I’ve been trying MelOn for the past week or so. It’s a Korean subscription based music service. There are various plans available depending on what your needs are. I wanted to be able to stream full songs and download MP3’s that I can transfer to my iPod. The MP3 Plus package offered just that for a reasonable 6000 won a month (roughly £3, $6) for 40 MP3s or 10,000 won for 150 MP3’s. I got the MP3 40 package to try it out.

Firstly the Melon website is typically Korean so you need to view it in Internet Explorer and install anything it asks you too. So Mac users, like myself, have to boot up in Windows (assuming you have installed it) or use virtualization software. You have to download the MelOn player too, which again is only available for Windows.

Anyway once you are up and running it’s easy to search for artists and songs. There is a huge selection to choose to dig through from both major and indie labels. You can simply click a song’s name to stream it and hit download to get the MP3 (most songs are available in 128kps, 192kps and 320kbs formats). The MP3’s are DRM free too and so even if your subscription ends you can still keep the files. I transferred the MP3s out of Windows onto Mac OSX and synced them with my iPod. They played back as expected.

If you have a phone in Korea, MelOn is accessible on there too (your account is linked to your phone number). Through your phone you can download and listen to songs but have to pay any data charges. The PC MelOn player also lets you convert your downloaded MP3s to a phone friendly format and syncs them for you.

Overall I’m pretty pleased with the service. It’s annoying have to use Windows to access it but then again nearly every big Korean website or web service is the same - you have to follow their Windows / Internet Explorer standard. Being able to stream any song and download a few albums worth of songs for the price of a CD is quite a bargain.

Last weekend I went down to a show in Hongdae. I reviewed it for the Korea Herald. Here it is:

With the weekend approaching, many expats will be looking forward to letting off some steam at live concerts. Last weekend, All Fun Merchandise presented the Dope Label Show Vol. 5 at the mighty Skunk Hell in Hongdae. Dope Label has put out some solid punk, metal and hardcore releases.

The label was formed to give some exposure to the Korean underground music scene after the founders were frustrated by the restrictions of the major labels they once worked for.

One band I was looking forward to seeing was the three-piece group, The Strikers. They are a high-energy band that rips through sets of punk-infected rock - and tonight was no different. The enjoyable vocals were complimented by solid bass rhythms and an interesting range of catchy riffs from the guitarist. Having been on the scene only a few years, they are already a strong live band. Unfortunately, as their set came to an end, the bass player announced that he was leaving the band. His approach to shows will surely be missed.

Next up were the four-piece, Burning Hepburn, though they added two members to cover extra instruments and vocals. As soon as they set up, they launched into their set by playing a decent mix of punk, rock and ska. The songs were varied, which helped keep a high interest in their performance. They were on stage with plenty of experience behind them and the addition of a trumpet and keyboard on some tracks helped them stand out. Judging by everyone`s reaction, they were probably the most favored act of the show.

Suck Stuff have been a favorite band of mine on the Hongdae live scene, due to their accomplished playing style and their tight sound. Their influence - from punk, hardcore and even ska - is always put to good use. Tonight, they certainly turned a few heads. Their set was solid and, even with the limited in-house PA, they sounded superb. If I did have to nit-pick, I`d say that, due to the vocalist`s soft voice at times, I could hardly make out what he was singing about. But that didn`t stop them from being my favorite act of the night.

Finally taking to the stage were experienced punk-rockers Rux. Having been together for what seems like forever, they still managed to tear it up on stage and grab the audience`s attention for the whole set. Their songs draw inspiration from anarchy, liberty, communism and various problems in society.

While their set was up to their usual standards, I think Rux would have benefited from a bigger crowd. They tried to work the shy crowd, without getting the reaction they probably wanted. Some people taking offense to the bad language didn`t help, either. However, all in all, Rux came on stage with a punk attitude and it was reflected in their music.

It was a fun show and would have been a great introduction to some experienced live acts on the scene if more expats had gotten a heads-up. Unfortunately, the epic hardcore rockers, Hallow Jan, couldn`t perform that night - and with the thin crowd due to some other great shows on the same night - this show didn`t live up to the potential its flyer touted. Nevertheless, the bands played their hearts out and I certainly had a good time watching them.

Playing on a weekday I was skeptical if I could get down to Horse the Band’s Earth Tour ‘08 in Seoul at Live Club Ssam. Luckily I finished work early and headed straight there. Mini review:

Opening the night were Same Old Story. There emo sound wasn’t really my thing and I thought they looked a little awkward on stage. However, they were pretty tight sounding and did seem to appeal to a lot of the crowd.

Next up were Hollow Jan. Wow, simply put - I was blown away. Epic songs graced with loud guitars, strong melodies and screamo vocals all combined well for an enjoyable set. They played through their set almost elegantly and the vocalist was seemingly possessed with emotion. Superb.

Finally Horse the Band took to the stage and brought back all the memories of the last time I saw them back in Wales. They bang out decent hardcore with that extra element that works so well for them - a keyboard spurting out video-game inspired tunes. They looked good on stage and energetically stormed through their set. Their “nintendo-core” brings a tear or two to my eyes. Catch them somewhere on their “Earth tour” if you can.

