NIGHT PROWL – “Where you go? Discotheque?”
It’s pretty rare when a catchphrase from a Bangkok cab driver leads me to muse on a deeper cultural insight. But “discotheque” happens be a term with a wealth of meaning. By definition, it’s French for “library of phonograph records.” But “discotheque” happens to be the origin of disco – and disco is a style of music that’s making a big comeback in underground scenes around the world right now, including here in Bangkok.
Disco was never dead. In fact, it’s always been lurking around. If you’re a lover of electronic dance music, specifically house and techno, then you have to realize that disco is the ancestor of it all. There’s a common misconception that the genre is defined by the Bee Gees and Abba, but it’s actually more far-reaching than that. Disco is something of a clumsy net term for an old school sound, encompassing soul, funk, boogie and everything in between. So a disco party doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll hear the “YMCA” or “Night Fever.”It can just as easily be a party that embodies the ambience of the time when sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll were replaced with sex, drugs and beats.
This was the original sound of the underground. Disco rose to popularity in the ’70s, thanks to the ethnic and psychedelic communities in places like New York City and Philadelphia. At the time it was a big “fuck you” to the rock ‘n’ roll on the radio. These upstart electronic songs had no structure or format, only a feeling of rhythm and groove. It was a celebration of freedom, hedonism and sexual expression – think about it. Studio 54 was packed with the world’s first ravers.
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By the late ’70s, disco was labeled commercial and there was a strong backlash from the growing fanbases of metal and punk rock. When Rod Stewart and David Bowie started mixing cymbals and triangles into their songs, they became sell-outs. That’s not to say that it was good – let’s face it, “Emotional Rescue” is one of The Rolling Stones’ worst records. In July 1979, the American top 10 chart was home to six disco tracks. A few months later, there were none.
It was around this time that DJ equipment started becoming more affordable and easier to come by, and some of the first house tracks were born by DJs trying to reproduce disco in their bedrooms and basements. Disco still shares the same four-by-four offbeat, high-hat pattern as the house and techno we know today. There are build-ups and takeaways, and the same use of musical effects to play with emotion and keep people dancing.
But lately it seems like disco has become mainstream all over again. Daft Punk’s latest album, “Random Access Memories” shined a light on the disco sound that has already captivated artists like Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga and Robin Thicke. There’s also a slew of vibrant sub-genres taking shape like nu-disco, indie-dance and the re-edit scene. Even the media have caught on christening 2014,“the renaissance of disco.”
Daft Punk recorded “Random Access Memories” using real instruments and real musicians. Critics praised the band for responding to the overdose of EDM by looking back instead of reaching for a lofty new sound, Avicii’s new album being the case in point. I’ve found that for many music lovers, “Get Lucky” is a polarizing track, but at least it’s starting a conversation on how the electronic family tree all got started.
So if you’re interested in getting down to the roots or at least hearing something different, Bangkok is the right place to be. The sounds of soul, boogie and funk happen to be bountiful here. One of the longest running parties is the Four Players series by DJ Quatro Ludo, an avid vinyl collector who made parties in niche venues like Dickinson’s and Harmonica. Last year, DJs Scott Hess and Karl Andy started Bangkok Disco Emergency and even got the crowd going on rollerskates.
This Friday, there are a couple parties promising plenty of disco. The aptly named Disco Robot takes over the curtained nest of Black Pagoda for another night on Sept. 6. This party has a habit of turning into an all-nighter in the true spirit of Studio 54. Stereo also returns for an evening of retro tunes and remixes of classic disco tracks. You can probably anticipate a few pink and purple afro wigs and bell bottoms in the crowd as well.
So now, you have to hear it to believe it. Here’s a list of five songs for the amateur disco enthusiast, as compiled by the founder of Disco Robot, Bangkok’s own DJ Jaydubb (Jan Bisping):
1.) Don Armando’s 2nd Avenue Rhumba Band – “I’m an Indian Too”
This is a great kooky groover from one of Kid Creole ‘s projects (The original is actually a song from the musical ‘Annie Get Your Gun’).
2.) Skyy – “First time around”
Al known as “Cosmic” was the motto to Skyy’s probably most famous song. Don’t get sidetracked by the outfits, the song is a heavyweight, with pulsating (and much sampled) bassline, killer guitar licks and rhodes key stabs, some druggy female sensuous vocals, and weird spacey synth sounds.
3.) Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes – “Bad Luck (Dimitri from Paris Re-Edit)”
Raw uptempo soul from 1975 – this was disco before people had even given a name to this sound. Fierce drums, bad ass horns, lush strings, crisp piano chords and of course Harold Melvin’s incomparable voice, given a different arrangement and a bit more oomph in this Dimitri edit.
4.) Bohannon – “Let’s start 2 dance again”
Lots of crazy percussion over another much-sampled wobbly bassline, weird-ass rhythmic elements dancing like skeletons, Bohannon’s unique rap style, diva screams, if you don’t dance your ass off to this you should check your pulse.
5.) Jorge Santana – “Darling I love you (Underdog Edit)”
This is indeed Carlos Santana’s younger brother, who has also been flying the Latin rock flag for a few decades. This edit of the original cuts all the cheesy yacht rock of the original and only leaves the song’s killer drum break which drives and drives and builds and builds. Not a single breakdown needed in almost 9mins. Beautiful, beautiful track.
FIND IT:
Disco Robot presents: Luv Bugs
Black Pagoda
Patpong Soi 2
September 6, 10 pm
THB 300 including one drink
Indus
Sukhumvit 26
September 6, 9pm
Free entry
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