Today it was announced that Apollo 18, that have now returned to Korea after recording their new EP, will go back to Japan in July to play the last day of Fuji Rock Festival '11.

For some more Apollo 18 action in Japan - check out these photos from their last Japan show following the US tour: Apollo18 @ Shimokitazawa Basement Bar (Apr. 3rd, 2011).

Yet another week with the top of the indie music chart over at Bugs not changing much, but the Deulgukhwa cover album offers plenty of newcomers on the overall chart.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 28, 2011
1. 10cm - 아메리카노 [recandplay.net]
2. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album ver.) [Sketchbook]
3. Guckkasten - 사랑일 뿐이야
4. Dalmoon - 없는게 메리트 [On Stage]
5. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서 [Music Travel Lalala]
6. 10cm - 그게 아니고 [M root]
7. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
8. Thomas Cook - 아무것도 아닌 나 [MV]
9. 10cm - 새벽 4시 [@ Cafe Veloso]
10. Canaria Salon - What Though

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
18. Handsome People - 세계로 가는 기차
21. Monni - 그것만이 내 세상
22. Kim Bada with The Boy - 행진
23. W&Whale - 사랑한 후에
24. Mot - 매일 그대와
28. Lee Jang Hyuk - 제발
32. Huckleberry Finn - 아침이 밝아올 때까지
34. Hanumpa - 머리에 꽃을
35. Kyu Won - Silent Conversation [MV]
51. Rots - 거미줄 (Re-Rec) [MV]
66. Soran - 타임머신 (feat. Kong Tae Woo of Monni) [@ Rolling Hall]
75. Rots - Lifegame [studio live]
98. Sol Sol Spring Wind - 그런날엔

See the full top 100 list here.

Following last year's first full length album from one man band Kyu Won, second full length album 스스로 떠나는 사람들 got a digital release on May 25. This time around he's been assisted with female vocals from 장배우 and 허수정 on three songs each.

A few songs from Soran's 2010 debut EP, mentioned a couple of weeks ago, managed to make it onto the chart again - perhaps a consequence of some additional exposure following the recent signing to Happy Robot.

Male/female duo Sol Sol Spring Wind appears to have taken the name after the Korean version of German children's song Alle Vögel sind schon da. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a modern folk sound the two debuted with single 그런날엔 on May 25.

A number of indie songs left Gaon's digital chart, but 10cm's presence remain strong. It's curious to see how new releases also increase interest in related older songs to the point that they can enter the chart as well.

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - May 21, 2011
14. 10cm - 아메리카노
75. Eptione Project - 나는 그 사람이 아프다 [MV]
86. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album Ver.)
96. Thomas Cook - 아무것도 아닌 나 [MV]
124. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서
131. Eluphant - 여전히 아름답네요 (feat. Kwon Jung Yeol) [preview]
137. Romantic Couch - 햇살이 눈부신 어느 날 어렴풋이 그대 생각이 나겠지요
149. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
154. 10cm - 죽겠네
159. Epitone Project - 한숨이 늘었어 (duet with Yi Jin Woo) [MV]
160. TransFixion - 너를 원해 [MV]
165. Lucia with Epitone Project - 꽃처럼 한 철만 사랑해 줄 건가요?
169. Mate - Play
172. 10cm - 그게 아니고
198. My Aunt Mary - Hey

Took me a few months, but I finally figured out that Shim Kyu Sun, as I've referred to her previously, goes by Lucia when her name isn't written in hangul. She's been releasing a few digital singles together with Epitone Project and the latest one, Sakura Moment, was released on May 19. The single comes with but one track called 꽃처럼 한 철만 사랑해 줄 건가요?

On June 23 a movie called Play will open in Korean cinemas and it stars the members of soft rock band Mate as three guys wanting to start a band. The soundtrack was released on May 19. Check out the music video for album track 늦은 아침 here. Check out the movie trailer here.

