Sinn Sisamouth
“Groove Club Vol.
5: Sinn Sisamouth Vol. 2”
 Several years
in the making, Lion can now finally
deliver on our promise of another
Groove Club volume dedicated to the
deep and moving (and grooving)
compositions of Sinn Sisamouth, sung
by the Emperor of Khmer music himself,
alone or duetting with the other
legendary singer of those halcyon days
in Cambodian music: Ros
Sereysothea, the “Queen with the
Golden Voice.”
Groove Club Vol. 5 also includes a
16-page booklet featuring an exclusive
interview with Mrs. Khav Thong Nhot,
widow of Sinn Sisamouth, and
Sin Sethsochhata, artist and
granddaughter of Sinn Sisamouth,
revealing more about Sinn
Sisamouth than has ever been
known before now. We hear directly
from his wife about their courtship,
their life together as Sinn Sisamouth
became famous — and then what happened
as the Khmer Rouge took control: the
separation from her husband, and her
own harrowing experiences trying to
keep herself and their children alive.
It’s not easy reading, yet stands as
an important contribution (we feel) to
a a story which until now has only
been partially told. Sinn
Sisamouth’s granddaughter, Sin
Sethsochhata, a musical artist and
also keeper of the family’s legacy,
speaks of her own experiences in both
realms.
Sinn Sisamouth, The Emperor of Khmer
Music
Sinn Sisamouth is, without question,
the most famous and beloved Cambodian
singer and songwriter of all time. A
brilliant singer and composer,
“the Emperor of Khmer music” has had a
greater influence and has touched more
hearts than any other singer in
the country’s history. Though he
was tragically taken from this world,
his soul, spirit, and emotions are
echoed in the legacy of songs
he bequeathed to us, and for this
reason, he is eternal.
The fact that any of this music even
exists today is nothing short of
miraculous. Original vinyl is
extremely rare — and well-guarded!
We have done our utmost to make
the sound quality of the songs as good
as can be without in any way treating
or disrupting or limiting
(or destroying) the frequency
range of the tracks. This means that a
few tracks might sound less than
audiophile quality. But who
cares! It’s about the music. It’s
always about the music. And the
stories. Mostly the music. Although
this time, very much about the stories
too.
“Discovering the wealth of
Cambodian recordings was like
falling into a parallel universe,
complete with its own Elvises,
Patsys and Jimis… Of course, looming
over every recording is the tragic
end of the music and the
musicians themselves under the axe
of the Khmer Rouge, a cloak of
darkness hovering over some of
the most joyous, festive music ever
made. In a world of instant global
communication and mass pop
culture, Cambodian rock remains one
of the few undiscovered secrets of
music… It is a testament to
the power of Sinn Sisamouth’s
music that it has survived all that
has been done to vanquish it.”
— Joel Selvin, author/journalist
•Official reissue — and in most cases,
first appearance of any kind — of
these insanely rare recordings since
their initial release as singles.
•Includes a 16-page booklet featuring
interviews with Mrs. Khav Thong
Nhot, widow of Sinn Sisamouth,
and Sin Sethsochhata, artist and
granddaughter of Sinn Sisamouth.
Track list:
Side A
1. Cheang Kat Sak Day Ek (Haircut
Talent) 2:54 Sinn Sisamouth
2. Nov Teh Sralanh (Still Loving You)
2:43 Sin Sisamouth & Ros
Sereysothea
3. Susana 3:16 Sinn Sisamouth
4. Krom Samleng Teuk Phleang (Under
the Sound Of The Rain) 3:13 Sinn
Sisamouth
5. Moan Ro Ngeav (Chicken is Crying)
3:14 Sinn Sisamouth & Ros
Sereysothea
6. Ruth Pleung Atreat Kleat Sanga (The
Night Train Takes My Lover Away)
3:14 Sinn Sisamouth
7. Som Kmean Tors (Perfect) 3:56 Sinn
Sisamouth
Side B
1. Thavary Meas Borng (Thavary, My
Darling) 3:10 Sinn Sisamouth
2. Theub Teuk Phnek Oun Oy Snguot (I
Kiss Your Tears Dry) 2:52 Sinn
Sisamouth
3. Phally, Phally 2:53 Sinn Sisamouth
4. Kamping Pouy 3:09 sung by Ros
Sereysothea
5. Chamreang Eth Preang Tuk (Unwritten
Songs) 3:25 Sinn Sisamouth
& Ros Sereysothea
6. Sampeay Kam (Karma From a Previous
Life) 5:01 Sinn Sisamouth
Catalogue number: LION LP-203
UPC: 778578320317
Format: LP + 16-page
booklet (black vinyl)
SINN SISAMOUTH
“Groove Club Vol. 4:
Sinn Sisamouth Vol. 1”
 Cambodian
garage psych music from the late
’60s and early 70’s, is some of
the strangest music you will ever
hear: amazing garage psych
excursions with brilliant farfisa
keyboards and wah wah fuzz guitar
topped off with fascinating
Cambodian vocals — influenced by
American and British music of the
era, but transformed into something
unique and incredible. Primal
versions of rock ‘n’ roll, surf, and
R’n’B — sometimes all in one song!
