The Sound of Siam: Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz & Molam in Thailand 1964-1975

South East Asian music has gone through a bit of a revival over the past few years (as of 2023), with its vintage psych atmospheres even influencing bands like Khruangbin and Yin Yin. But back in 2010 Soundway Records was among the first to release a compilation dedicated to this overlooked world, focusing on Thai music from the mid ‘60s and early 70s. This transformational period for the country resulted in an idiosyncratic style that combined luk thung, Thailand’s rural music, with molam folk and Western funk and soul which was ruling the airwaves at the time. It’s highlighted here in all its different facets, from the fiery funk of “Sao Lam Plearn” to the psych jazz arrangements of “Pleng Yuk Owakard” — just a glimpse into the extensive well of soulful and experimental Thai music from the time.