Apollo 18 are in Japan to record some new material in the Zankyo Record studio. As hinted previously, while there they'll be playing a show in Shibuya, Tokyo, on May 28: Bad Noise! 28 May - Apollo18, Sawas Phool + The Cold Tommy.

Hyang Music's album sales chart too has been updated again:

Hyang Chart - 5th week of April, 2011
1. Dalmoon - 28
2. Nunco - Murder's High
3. Neon Bunny - Seoulight
4. Sogyumo Acacia Band - Ciaosmos
5. 10cm - 1.0
6. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
7. Savina & Drones - Gayo
8. Avantasia - The Flying Opera: Around The World In Twenty Days
9. Cosmos Sound - 스무살
10. Kang San-eh - Kiss

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
66. Pyha - 맞불놀이
85. Siwa - 소요 (逍遙) (2nd edition)

See the full top 100 list here.

April 28 long time rocker Kang San-eh made a return (widely celebrated on Twitter) with an EP called Kiss. It is his first release since eighth full length album 물수건 in 2008 and samples from the new CD as well as previous releases are available via SoundCloud from the official site.

Dark ambient/atmospheric one-man black metal band Pyha, or Ruined released a full-length album called 맞불놀이 on April 22. 칼바람 can be sampled through Misanthropic Art Productions YouTube channel.

Following a three week's break the unique artist chart for Indieful ROK's last.fm listener group has finally been updated again. Here's what it's saying for last week:

Indieful ROK TOP10 - week 20, 2011

1. Casker (re) [Luna YT audio]
2. 10cm (-) [우정, 그 씁쓸함에 대하여 @ EBS Space]
3. Donawhale (+4) [NaNa YT audio]
4. Jaurim (re) [거지 YT audio]
5. Clazziquai (-1) [Gentle Rain YT audio]
6. Winterplay (+2) [Cha Cha MV]
7. Fanny Fink (+3) [Signal Lamp YT audio]
8. Nell (-3) [12 Seconds YT audio]
9. Monni (re) [바람부는 날 MV]
10. Drunken Tiger (re) [난 널 원해 II YT audio]

Don't feel like the chart reflects your taste in music well enough? Join Indieful ROK's last.fm group and maybe next week it'll look a little better!

Following more than a two year hiatus, as announced previously Chapter 3 of Pastel Music's 사랑의 단상 series is on the way. The release date has been set to May 31 and the title has been changed to Follow you, Follow me.

The tracklist includes names familiar from previous Pastel compilations (Lovelybut, Yi Jin Woo, Herz Analog, Casker's Yoong Jin) as well as more established Pastel artists (Hee Young, Fanny Fink) and some at least in this context new acquaintances (solo work from Casker's Juno; the mysterious Gros-Câlin; electronica act Allegrow; and singer/songwriter a boy next door). Visit Pastel Music to sample the tracks from Allegrow and Herz Analog.

Still not that many changes in the top, but a long awaited comeback did make some impact.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 21, 2011
1. 10cm - 아메리카노 [recandplay.net]
2. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album ver.) [Sketchbook]
3. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서 [Music Travel Lalala]
4. 10cm - 그게 아니고 [M root]
5. Dalmoon - 없는게 메리트 [On Stage]
6. Thomas Cook - 아무것도 아닌 나 [MV]
7. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
8. 10cm - 새벽 4시 [@ Cafe Veloso]
9. 10cm - 죽겠네 [@ Anthracite]
10. Thomas Cook - 솔직하게

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
12. Thomas Cook - 청춘
31. Canaria Salon - What Though

See the full top 100 list here.

Ten years after his solo debut, My Aunt Mary vocalist Thomas Cook has released his second full length album. The title is Journey, it's been out since May 17, and rumor has it it's really good - something I have no problem believing after what I heard and saw last year.

Jazz pop songstress Canaria Salon released a digital single called What Though on April 19. Since last year's single debut she has also released another digital single and an EP, LoveBy.