“Discovering the wealth of Cambodian
recordings was like falling into a
parallel universe, complete with its
own Elvises, Patsys and Jimis. You
can recognize some of the anonymous
outstanding instrumentalists as they
appear on record after record and
marvel at their uncanny blend of
Western and Far East, a pure synergy
Western musicians have never
accomplished.
Of course, looming over every
recording is the tragic end of the
music and the musicians themselves
under the axe of the Khmer Rouge, a
cloak of darkness hovering over some
of the most joyous, festive music
ever made. In a world of instant
global communication and mass pop
culture, Cambodian rock remains one
of the few undiscovered secrets of
music. Not content with killing the
musicians, the government further
ordered the destruction of their
records, implicitly understanding
the power of pop music to create
community. It is a testament to the
power of Sinn Sisamouth’s music that
it has survived all that has been
done to vanquish it.” — Joel Selvin,
author/journalist
“Sinn Sisamouth’s artistic
accomplishments are staggeringly
vast. As a songwriter, crooner, and
later a rock and roller, he always
had his finger on the pulse of the
latest new grooves from around the
world. Perhaps his greatest feat was
melding so many varied influences
into something that became uniquely
and purely Cambodian. He’ll forever
be revered as the untouchable,
golden King of Cambodian popular
music.” —John Pirozzi, director of
Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten:
Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll
There were no deluxe studios for the
musicians who recorded the
devastating tracks contained herein.
Nothing so grand. Most of these
tracks were recorded live, with
traditional instruments finding a
place alongside any keyboards or
guitars that could be found. And
yet, it was the experiments of Khmer
rock musicians which transformed the
nightlife of the Cambodian capital,
Phnom Penh—and which many years
later continue to seduce listeners
around the world with their groovy
sound. The music is wild and
anarchic, rhythmic and undulating,
or sweet and lyrical, but always
moving and with that deep
soulfulness, regardless of actual
musical genre or style, that is the
hallmark of the best and most
important music. The lyrics often
tell stories of angst, death,
betrayal and sorrow. But there is a
very real, deep, inescapable tragedy
in these grooves as well.
Alas, in 1975 came an entirely
different type of transformation:
the rise to power in Cambodia of the
fanatical, anti-Western, Khmer
Rouge, led by Pol Pot. Within
roughly four years, implementing
their “concept of Year Zero,” Pot
and his regime were responsible for
the deaths of an estimated two
million Cambodians (roughly 21% of
the nation’s population), many in
the notorious “killing fields.” Even
the most famous and beloved Khmer
musicians could not escape. Sinn
Sisamouth, the “King of Khmer
music”; Ros Sereysothea, the “Golden
Voice of the Royal Capital”; and Pan
Ron — all featured on this
collection of songs written by the
majestic Sinn Sisamouth — met their
deaths at the hands of the Khmer
Rouge. Jon Swain, who was the Sunday
Times war correspondent in South
Vietnam and Cambodia at the time,
said: “Educated people, musicians,
people with glasses… a lot were
taken to the killing fields… so
the great singers disappeared.”
To us, the richness and deep
soulfulness of Cambodian music is
akin perhaps to what was excavated
from Ethiopia and embraced worldwide
over the years thanks to the
“Ethiopiques” series — this despite
the geographical and cultural
distance between the two very
different nations. It really is one
world, not three.
It has long been a dearest wish to
be able to present on the Lion
Productions label individual
artist-specific volumes of some of
the most important Cambodian music,
with the blessing of the families of
the artists. Thanks to the family of
Sinn Sisamouth, what seemed a dream
is now real! Enjoy this first volume
of the many to come!
•The first official reissue — or in
most cases, re-release of any kind —
of these recordings since their
initial release as singles.
•Comes with an 8-page full color
booklet with info and photos
supplied by Sinn Sisamouth’s
surviving family.
Track list:
Side A
1. Rom A Go-Go (A Go Go Dance) 2:55
Sinn Sisamouth
2. Hala Hala 2:54 Sinn Sisamouth
3. Chis Touk Leng Ning Borng (Ride a
Boat with Me) 2:46 Sinn Sisamouth
4. Vong Veng Leu Khneuy (Lost on the
Pillow) 3:26 sung by Pen Ron
5. Nov Teh Prathna (Still Wishing)
3:37 Sinn Sisamouth
6. Kom Dach Chet Choal Brong (Please
Don’t Leave Me) 3:26 Sinn Sisamouth
7. Neuk Oun Chea Nich (Missing You
Always) 2:35 Sinn Sisamouth
Side B
1. Hean Slab Prous Borng (Dare to
Die for Love) 2:42 sung by Ros
Sereysothea
2. Thngay Nis Mdeach Oun Theu Pro
Ngeuy (Today You Act So Cold) 3:05
Sinn Sisamouth
3. Pka Krohom (Red Flower) 3:26 Sinn
Sisamouth & Ros Sereysothea
4. Oun Euy Sdab Pkor (Listen to the
Thunder) 3:00 Sinn Sisamouth &
Ros Hem Sovan
5. K’out Chheam (Heartbreak) 4:01
Sinn Sisamouth
6. Jot My Maju Reach (The Letter of
Death) 3:21 sung by Ros Sereysothea
a link to an mp3 sampler, which has
a little taste of every track on the
record:
https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/560WCwPzJL
<https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/560WCwPzJL>
Catalogue number: LION LP-180
UPC: 778578318017
Format: LP (black vinyl)
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