A few weeks ago I had an interview with Nina Lee of Happy Robot Records and wrote an article on it for London Korean Links. Yesterday it was posted: Happy music, Happy people. Read if you too have been curious about the awesomeness of Nina herself or the label director job in general. Or just because you too like Happy Robot.

Jung Jae Hyung's Promenade has gotten a brief review in JoongAng Daily: [NEW RELEASES] Jung Jae-hyung.

Almost a year after the release of second full length album Action Lover, on April 16 Super Kidd released the digital albumThank You!. The tracklist of this "Super Kidd Story Just Kidding OST" contains a bunch of titles familiar from previous releases in live versions, and also includes 어쩌면 좋을까, two parts Just Kidding and 사는게 그렇습니다.

It would seem like indie pop band Broccoli, you too? released a new demo on April 22. It is their second, and the title is 잔인한사월. In addition to the title track and an instrumental version of the same, the CD also contains a song called 커뮤니케이션의 이해. Details at the Broccoli, you too? blog.

Last Saturday, metal act Moonshine announced that their first couple of full length albums, Wake Up The Moon (2001) and Songs of Requiem (2005), are available from several digital music stores - including (but far from limited to) iTunes and Amazon. Full list at MySpace.

The indie rockers in Pink Elephant mentioned that they will release an EP this summer in a blog post today about their upcoming farewell concert.

So far the interviews we've had here at Indieful ROK have been with fairly new bands, and/or (the only exception so far) bands that just released an album. But though this blog has something of a news focus, I've had this desire to introduce some of my old favorite artists to those of you that have yet to learn of their existence. And so, I'm extremely happy to be able to present a mini-interview with Kyoungmo Kim of Especially When - responsible for one of the best songs of all times (see bottom of this post for a download!)

What is the history of Especially When?
EW started with me, looking for a way to play and release my music. I was in Julia Hart at the time (around 2000) but JH was all around Bobby's band and my songs didn't really mix with Bobby's. Around the same period of time, Minkyu (Kim) of Delispice was starting out Moonrise Records and I was kind of involved in the initial setting up of the label. On the first release of Moonrise were scheduled a compilation CD that accompanied Sweetpea's Neverendingstories. Minkyu had heard my demos before and asked me to join on the compilation. I recorded Clare in Minkyu's home in Seoul, summer of 2000. And I guess that kind of kick started EW.

I recorded Sleeves for the second Moonrise compilation, and after came along band members of Eunju (Jung) of Puredigitalsilence, and Eugene (Sung). Eunju left shortly after. Eugene and I with help of others like Andy (Yang) of Champions and Elena (Jung) recorded and released The Evening Air EP in 2003. Our second EP, The Great Depression (how foreseeing) with Yongbum (Lee) as our new drummer was released in 2004. We eventually disbanded in 2005 after a short hiatus.

You wrote several amazing songs for Especially When. What would you say characterized your music back then?
Most of EW's recordings were heavily influenced by the music I've listened to during my teens, namely bands from labels like Creation and 4AD. I was also (/still am) a devoted fan of Sarah Records around the time. I think it kind of shows, especially on our early recordings. Other than that, I don't think I can say much because we were never trying to convey a specific message or theme to our music, and most of the decisions were based purely on musical aesthetics, relying on our taste in melodies and soundscape.

Do you have any favorite memory to share from the Especially When times?
Fondest memory I have on EW is us crammed up in my small room recording The Evening Air. It was the lowest of the lo-fies, but looking back, I'm quite pleased how they sound quite shit, in a good way, if you know what I mean...

What are the former Especially When members up to today?
Eugene has been involved in various recording and live sessions of Champions, Sunstroke and Julia Hart. As for me, I've started out a new band called Sunkyul.

---

I love Clare. I can play it on repeat for hours, and those EPs too for that matter. I posted a brief review of them both at last.fm a couple of years ago (for the record, my opinion has changed with the repeated listening and I have come to accept that there will never be something quite like Clare) and gave Especially When a mention at my then music blog (where there's also a post on Puredigitalsilence, complete with samples).

Nowadays I suppose it's quite difficult to come across anything from Especially When regardless of how you choose to obtain music for your collection - unless you know exactly where to look, that is. Courtesy of Espousal Records, I'm delighted to present to you a set of legal Especially When downloads:

[mp3] Clare (from Moonrise Compilation 1, 2000)
[mp3] Sleeves (from Moonrise Compilation 2, 2001)
[asf] The Serenity (from The Evening Air, 2003)
[asf] Suni (from The Great Depression, 2004)

The Lovely Pink release previously announced for Taru is out now. Turns out it's the soundtrack for another LG cell phone CF - this time it's the Bling Bling CanU phone. Bling Bling is also the name of the only song on said single, which it seems Sentimental Scenery has had something to do with. Watch the CF at YouTube, or try the version posted at sunsetsoon where the music is more prominent.