Following Part 1 and Part 2, 2011 Deulgukhwa Remake Album Part 3 was released as a digital single on May 13. This time around with the morin khuur equipped rock band Hanumpa interpreting 머리에 꽃을 while Kim Bada has taken on the classic 행진.

After some months of waiting the full compilation CD will be out on May 26. In addition to the aforementioned songs and singles - including covers by Mot, Huckleberry Finn, W&Whale, and Handsome People - it'll also include Monni singing 그것만이 내 세상 들국화; Guckkasten singing 사랑일뿐이야; and Lee Jang Hyuk singing 제발.

Although not related to this release, it seems Hanumpa was performing their version of 제발 during their on Stage session: [HD] HANUMPA(한음파) - "제발"(들국화 cover) Dec 30, 2010 at Naver OnStage. More from that session here.

It seems the reason why 10cm got an upswing on Gaon's digital chart is a commercial for coffee brand a Café la: 10cm's Americano doesn't die. last week . did some serious climbing!

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - May 14, 2011
15. 10cm - 아메리카노
61. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album Ver.)
82. Eluphant - 여전히 아름답네요 (feat. Kwon Jung Yeol) [preview]
93. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서
109. 10cm - 죽겠네
118. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
120. 10cm - 그게 아니고
128. TransFixion - 너를 원해 [MV]
133. Romantic Couch - 햇살이 눈부신 어느 날 어렴풋이 그대 생각이 나겠지요
136. Dalmoon - 없는게 메리트 [On Stage]
155. 10cm - 새벽 4시
164. Taru - Better Together
188. 10cm - Good Night
196. 10cm - 우정, 그 씁쓸함에 대하여

Rock band Transfixion has taken inspiration from 80s synth pop à la Duran Duran and A-HA when crafting the main track for new album No.4. As implied by the title it is the band's fourth full length album, which has been out since May 12.

House duo Romantic Couch released a second full length album, My House Is Ur House, online on May 13 with the CD release following May 17. It includes Like A Virgin, previously released as a digital single and according to the album info, the album main track currently on the chart was influenced by Sanullim's 창문넘어 어렴풋이 옛 생각이 나겠지요. allkpop has more info: Romantic Couch releases second official album, “My House Is Your House”. (Although it could be noted that while Junjaman of the duo does indeed belong to the first generation of Korean electronica musicians, Romantic Couch as such does not)

Not much has changed in the top of Bugs' indie chart since last week.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 14, 2011
1. 10cm - 아메리카노 [recandplay.net]
2. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album ver.) [Sketchbook]
3. Dalmoon - 없는게 메리트 [On Stage]
4. 10cm - 그게 아니고 [M root]
5. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서 [Music Travel Lalala]
6. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
7. 10cm - 죽겠네 [@ Anthracite]
8. 10cm - 새벽 4시 [@ Cafe Veloso]
9. 10cm - Good Night [@ Anthracite]
10. Dalmoon - 보호해줘 [@ Cafe Veloso]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
24. Huckleberry Finn - Girl Stop
52. Reach the Moon - 양 끝을 가리켜 [live]
99. Huckleberry Finn - 쫒기는 너 [@ Club Ssam]

See the full top 100 list here.

Huckleberry Finn have been talking about a fifth full length album for quite some time already, and now tickets are out for the album release show taking place in early July. I have yet to find a release date for the actual album, but May 13 a two track digital single called Girl Stop was released. A music video appears to be in the making.

Acoustic female duo Reach the Moon debuted with a one-track digital single called 양 끝을 가리켜 on May 12. The girls are playing piano and guitar and it seems their label, Retro Music, is trying to partially market them as a female No Reply.

It's the 15th of the month and this May it means one of the best editions of Music Alliance Pact yet. Plenty of music from all over the world awaits to be sampled from you.

The South Korean offering of the month is the awesome Paryumchiakdan, whose debut EP 와인의 밤 I'd highly recommended. The song with the same name is the one that got me hooked, and I'm hoping it'll have the same effect on you. Check out Indieful ROK's Paryumchiakdan mini interview to learn more on the band and the band members' influences.