Photos at flickr.

A couple of weeks ago I went to a show that I wrote a review about for a national newspaper here in Korea. Here is the article:

Saturday’s “Anyone can play punk rock” show started badly, progressively got better, and finished with the crowd begging for more. Held at Skunk Hell in Hongdae, a larger crowd would have helped the atmosphere and a heads-up on who was playing might have brought more people in.

Nevertheless, Seoul’s punk rock scene is catchy and fun, and will continue to develop as it draws a larger base of supporters.

First on Skunk Hell’s bill was a band whose name combines the names of two fairly popular Korean bands — No Brain and Crying Nut. However, once the starting time came around, the audience was surprised to see no instruments on stage and a girl in a cute punk outfit standing alone — looking a little embarrassed. So much for “Let’s meet at 10.”

Apparently, her band couldn’t come, so she decided to go it alone. Kudos to her fearlessness. Her aggressive vocals soon crushed her cute punk image, and after one song, she left the stage.

Second up was the three-piece, Use Your Head. Not impressive. They played a set of cover songs and looked quite awkward on stage. They weren’t very tight; nor were they combining sounds very well. However, individually, the members all had talent and I’m sure with more experience, they could come together well and blossom into a good young band. Finishing up the first half of the night was Hi Bud. More cover songs from this band and a broken bass guitar didn’t exactly help their show. They were loud and aggressive but really didn’t inspire me at all. On the plus side, the guitar player was technically quite proficient.

The second half of the night was a lot stronger than the first. After rocking out in the crowd for the most of the night, Full Ahead Romance took to the stage and, from the first song, you could tell they were playing music: because they love it. They confidently played a punk set of their own songs and a few covers. They even synced their actions during a couple of songs, which looked a little cheesy (it is punk, after all), but they get points for effort.

As the night went on, the bands got better, and The Phat Bananas were no exception. Their punk rock sound was tight, enhanced by two dueling guitars and the vocalist’s edgy, lasting voice. They looked good together on stage as they ripped through a strong set. A slightly pop sound made them accessible for the average punk fan.

A fashionable three-piece rock band, Jounkuk Bidoolgi Younhap, or National Pigeon Unity, aggressively took the stage next. They were loud, aggressive and epic. They made full use of the stage, climbing onto whatever they could, and challenging each other to push themselves harder.

Skunk Hell is closely related to Skunk Label Records, which has put out releases by various punk rock bands. The venue is tiny and dark; the walls are decorated with hundreds of black and white flyers from previous shows; a table covered in graffiti lines the front of the stage; and a booth at the back sells CDs.

To get there, go to Sangsu Station, Line No. 6, Exit 2, walk left and follow the road until you see a 711 on the left side. The venue is opposite 711, up the hill.

Last week I wrote up my first article for Korea’s number one English newspaper - The Korea Herald. I’ll be covering live shows every two weeks. Here’s the article:

Looking for live music? Get down to one of Hongdae’s small, dank live venues and watch some seriously interesting bands from a variety of genres. The GMC Records New Year Fest 2008 show with eight quality hardcore bands on the line-up was fantastic. While each band drew its influence from hardcore and metal, they all had something unique to offer.

The venue, Liveclub Ssam, is not far from Hongik University. Upon entering, you are riveted to the lime-colored walls as you head down into the basement where the stage is. The walls are sound-insulated; two large rope-wrapped pillars tower down the center; and the not-too-small stage can be clearly seen from most parts of the room. This venue has a decent PA, and is rigged with an excellent lighting system. The sound and lighting staff make good use of the facilities, helping to showcase the bands to their fullest.

The crowd was an interesting mix, with a group of young teenagers at the front of the stage, a group of boys wearing cute animal outfits in the center, and the slightly older folks hanging back a bit, or sitting in the few seats at the back of the room.

The first band, Apop, was the youngest and most attractive- looking of all the bands, and, as their name suggests, they worked pop into their hardcore sounds. Their emotional hardcore style was easily the most accessible and catchy of the night. They set the atmosphere, and younger people were soon jumping around. The next band, Ninesin, had a similar set-up, but with the addition of a DJ adding effects. Their energetic front man made full use of the stage, while the band played solidly throughout their set. Their energetic performance got a positive reaction from the crowd.

Next up were Knockdown, which has elements of death metal, as well as hardcore. Their deep, low vocals cut through the crowd. When the rather large and cocky looking front man talked to audience, impolite Korean and foul language flowed out of his mouth, and his words were clearly heard. Soon, the boys wearing animal costumes surged forward with their arms swinging, and merged into the group gathered at the front, creating a huge mosh-pit. This continued for the rest of Knockdown’s tight and well-played set.

Finishing the first half of the night was Maze, a five-piece group featuring the only female performer of the night. Maze blazed through their set with tight riffs and a decent range of vocal noises; their set ended with a roar of cheers from everyone.

Samchung kicked off the second half of the night. Their five- man line-up laid down a variety of riffs, and the dual vocals added some extra variety. Their songs were on the epic side at times, but were graced with some excellent guitar solos.