Disco rock band GoGo Star is about to release its first full length album, Last Show, reports Shawn at the Korea Gig Guide. Hyang Music suggests April 29 as the date of release (though Shawn has three other dates listed) of Last Show, that includes new versions of three songs from last year's debut EP, Go Go Party!. Sample the old versions at Hyang.

I have yet to hear more of what Stretching Journey has to offer than the samples at Hyang and a bunch of noisy vids at YouTube, yet I'm confident that their self-titled album debut will give me more than my money's worth. The band's bassist, Hahn Vad (perhaps better known as Amature Amplifier), was kind enough to give comprehensive answers to the questions asked when I wanted to learn more about the band.

How would you like to introduce Stretching Journey?
Stretching Journey is 4 man piece rock band from South Korea.

Our position in band is like below.
1.Vocal, Rhythm guitar : Choe Yoon-seong
2.Vocal, Lead guitar : Baek Jae-joong
3.Vocal, Bass guitar : Hahn Vad
4.Vocal, Drums : Heo Chan

We first banded summer of 2006. At that time I was playing as amature amplifier in many clubs around Hongdae-scene and also was managing a live club "Ladyfish Pop Hall" (it's a kind of rock bar). I planned many gigs and shows for weekdays and weekend for the club. So I already know Choe, cause he's a solo psyche-folk musician. He played many times in my club. Once We've had a show together at that time. One day, Choe told me that how about Punk rock band together. I pleasantly agreed with him, cause I was thinking of making punk band too at that time. That was a first step for our band.

In those days, I was a member of 'Zzuerjjeong-Yier-Fahrenheit'' which is a experimental and improvised rock band. Baek was a guitarist in this band. Choe and I were agreed that Baek will be a sufficient guitarist for our band. We told Baek. Baek instantly joined band as a lead guitarist. Then Choe told Kim nam-yoon who is member of 3rd Line Butterfly that how about drummer for our band. Kim joined as a drummer. So, our first line-up was organized.

Near the end of 2007, Kim leave the band cause he's very busy for his job-film OST music production. 2008, Baek suggest his junior in his school as a drummer. So, Heo joined as drummer. This is our 2nd line-up for the band till now. After Heo's joining, we performed many shows in clubs and festivals. Songs were piled up, then we decide to make an album by ourselves.

What can you tell us about the music of Stretching Journey?
We first intended to make and perform punk rock music. Cause the ENERGY from Punk rock music was our pure respect. But as our practices and live shows going on, the music from our band was not exactly Punk rock music. We progressively recognized that punk music cannot be forth by the man's intend. So we made an effort to find which music genre or band we should reference. 1st principle was our music from our body playing. Different from other member, I thought that DEVO or Gang of Four would be our reference. Cause the other members' thinking and influenced points was different, our music can not be that style, DEVO or GoF. Finally I think our band is Post or maybe Proto-punk style rock band. Also new wave music is in it. Just we can feel that from our live shows. If you listen to our CD, newly released at Hyangmusic, you can feel that. One guy who listen to our live show in these days' album release show told me, "Your band's songs are like Stooges or Johnny Thunders or Ramones." Anyway, many music genre is melted inside our music as each members have each taste.

From the samples I've heard, Stretching Journey seems to have something of a psychedelic sound going. Are there any bands in particular that have influenced you?
At that time I was younger and as a listener I liked brit pop, punk, post-punk (Joy Division), new wave (DEVO) and synth pop(!)-ABC, Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode music from UK, also I liked from Doors to Nirvana in America-I think these bands are my hardness' origin. I also like new wave rock bass playing-A Flock of Seagulls, etc. But because I didn't deeply listen to Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music, so in our music's hard rock style and heavy metal-ness is mainly from Choe or Baek. So this is just my opinion. I will tell you by each songs.

1. 060
Intro progression and beat is influenced by south american rock band-Los Bunker's song. Our chorus is something like "Koyote"-korean dance pop duo style I think.

2. Shimonosekki (시모노 새끼)
My bass playing specially influenced by the bassist Kasiwabara Yuzuru's walking bass playing. Kasiwabara Yuzuru was bassist of Fishmans which is a Dub-rock band from Japan.