To download all 36 songs in one file click here

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Paryumchiakdan - A Night Of Wine
Paryumchiakdan, which translates as "The Infamous Orchestra", was formed three years ago with the vision of making music based on 70s punk-rock with an East Asian pop sound, playing it as if they were a 60s garage rock band. The sound has changed a bit since, but the members still cite GO!GO!7188 and Korean psychedelic musicians of the 70s such as Kim Jung Mi as influences. The band recently self-released their first EP, A Night Of Wine, and the title track has an awesome modern retro sound that invites foot-tapping.

   [read more ...]

Yet another week without an Indieful ROK chart, but now that Blogger is working again here's some entires from the latest digital chart from Gaon. 10cm did some serious climbing!

k-indie @ Gaon Digital Chart - May 7, 2011
12. 10cm - 아메리카노
52. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album Ver.)
61. Eluphant - 여전히 아름답네요 (feat. Kwon Jung Yeol) [preview]
83. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서
97. 10cm - 죽겠네
98. 10cm - 그게 아니고
104. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
109. Dalmoon - 없는게 메리트 [On Stage]
144. 10cm - 새벽 4시
149. 10cm - Good Night
162. Taru - Better Together
169. 10cm - 우정, 그 씁쓸함에 대하여
181. 10cm - Talk
192. 10cm - Beautiful

Hip-hop duo Eluphant released a single called 여전히 아름답네요 online on May 4 with the CD release coming up on May 17. For the title track they featured Kwon Jung Yeol of 10cm, something that allkpop saw fit to mention last week: Eluphant collaborates with 10cm for “You’re Still Beautiful”.

On May 4 Taru released a new electronic pop song on a one-track digital single called Better Together. It was used in a joint Nate and Cyworld campaign already last year, but this time the song is made available as a sample from her upcoming mini album 100% Reality.

Bugs Indie TOP10 - May 7, 2011
1. 10cm - 아메리카노 [recandplay.net]
2. 10cm - 죽겠네 (Album ver.) [Sketchbook]
3. Dalmoon - 없는게 메리트 [On Stage]
4. 10cm - 그게 아니고 [M root]
5. 10cm - 사랑은 은하수 다방에서 [Music Travel Lalala]
6. 10cm - 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요 [MV]
7. Dalmoon - 보호해줘 [@ Cafe Veloso]
8. 10cm - 죽겠네 [@ Anthracite]
9. 10cm - Good Night [@ Anthracite]
10. 10cm - 새벽 4시 [@ Cafe Veloso]

The new additions to the TOP100 list are the following:
74. Guckkasten - 꼬리 [@ EBS Space]
76. Lips-bite - 지나가기엔
77. Nangman Band - 그대 [@ Freebird]
87. 내일 - 새벽 기차
89. Bye Bye Sea - 눈물바다
94. Woo Yeon Ju - 우리가 사랑했을까

See the full top 100 list here.

Lips-bite released debut EP EP 1 on March 24. The band's rock sound can be sampled through the music video for 고담. Plenty of behind the scenes from the actual recording of the EP available here.

After some solo time, soft pop duo Nangman Band is back with a new EP called Song For You. In addition to four new tracks it includes an 11' version of 다시보기 that was first featured on a joint christmas single with Sweet Salt, released late last year.

Male singer/songwriter 내일, whose name translates to "tomorrow", released his first album, 새벽 기차, on May 2. With an acoustic guitar as main instrument his sound reminisces that of artists tied to Happy Robot.

Woo Yeon Ju released her first solo album, Forest of Yeonju, under the name Ho Yeon Ju. After a set of soundtrack and compilation appearances she released the first digital single under her own name on April 20. The title is 우리가 사랑했을까 and in addition to the title track it comes with a song called 기타치는 오빠 and instrumental versions of both. Yeon Ju used to be the vocalist of pop/rock band BeBe - I'd highly recommend seeking out the 2004 album Be Careful for anyone that appreciates female vocals over good guitar riffs.