Sixth on the bill was Captain Bootbois, whose hardcore sound was layered with melodic tunes from the oddest looking guitar. The positive-sounding nature of their songs begged you to sing along, and that we did.

The next band, 13 Steps, hailing from Jeonju, were my most eagerly anticipated act of the night. I had first heard them back in Wales, but tonight was my first chance to catch them live. They didn’t disappoint, with more stage dives than you can shake a pointed finger at; the crowd exploded. Their short songs draw you in, and, before you know it, they end the set, leaving you begging for more.

Finally, Vassline took to the stage and carried on where 13 Steps left off. Playing hardcore with a large range of sounds, their energetic vocals made them the crowd’s favourite. Some dedicated fans sang along with the vocalist, and everyone else exploded in a frenzy. It was a high-energy and satisfying end to the evening.

Korea’s hardcore scene is loud, aggressive, and has a great sense of community — exactly what it should be. The bands promoted each other and gave informal lectures on how we can support the scene. Judging by the quality of this night, I’ll definitely be getting down to more shows.

At first I thought 2007 was quite a quiet year for Japanese music. However, after filtering my music by the year 2007 I was surprised to find just how many quality Japanese albums I had picked up this year. Over at Keikaku, we recently put together a feature on our best Japanese releases of 2007. Head over and take a look at the feature for some excellent recommendations.

I haven’t wrote about music for a long time. 2005 had some great moments though, especially some of the live gigs in South Wales. I recently submitted my Japanese top 5 for keikaku.net though. This is that list:

Bugy Craxone - Bugy Craxone
A strong release from Bugy Craxone. I was expecting one of their best releases but was pleasantly surprised. Intelligent guitar playing and solid songs make this for me. The sometimes strange English lyrics can be forgiven.

Advantage Lucy - Echo Park
Advantage Lucy continue to impress with their well thought out catchy pop songs. Aiko’s voice is as captivating as ever.

toddle - I dedicate D chord
Somewhat difficult to listen to at first but soon became a favourite for me this year. The positive energy passed over as I listened to this album made it that much more special.

銀杏BOYZ - DOOR
A loud and passionate release from Ging Nang Boyz guaranteed them space on my playlists. Surprisingly good considering they released two albums this year.

Hawaiian6 - Beginnings
When I heard about Beginnings being released I was hoping for more of their solid, catchy sound and they delivered superbly. There are few moments where they go wrong on this release.

Be sure to check out the full article featuring the rest of the staff’s top fives. Go>

Last night was fun. I went to a friend’s gathering. I caught up with some friends, had a few beers and some vege-burgers. It wasn’t any old gathering though, James Black and Mia Riddle are driving around the UK touring together. They were there to play some songs with a 3/4 scale acoustic guitar in a candle lit garden. It was awesome. James has meaning within his songs and plays fairly simply but it’s catchy and enjoyable. Mia has a beautiful voice and I was totally captivated by it. She obviously loves singing and performing and was a joy to watch. I picked up her and James’ CD before heading back early since I had to wake early this morning to drive my parents away. I also picked up Mia’s other project called Miss Mandible. It’s a studio created project turned live band with poppier production than Mia’s solo work. It’s also quite enjoyable though; electronic sounds, punchy bass, quiet-loud parts, and beautifully confident vocals.

I caught some great acoustic acts this week. First up was some dude I didn’t catch the name off (Big Dan I think) but he played only a couple of songs. His voice was rough but worked. He began without the guitar and then slowly built up the music until he was trying something different at the end using repetition of a couple of lines. It was actually really good. Next up was The City on Film. This guy had an amazing voice and played really well. It was mostly upbeat stuff. He’s from the bands Braid and Hey Mercedes of which I also enjoy. Finally up was Owen which is Mike Kinsella’s (of Owls, American Football, Joan of Arc etc) solo project. Wow this guy had awesome guitar skills. He was picking tunes really well and I got lost in his sound. He was quieter and more laid back than The City on Film so the diversity of sound in the evening was welcome. Really enjoyed them all. Go check out the samples at their sites and be sure to check them out when they tour near you.

A few of us decided to head out of Wales into England to attend Bristol’s Ashton Court Festival. We had no idea of the acts playing except the headliners. The website was not very informative and the festival guides didn’t reach Wales. Anyway we drove and man, it was a nightmare. It took us two hours of queuing in Bristol to actually get to the city. City driving is horrible when it’s that busy. To make things worse it was stupidly hot. We found the place and headed through a lovely park up to the festival site. The event tents were spread out nicely and there was plenty of room to walk around. We stopped off at a couple tents but many bands simply didn’t impress. We decided to chill out at the main stage and wait for headliners Super Furry Animals (Welsh band) to hit the stage. It was worth the wait. They played a strong set of a range of material from their studio albums and a bunch of b-sides. Interestingly the new material was kinda mellow and a bit more electronic than the older stuff. Super Furry Animals usually end their live sets with a 20 minute techno/mixing session and this seems to have more of an effect on their regular material now. The mixing set they ended with had an anti-government theme which the crowd enjoyed. The visuals supporting the set were edited nicely too. Super Furry Animals have been one of the most consistent bands I’ve come to known. It’s great to see they still have that level of skill.