3. Cheommilmil (첨밀밀)
Maybe, uhmmmmmm, nirvana or beatles??? We wanted annoying and noising sounds, then we played more complexed crossing 2 guitar progression playing. Bass guitar two cord go-return playing is very exciting moment I think. It's very simple and heavy. But my playing was not so good.

4. 1,2,3,4uck
I think this music is purely from our body or Beach Boys(???) Drummer Kim made this song and sang. After Kim leaving, Heo sings. Lyrics is starting like "Sun is shining in California and lone rate is progressively going higher..."

5. Nan Neon (난 넌 넌난나는 너의ㄴ러를)
Someone saying this song is from Blur...maybe brit pop influence.

6. Dancing Hero (댄싱히어로)
80s Manchester or New wave influence, I can not deny. Cause I like that style of music. 'Mood' is the core of this song. Original song is from amature amplifier.

7. 3ZoneMaAe
Bass intro, that was a small dream achievement of my bass playing. After playing this song, we recognized that the song from Galaxy Express was very similar with this. That was not our intend, so we changed some melody line.

8. 28
This song's cord playing and melody line was from Choe. Standard Hard Rock style I think. My friend said to me, "I feel like this song is from MC5!!"

9. A Runaway Dog (집나간 개)
This song's heaviness in our live show made us shocked then we love and love and love and love it. I think this song represents our music. My vocal has some naive style.

Hahn Vad, you're making music in several different constellations. What sets Stretching Journey apart from the rest?
I know more and more the band is hard to manage. There's many reason for the band to disband I think. Many years ago I quitted Oyster Boys. I want more power and friendship in the band. I want to give and take the energy which all members have. So communications with each members are very important to keep going on. (I lost at that time in Oyster Boys) And I wanted to make punk music-later I understood that I need any music which have power or energy. In this Stretching Journey, we have power and energy fully effecting to the audiences and each others. And all members are very kind and thoughtful. I also realized that more practices result more nice songs. So this band is very important to my music life. But it's not conclusion. Band music's quality is another problem. Apart from the rest, the friendship is also there inside.

---

Don't know about you, but at least it makes me even more eager for the arrival of Stretching Journey in my mailbox! Brief samples for tracks 2, 5 & 9 are available at Hyang Music.

Nouljune of Eunhee's Noul (and Sixteen) fame is back! On April 23, his new one man project Azito will release an album called bam' vista. Not quite sure what it'll sound like, but either way I'm thrilled.

Male singer/songwriter Yang Chang-Keun released an EP called 겨울비 on his own, April 17. All songs on it can be sampled through Hyang Music.

New indie rock act Party Maker CD debuted through Ruby Salon on April 16 with the release of Make A Party. The single holds three tracks, with Get It Down and Drink It Again all in English and the title track, which can be sampled at Hyang, primarily in Korean.

After 10 years, pop punk band Tacopy is still alive and kicking. Their fifth full length album, Que Sera Sera, will be released on April 22. Glory Days from the 2007 single with the same name is one of the twelve tracks, but it would seem the rest are all new.

Kim Hyung Joong releasing an album is usually something I wouldn't notice, but finding Polaroid among the upcoming releases at Hyang I clicked it on a whim and spotted a bunch of names of higher interest to me: There were Toy/You Hee Yeol, Kang Hyun Min of Loveholics, Bae Young Joon and Han Jae Won of W, and Peppertones. mrkwang tells me it's because they have all been writing songs for the album. And Hwang Project has produced it. From what I can tell Kim Hyung Joong sings pretty well, and having a history in E.O.S (90s kpop is still a favorite of mine) I'm thinking this could be pretty interesting anyway.

Eniac's Sunday Afternoon, which featured Swedish singer/songwriter Lasse Lindh, will get another release as a bonus track on the Korean edition of Lasse Lindh's Sparks. To be released April 23.

In other The Invisible Fish related non-music news, the award winning movie Breathless (똥파리) went up on Korean cinemas two days ago, on April 16. The Korea Times has a couple of pieces in English on the movie and its director, Yang Ik-June - read the essential parts at The Grand Narrative. No mention of the The Invisble Fish composed score anywhere though.

The Invisible Fish man, also known as slowzz, continues to expand his Fuzzpop short sleeved shirt series: April 18 was the release date of the Argentinian baseball inspired Chaco Hornero t-shirt. Pictures here.

