The latest release from the Thai music discovery project jointly led by SOI48 and EM RECORDS is the second album by Ankanaan Kunchai, an indispensable diva of Isan and Morlam music. She was one of the first singers to incorporate the song styles of Luk Thung into Mor Lam—a form of dance music with strong narrative elements—and this album features several killer tracks that are currently gaining renewed appreciation among DJs. The songs capture the rustic roughness and earthiness of rural Isan, yet also possess an elegance and spirituality; the backing music is also worth noting, featuring minimalist, repetitive basslines and rhythms reminiscent of Jamaican reggae, a dance groove sensibility, and elements of Asian enka and theatrical dance music. It’s a charming and profound world. The liner notes—featuring passionate commentary by the two members of SOI48 and including bilingual lyrics—are a truly impressive piece of work by EM Records. I consider this to be “Golden Triangle Psychedelia.” (Original Japanese text by Saito)