Description

Based on recordings of music from the Lisu communities in China and Thailand captured on site, this mix shows Gong more like a selector or dj, restricting electronic processing to a bare minimum in order to convey different histories, places and timeframes within the same mesmerising continuum. A respectful and deeply vivid evocation of all the richness and diversity found among the different strands of lisu music, from ceremonial vocal incantations through a chibeu string instrument “processed” in loco through saturated street speakers to moments of pure poetic radiance, ‘The Lisu’ flows gracefully with the keen sense of wonder and knowledge of one of this century’s most thoughtful and insightful sonic travellers.

Full tracklist breakdown

A side

0. Jungle outside of Namrin village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

1. 10 variations of WAIKIKI dancing tunes played on CHIBEU (4 stringed lute) from FUGONG YUNNAN CHINA 2011

2. LISU BAMBOO ERHU (2 stringed viole) KUNMING YUNNAN CHINA 1998

3. SALA animist ceremony  of blessing, first to the spirit of a huge rock and second to  bring luck to the farmers and the people intending the ceremony and being blessed by a local shaman (SAPIA), in Namrin village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

4. MOUTHORGAN recorded in Teufelberg CIA reverb room BERLIN 2015

5. 2 women song AME CHICHIC 50 years old lead singer and ASSAMA backing vocal in Namrin village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

6. 4 women divided in 2 groups, 2 duets of canon singing alternate and responding to each other. An improvised song about the festival and the possibility to travel and meet other lieu people, performed by  ASSAMA SINCHAO 54 years old, ALUMA LIJIA 63 years old, ASSAMA SEIMI  60 years old, ASSAMA SEIMI 57 years old- 4 women from Tak province but originally from Chiang Rai. NAMHU village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

7. Slow down CHIBEU played by SAPIA, 80 years old man and local shaman in Namrin village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

B side

1. CHIBEU being played by a Lisu man from Thailand, the poor sound system makes it a real electro acoustic experience, recorded during the international LISU festival which is been going for the last 15 years and takes place in Lisu occupied countries: China, Myanmar and Thailand, the 2014 edition took place from march 2 to 4 outside a Lisu village  ban Namhu, gathering all kind of Lisu sub groups from the 3 countries.

2. Sound of steps and heavy silver decorations worn by women while dancing in circle, members come and go, the dancing circle rarely ends during the 3 days celebration

3. LISU responsive singing between 2 women in YANGBI YUNNAN CHINA

4 DJEULEU bamboo flute of 6 holes performed by SAPIA

5. FULU a 5 bamboo tubes mouthorgan mounted on a small gurd  played by SAPIA, 80 years old man and local shaman in Namrin village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

6. Scene at night when Lisu pop music is on stage, away are sitting 3 women and one old man improvising and responding to each other NAMHU village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

7. 2 women song AME CHICHIC, 50 year old lead singer and ASSAMA backing vocal in Namrin village MAE HONG SON THAILAND 2014

8. AH CHI 60year old man living in CHI HENG DI village outside of FUGONG, NUJIANG. He plays his selfmade CHIBEU and sings YUNNAN CHINA 2011

9. Electronically transformed CHIBEU originally performed by AH CHI