My favorite Tearliner made me very happy the other day when he posted his release plans for 2009 - keeping that schedule he'll certainly be very busy this year, but I'm sure he'll be able to make it. So, in addition to making the soundtrack for Triple (트리플, the next drama of Coffee Prince producer Lee Yoon Jung) with an expected release in June or July, we can expect four singles and one full length album from Tearliner before the year is over:
- Embrace All single (May)
- Love Traveler single (July)
- 사랑은 잠시 single (August)
- 달콤한 계절 single (September)
- 잿빛정원 album (November)

I know that Liner has plenty of great songs waiting in his drawers, but still - so many singles! I was worried that they might all be digital singles, but Liner told me they would also be released on CD. And to make it even better, each single will have 3-5 B-sides!

I can hardly wait! If you can't either, here's the tracklist for the Embrace All single - follow the links in the square brackets to hear older versions of those songs. And keep in mind that most likely they will be even more awesome when released.
01 - Embrace All [Guide-1(Intro)] [Mixed-C]
02 - 'Radio Rabelde'
03 - Gazer Razer (original ver.) [Studio Live Ver.]
04 - Final Scene [2006 guide ver.]
05 - Yst [Inst. Guide-1]
06 - She's Lovely [Guide-1]

Great news! "Newcommer of the year" Loro's made one of last year's very best albums. On April 21 the band will make more of their gorgeous music available through the release of an EP called Dream(s). Sample almost 3 minutes of the first of three Dream(s) at Hyang.

KoME has reviewed Casker's Polyester Heart; Naturalness and Effectiveness: Review of the latest album of the electronica duo.

It's the 15th and that means MAP day! This month the Music Alliance Pact is up to 25 members, as we welcome Finland. The song of the month from Korea is offered by Toxicbiasfleurivy. Don't forget that you can also sample their entire second and third full length albums at last.fm, should you wish to hear more.

AMERICA: I Guess I'm Floating
Thing One - Mop Yards
New Jersey's Thing One have been on my radar since last year when I first heard a few tracks from their debut album You'll Be Fine. Mop Yards brings traces of The Smiths and ELO into the new millennium with strange electronic warbles and dancey synth patches. Singer Joey Palestina creates a veritable summer anthem with the repeated line, "The heat is non-stop, hide the women in cop cars". Whatever that means, Joey, I feel ya.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Chau Fan - Boletos De Tren
Chau Fan is a boy-girl indie folk (or anti-folk?) duo from Buenos Aires, starring Micaela Quinteros and Marcelo Lares. They both sing and play acoustic guitar, and in this particular song Micaela does a charming harmonica solo. Boletos De Tren will be part of Zonaindie's new compilation which features five songs from artists who have never had the chance to record in a professional studio (we invited them to the studio and helped them record). So consider this a MAP exclusive premiere.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry
So, yeah, this could easily be an iPod Nano commercial, but catchy accessibility is hardly a terrible quality for a song to have. Who really expected a former Australian Idol finalist to produce anything of worth? This is a lovely song and I hope it gets overplayed.

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
Hurtmold - Música Política Para Maradona Cantar
There is no other band like Hurtmold. You have to listen and feel it. It's more than music, it's an experience.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
Dinosaur Bones - NYE
Dinosaur Bones are currently attracting all sorts of interest on the back of their debut EP, and this song makes it easy to see why. They blend together The National's world-weariness and a very English-sounding pop sensibility, with the end result something that's entirely their own.

CHILE: Super 45
The Same Sky - We Sleep Under The Same Sky
The Same Sky is the music project of Joseph Simon, a 15-year-old Chilean who was born in Canada. It is precisely this biographic fact that can define his music - warm guitar sounds of slow rhythm alongside a smooth voice heavily influenced by bands such as Beirut, Arcade Fire and The National. The recent release of his first album (Two Hearts / Apart Under The Same Sky) supports this feeling of songs as a perfect soundtrack for winter days spent at home, enjoying the natural melancholy.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Ruhan Daisy - We Know You
There's quite a bit of post-rock going on in Scandinavia these days, one brilliant act being this Danish quintet. It's grandiose, funky with bits of (acid) jazz thrown into the mix and sports an equilibristic sense of detail. Ruhan Daisy's crowning achievement, however, is their catchy pop sensibility driving the complex compositions out of nerd-country into the mainstream. At least that's how it should be.

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Alessi's Ark - The Horse
Alessi's Ark is west London teenage sensation Alessi Laurent-Marke and here is the single version of The Horse from the Mike Mogis-produced new album, out next month.

