+ KAMCHRUOCH +

Named after the Khmer word for fireworks, Kamchruoch is nothing short of a celebration, an explosive mix of music from 1960s and '70s era Southeast Asia. Pop and rock music were alive and well at this time, particularly in Cambodia and Thailand, where folk singers were experimenting with new sounds, combining traditional Cambodian and Thai music and melodies with R&B, psychedelic rock, and other western music. As you will hear in the mix, many songs are based on American and British rock songs (Venus, Wooly Bully, Sugar Sugar, etc.) with lyrics written in Khmer or Thai. While the words might be different, the topics are all too familar. These are songs about love, lust, heartbreak, the virtues of youth, the anxieties of aging - issues that seem to know no cultural boundaries. The resulting sound is familiar yet unorthodox, recognizable yet revitalizing.

In the mid-to-late 1970s, the Khmer Rouge came to power in Cambodia. The anti-intellectual / anti-individualism philosophy of the party resulted in a mass genocide wherein upwards of 2,000,000 people were murdered. Artists, musicians, and intellectuals were specifically targeted, including most, if not all, of the Cambodian musicians featured on this mix.

Despite the enormous tragedy, the music lives on. Most of the songs featured on this mix can be found on a number of widely available compilation CDs. Groups such as Dengue Fever and Neung Phak are recording and performing their own contemporary versions of Khmer rock and other traditional Southeast Asian music for audiences all over the world.

100% of the proceeds from this mix will be donated to Tiny Toones, an organization based in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh. Tiny Toones is a youth center which provides a safe environment for at-risk Cambodian youth. By learning breakdancing, hip hop music production, English and Khmer language, computer skills, painting, and drug prevention / harm reduction, hundreds of Cambodian youth are given an opportunity to develop the self-confidence to want to do something positive with their lives.

1) Thra Ka Band "Do You No Wrong Again"
2) Thongmark Leacha "Teaching the Daughter"
3) Ros Sereysothea "Arom Pai Pot"
4) Thra Ka Band "Crazy Loving You"
5) Unknown "Blue Basket"
6) Poev Vannary "Huos Heuy Bong"
7) Sinn Sisamouth "Missing Tender Care"
8) Don Sonrabiap "Klai Chit"
9) Leiu Thaert "Rom Sue Sue"
10) The Royal Sprites "Noom Rai Por"
11) Sinn Sisamouth & Ros Sereysothea "Ma Pi Niaok (Where Are You From?)"
12) Mike Ibrahim & The Nite Walkers "Chock Chock Kundong"
13) Sinn Sisamouth & Ros Sereysothea "Venus"
14) Les Kafilas "Ikan Today"
15) Sinn Sisamouth & Ros Sereysothea "Chnam Oun 31"
16) Ronnie Ong "Buttons & Bows"
17) Sinn Sisamouth "Neagk Na Min Snaeha"
18) Pan Ron "Tgai Na Bong Tomne"
19) Sorn Petch Pinyo "Laek Laow Deum Nom (Quit Drinking Alcohol and Try Drinking Milk Instead)"
20) Thongmark Leacha "Are You Tired of Me Already?"
21) Thongmark Leacha "Now She Loves Every Man Except Me"
22) Yodrak Salakchai "Rap Khreung Dieow"
23) Ros Sereysothea "Chnang Jas Bai Chgn-ainj "Old Pot, Tasty Rice"
24) Group Ka Kaw "The Generosity of Our Fans"
25) Teun-Jai Boon Praraksa "The Competition"
26) Ismail Haron & The Guys "Berseida"
27) Kassim Slamat & The Swallows "Nga Lompak A Go Go"
28) Ros Sereysothea "Wolly Polly"
29) Ros Sereysothea "Chnam Oun 16"
30) Sinn Sisamouth & Ros Sereysothea "If You Wish to Love Me, Don't Laugh or Cry"
31) Voa Saroun "Maksy"
32) Pan Ron "Hippie Men"
33) Pan Ron "I'm Unsatisfied"
34) Ros Sereysothea "Wait Five More Months"

MIKE 2600
Starting off as a college radio DJ in St. Louis, Mike learned his way around a pair of turntables and began building his record collection, spinning at parties on campus and around the city. In 1999, he released "Yars' Revenge," a 4-track mixtape of funk breaks, scratch routines, and Black Sabbath and Sesame Street samples.

