with you about the “tendency to try new things diminishing with age.” I am almost thirty, and I still like listening to hip-hop. Still admire those young artists who could write fresh and dope rhymes. I know a guy who still pursuing his master degree in his 80s. Ornette Coleman in his mid 70s and still blows his horn like he did 50 years ago. Even our own Pham Duy is pretty sharp in his 80s. He still writes music and his children don’t call him Mr. Hi Tech for nothing.
the two artists you mentioned, i think, are the exceptions, not the norm
Hey, Don, how come you are so updated with Vietnamese Music??? even me (stay in vietnam) not that updated.Cool. I will try to make some experimental music with Nguyen Vinh Tien this year (2007) for some fun of it. will keep you posted for this activity of mine. take care.
you meant Donny right? Donny and Don are two seperate individuals
what? ngoc khue has a new album? where can i get this? so intrigued!
Guys,
I’m almost 60 now and love Ngoc Khue, Nguyen Vinh Tien and Le Minh Son at first sight. What a tight and inventive way to compose music, not to mention the sultry voice of Khue.
Without Ngoc Khue, there is no one capable of singing these types of music and withou Tien & Son there is no other way Khue can show off her talent. Try the same song with Thanh lam and you’d know what I mean.
With me, our Vietnamese music indeed just got re-invented.
i just want to say THANK YOU for introducing me to her because her style of music is what i’ve been looking for these days — i love the way she presents her songs. it’s amazing. so thanks once again.