Review Summary: The perfect album for post-rock fans eager for something new and exciting
If someone asks you whether or not you like 'Korean music' you might wonder what kind of a question that is - after all, surely an entire country isn't likely to stick to one style in all of the music that it outputs. However, if you know anything about modern, popular Korean music you're likely to know what it is this someone is on about. Yes, kpop is becoming more of a phenomenon every day, and you'd be hard-pressed to find many people, Korean or otherwise, that know much about any Korean musical artists outside of mass-produced, fluffy pop music. It is the prominence of such samey pop that pushes down a lot of wonderful artists in South Korea, and I won't sugar-coat it in the same way the industry sugar-coats their mainstream output: it is almost heartbreaking how many of these artists are not given half of the recognition they deserve. Jambinai is one of these artists.
The non-Korean name of this Seoul based, three member band's album is 'Différance,' and I honestly cannot think of another recent release more deserving of such a title, Korean or otherwise. This band plays a fascinating, entirely original brand of post-rock music through the use of various traditional Korean instruments. This is the kind of music that is a breath of fresh air for someone who loves post-rock, but is tired of the lack of progression the genre seems to be plagued by. Instead of hearing the next Explosions in the Sky wannabes, it's always good to hear something fresh and exciting. It's not just the instruments used that make this the album for someone with the desire to discover such music, but the ways in which they are used. The mixture of a traditional sound with a somewhat recognisable modern post-rock one makes for a completely unique listening experience, made all the more enjoyable thanks to the more heavy sections that are presented on occasion. Even these sections are hard to relate to your typical post-rock climaxes, made famous by bands like Explosions in the Sky and Mono. This is an all around unique, incredibly satisfying listening experience.
Another thing that's respectable about this album is how apparent it is that this band isn't trying too hard to make something as unique and spectacular as it is. There isn't an abundance of super long tracks here; nothing is drawn out or longer than it needs to be. Even when the music gets particularly intense or even plain strange, it's all very natural. And yes, even on an album like this, there are sections where things get especially odd, namely the entirety of track six 'Guwonui Songil'. Though Différance is a really original piece of work overall, this track stands out as being particularly unlike anything you're likely to have heard before. What does this mean for a band like Jambinai? It means that this is the album's stand out track. This one track could almost be said to have a hardcore punk feel to it, but it's still the kind of song that only a band like Jambinai could produce. Completely in your face from beginning to end, it starts out with some abrasive instrumental work not quite completely concealing some screaming vocals. It's not too out there at this point, but soon enough the instrumental work takes a turn for the more destructive, and what follows is something that can hardly be described, but only felt when listened to.
There's something about discovering something that is both fresh and honest, particularly when it comes to music. When this something is also of a high artistic quality and is highly enjoyable, it's nothing less than exhilarating. I don't only recommend this album, but also recommend that you recommend it to others. The next time someone asks you if you like Korean music, maybe you'll be able to give an unsuspecting kpop fan an answer they didn't quite expect, and even allow them a taste of something a bit more real.