In the years to follow, Mike linked up with Doug Surreal, Bitch Ass Darius, and other St. Louis DJs to form the Litterthugz crew, with whom he spun at clubs, parties, and DJ battles around the Midwest, was twice nominated as St. Louis' best hip hop DJ, and released a slew of acclaimed mix CDs including the funk and psychedelic workout "Heavy Session." In 2003, Mike moved to Minneapolis where he teamed up with the crew from Life Sucks Die graffiti magazine to start the design and screenprinting studio Burlesque of North America. In the Twin Cities, he has spun at dozens of venues around town, started several weekly and monthly nights including the Tuesday night Triple Double, where hundreds of music-hungry locals dance to hip hop, disco, '80s, and electro at the Triple Rock Social Club and the annual "Monster Mash," a Halloween-night tradition at First Avenue's 7th Street Entry where, alongside DJ King Otto, Mike spins Motown, British Invasion, and other oldies hits to a room packed with costumed party people.

In December 2009, the Philadelphia-based Crossfaded Bacon label released "Ready to Rock," a digi-EP of uptempo hip hop instrumental tracks dusted with traces of disco rap and '60s psychedelic rock.

Mike has DJed alongside / opened up for Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Atmosphere, Spankrock, DJ Steinski, Flosstradamus, The Rub, Tiesto, Nadastrom, Tittsworth, Prince Paul, and many more.

twitter.com/mike2600
burlesquedesign.com

PRINCE KLASSEN
It all started 12 years ago in San Antonio, TX when a then 14 year old Prince Klassen stepped behind the decks for the first time. It was a monumental event, like the first time anybody made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or the first time they shot a monkey into outer space; it was a little bit weird, but it felt more right than anything else, so they didn't question it, and neither did Prince Klassen. Thank the lord he didn't, because over the past 12 years Klassen has played along side many of the countries premier DJs and bands, toured around much of North America and Canada, and has cemented himself as one of the best DJs of the last decade.

The insane depths of his crates, and mental library of music knowledge allows Klassen the freedom to bounce around the world of music during his legendary DJ sets and solid mix tapes (check the link below for his latest 'Mi Fresh'). Apart from Klassen's insane mixing skills, it is the fact that he's able to juggle genres so easily that makes him stand out as one of the best, keeping his sets fresh and the dance floor constantly packed. Check in on any of his weekly or monthly residencies in his new hometown of Austin,Tx to find your proof!

Klassen has played at some of North America's premier clubs, events, and festivals: Dim Mak Tuesdays at Cinespace in Hollywood, Hai Karate at Hi-Fi Club in Calgary, Shepard Fairey's Dance Right @ La Cita in Los Angeles, New York's Hiro Ballroom, Roxy Cottontail's Sway, Shine in Vancouver, Austin's Fun Fun Fun Festival and SXSW; as well as being featured in publications and blogs such as Fader, Wire, Texas Monthly, Gorrilla VS Bear, RCRDLBL Fake Rich, Turntable Lab, Spin, and most recently Giant Robot.

Even though the Prince is busier than heard of ants trying to rebuild their ant hill after some kid kicked it over, he still manages to tour, attend school, and make far out re-edits and tracks. His most recent collaboration finds him joining up with some of his Spank Rock homies to run the insanely popular Fully Fitted blog. The last 12 years have been totally insane, and the future is looking crazy good for Klassen; all sunshine and rainbows. He's still totally grounded though, you can contact the dude through myspace or email. Jeah!

princeklassen.tumblr.com
twitter.com/princeklassen

Khmer Music website

Dengue Fever's documentary film Sleepwalking Through the Mekong

Zudrangma Records

Monrakplengthai Thai music blog

Legacies of War