For the last week of April an Indieful ROK favorite took the #1 spot of Hyang Music's album sales chart.

Hyang Chart - 4th week of April, 2011
1. Neon Bunny - Seoulight
2. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
3. Sogyumo Acacia Band - Ciaosmos
4. Savina & Drones - Gayo
5. 10cm - 1.0
6. Cosmos Sound - 스무살
7. Downhell - A Relative Coexistence
8. Avantasia - The Flying Opera: Around The World In Twenty Days
9. Yoon Sang - Yoonsang 20th Anniversary Project
10. Look & Listen/The Freaks - Wake Up/꿈이냐

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
34. Sentimental Scenery - Soundscape
69. Lhasa - ^^^^^^^^^
78. Eloise - Video 1
79. Band Jun - 찌질한 27살은 꿈을꾸네

See the full top 100 list here.

Downhell came back on April 21 with what appears to have been a much anticipated second full length album. It includes both Runaway and Straight Like A Bullet from last year's Runaway EP and the CD also comes with a live studio recording not included in the digital release, out May 4.

Continuing from yesterday's chart updates.

Hyang Chart - 3rd week of April, 2011
1. Yoon Sang - Yoonsang 20th Anniversary Project
2. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
3. 10cm - 1.0
4. Neon Bunny - Seoulight
5. Baekdoosan - Rush To The World
6. National Pigeon Unity - Root
7. Look & Listen/The Freaks - Wake Up/꿈이냐
8. Savina & Drones - Gayo
9. Cosmos Sound - 스무살
10. Strokes - Angles

The new k-indie oriented additions to the TOP100 list were the following:
33. Naty - Pride
68. Eniac - 소년은 달린다
69. Aile - Emotion
71. 18 - 19가 되기 싫어
80. Various Artists - Chocolate Music - Label Album
81. Railroad - Naturally

See the full top 100 list here.

It appears boonga Boonga Record has replaced it's 수공업소형음반 series with the 상업음반 series released on sublabel 쑥고개청년회. No. 17 was released on April 15 and saw Cosmos Sound make an EP debut with 스무살. The bgbg blog offers a sample of the title track.

Heavy metal trio Naty returned with second full length album Pride on April 14. The members all have a long history as members of various metal bands including Turbo and Monkey Head.

Girl duo Eighteen started out as a punk act in September last year, but realized it didn't fit their mindset and has since moved on to what they call a more pure sound. On April 12 the girls self-released a six track EP called 19가 되기 싫어.

Modern folk duo Railroad self-released an EP called Naturally on April 13. With sweet female vocals over lovely melodies they aspire to evoke the same sentiments as Kings of Convenience. Listen through the entire EP either on Myspace or via the official YouTube channel.

Small label Chocolate Music is celebrating its 3rd anniversary this year and it has been doing so by releasing a series of digital Spring Day singles. So far four parts have been released, starting with Part 1 on April 1, where Espresso offered a song called 봄이 오면. Part 2 followed on April 8 with the release of Bom's self-titled track, 봄. On April 22 came Part 3 with SWin's I'm Born Again. The first three parts all had both original and instrumental versions whereas Part 4, released May 2, came only with the new age style piano piece Blue Sky from Imaginary.


Before launching the Spring Day series, Chocolate Music had just concluded a 4 part digital mini album series. It had started with some R&B style music from SWin on February 1; was followed by some more ballad style music from Espresso on February 14 including 3 tracks from the 2009 EP debut Grown Up; exactly a month later, March 14, DP with the help of fellow label artists such as Knock and Sunsky put out some laidback music; and finally on March 28 Knock came forth with some more ballad style music of his own.


On April 15 all four mini album from the Chocolate Music Mini Album Series, instrumental tracks excluded, got a CD release. Hyang Music offers one brief sample for each of the original releases.