FINLAND: Glue
Palma - Ride Around
After a couple of years in the making, Helsinki band Palma recently released their debut album Be Bold And Mighty Forces Will Come To Your Aid. Palma refers to an old soda drink in Finland and the band, indeed, produce some refreshing indie-pop songs, rooted in the classic sounds of the 70s, and with a danceable groove. It's retro and modern. For fans of The Soundtrack Of Our Lives and Supergrass.

FRANCE: SoundNation
Sundogs - So Close
Sundogs are a French band who live in London but play in both England and France. The group is made up of two guys - bassist Jeff ("le petit blond") and Pierre on guitar. The other musicians are French or English guests, depending on where they are playing.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Lali Puna - Nin-Com-Pop
Lali Puna is another band from the great Weilheim circle led by Valerie Trebeljahr. Established in 1998, I consider them to have a higher creative potential than recently featured The Notwist, where her boyfriend and Lali Puna fellow Markus Acher is playing. Nin-Com-Pop is a song from their second album Scary World Theory. A new record will be released later this year.

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Lay Low - Last Time Around
Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir is a 26-year-old half-Sri Lankan, half-Icelandic singer, born in London. She sings under the name Lay Low and her music is a combination of blues, folk and country. This year, Lovísa has already supported Emiliana Torrini on tour and signed a record deal with Nettwerk. Last Time Around is on her third solo album, Farewell Good Night's Sleep.

IRELAND: Nialler9
202s - Ease My Mind
There was a general air of being caught unaware in the Irish media and bloggers when this duo's debut landed on their desks. Without any gigs and already signed to French label Le Son Du Maquis, their charming Primal Scream and Broadcast-indebted indie-pop has skipped a few hurdles without skipping on the tunes.

ITALY: Polaroid
Gazebo Penguins - Wallabees
A punk band that quotes Alfred Korzybski? Yes, please. The Name Is Not The Named is the title of Gazebo Penguins' new album and it's full of powerful hardcore in the style of At The Drive-In, with a nod to Motorpsycho. Sharp guitars, heavy rhythms, driving choruses and smart attitude.

MEXICO: Club Fonograma
Mexican Institute Of Sound - Reventon
Mexican Institute of Sound is a solo project by the multi-talented Camilo Lara. He just released his third album Soy Sauce, another celebration of Mexico's traditional music fused with funky tunes, electronica and the genre that's getting ready to shake the world again, cumbia. MIS is an explosive adventurous musical ride of our rich culture. They are preparing to perform at this year's Coachella festival and with songs like Reventon, it is sure to get the fiesta up in wild spirit.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Three Legged Horse - Red
Red is the opening track on Down, the debut album of Three Legged Horse, a trio from Waiheke Island, around 20km offshore from Auckland. The band bring together the grungy dark introspection of lyricist/vocalist Bede Taylor, the smooth powerful vocals of Gina Higham and the musicality of Aaron Carpenter into a combination much greater than the sum of its parts. Red is a good intro to an extraordinary album that melds acoustic country blues with dirty guitar and vocal grit and growls.

NORWAY: Eardrums
Dylan Mondegreen - Animal (Hiawata! cover)
For this month's MAP I will present not one Norwegian act, but two. The performing artist here is Dylan Mondegreen, one of my absolute favourites in Norway. He is currently working on his second album, which should be released later this year. The song he sings is written by another favourite of mine, an indie-pop band from Oslo called Hiawata!. Mondegreen's cover of their song Animal was a b-side on Valley Boys, the first single from their second album, These Boys And This Band Is All I Know, due out soon on SellOut! Music.

PERU: SoTB
Autobus - Volver
Autobus formed in Lima in 2006 and released their debut album last year. Although they have a clear rock essence, they have electronic influences and a pop touch which sets them apart from their peers, so much so that many people are surprised by where they come from. They have made a good impression abroad, achieving their aim of drawing attention to the local scene.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
The Clits - Lay Low
If there was a such a genre as electro-psychic-punk-rock-pop, The Clits would be the kings. It all started in 2006 when Carlos (guitars, keyboards and backing vocals) invited Ana Leorne (vocals) to form an electro-punk project, influenced by the riot grrrl movement and some of their favourite artists such as Joy Division, Bauhaus, Nina Hagen and Suspicious (another Portuguese electro-punk project). Their first record, The World Is A Mess But My Hair Is Perfect EP, was released in December 2007.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Persona - Momentary Lack Of Passion
Inspired by Ingmar Bergman's movie Persona, this band belongs to the new generation of Romanian musicians that bloomed after the anti-communist revolution of December 1989. The group's members have been involved in the music scene since then, playing in several acts before forming Persona. Their music is, indeed, one of British influence but cannot be strictly labelled - the musical background and influences of each of the members, refined by experience and artistic maturity, blend together in the Persona genre.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
There Will Be Fireworks - Foreign Thoughts
Bands of the calibre of There Will Be Fireworks are far too rare, but that's not a bad thing because you'll end up appreciating them all the more. Although TWBF seem like the perfect new students in Scotland's renowned post-rock school, their take on the genre is far more moving and lyrically impassioned than anything that has gone before them. Foreign Thoughts, taken from the Glaswegians' forthcoming eponymous debut album, has the beautiful intensity of a Band Of Horses classic and will stay with you long after its three-and-a-half minutes are up.

SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
Astreal - Snowflake
Some may say that when you're in love, the stars align. For Astreal, love is more of a cosmic collision course between stars and planetary bodies. In the unassumingly titled Snowflake, there lies so much destructive potential in a love so intense that, yes, even "the stars, they burn for you". Taken from their second album Fragments Of The Same Dead Star, the song combines the melodic infatuations of shoegaze with the aural impudence of noise-rock for a blistering and haunting love song that almost borders on maniacal obsession. Is this love? That's for you to decide.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Toxicbiasfleurivy - Parallel Assembly
GDM duo Toxicbiasfleurivy might not be the obvious choice for MAP but their latest album, Particles, provided an interesting exception from my usual listening when it was released late March. Electronic, experimental and pretty much the opposite of easy listening, the listener is advised to enjoy astral emotions while digesting this music inspired by quantum physics.

SPAIN: El Blog De La Nadadora
Anntona - Nunca Es Tarde
Apart from his membership in the band Los Punsetes, Manu has a solo project called Anntona, in which he makes the best pop songs imaginable. He has just released his second album, En La Cama Con Anntona ("In Bed With Anntona") which contains 10 fizzy and addictive pop pearls such as opening track Nunca Es Tarde.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
The Late Call - Linnea
The Late Call is really just one guy (and friends) from Stockholm named Johannes Maye. His debut album, Leaving Notes, chronicles the long distance relationship he had with his girlfriend. The record and this song has an organic feel on account of the mostly acoustic instrumentation. Linnea is a perfect example of the gorgeous pop you can expect from The Late Call.

To download all 25 songs in one file click here.

Shawn has written a post on Cocore for Korea Gig Guide that includes some interesting information - for instance that Cocore are planning to release a new album this summer. The Cocore fan will probably want to read it all: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!

The Cooky release expected from Yozoh today, April 10, turned out to be a digital single with the song 허니 허니 베이비 which is currently used in one of LG Cyon's Kim Tae Hee Cooky phone commercials. The NG film and commercials - all with the Yozoh song playing, of course - can be watched and downloaded from the Cooky site.

Oh, and while browsing that site, you can choose from three jingles to keep your ears entertained: one of them goes by the name of 쇼핑은 즐거워 and is performed by Yozoh, while another called 사랑이란 is performed by Taru.

Singer/songwriter guy ED Lama will return with his second album, Space Dreamer, on April 16. It'll be released through Dreambeat, just like the 2007 album Happy Hippy. Though while the first album offered mellow pop for a "mellow & happy trip", the second album should consist more of psychedelic folk/country stuff with some pop sound. Sparkling Shining off the new album as well as a song called Please Please can be sampled in three parts each at YouTube.

Rock band Hookah White will release it's first album, Retrofire, on April 15. Like the album title implies, Hookah White seems to be going for a retro feel and in their case it's 60s and 70s rock - Blind Faith and Led Zeppelin in particular if I got the album info right, but they also did a Thin Lizzy tribute gig last month. To get a better idea of what Hookah White sounds like, here's a two year old performance of the album title track.

If you're looking for some light and bright new pop with primarily female vocals and a touch of indie, then The Misooks might be something for you. Seemingly named after Shin Misook (previously pianist/keyboardist of Beautiful Comeback), the band line-up apparently includes ten people more. Tomorrow, April 10, their first album together, 생각지도 못한 일, will be released and every song on it can be sampled through Hyang.

A couple of days ago, on April 7, Stretching Journey album debuted with a self-titled, self-released album. From the samples at Hyang, the band, that keeps Amature Amplifier as their bassist, comes off to me as band making the kind of rock that would belong on Beatball Records so it should come as no surprise that I already think highly of them.