Thailand

We prefer not to wonder how many takes did it take to shoot the video for Anatomy Rabbit’s third single “Wonder Why?”, not to mention getting the whole neighbourhood (almost) empty. Whatever it took, it was rather worth the effort.

But it’s also one of the finest music pieces we’ve heard in the Thai scene throughout the year. It’s got a clear melody and rhythm section, but accompanied by a dream pop / shoegaze’s blurry atmosphere.

This duality perfectly suits the lyrics about “the day when the light shines brightly”, but “the mind is suddenly gloomy”. And you guessed the reason – she’s gone. At least she left us a beautiful song.

Anatomy Rabbit on Facebook, Instagram.

There’s one undisputable reason to include Dept’s 5-minute single on this list – its chorus. There’s the atmosphere of ’80 late-stage party hymns. There’s this simple but memorable vocal theme. And finally, a symphony-like stack of perfectly balanced layers in the arrangement.

It’s even more impressive when you consider that Dept is just a duo – with Pawat Opassirichote (vocals, guitars, programming) and Luke Townsend (keyboards, synthesizers). But maybe that’s why they get along so well.

As for the video, in case you’re disappointed with what the truth turns out to be, remember you can always hit replay.

Dept on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify.

FOLK9’s “Sunglasses” (แว่นกันแดด) probably takes us closest to a radio hit on this list, with its immediate chorus and a colourful video that follows the song’s title.

With this video, the Bangkok-based quartet of Kittapas Surinta (vocals, guitars), Boripat Saengsiri (guitars), Korawat Sangtaweep (bass) and Nattaya Sorahong (drums) create a laid-back atmosphere which was perfect for the summer when it came out, but it will actually work anytime of the year or day.

And if you like it, there’s more good news – this single was just the first taste of FOLK9’s newest album called “Chinese Banquet”, which you can fully enjoy on Spotify.

FOLK9 on Facebook.

You can always count on FWENDS. There’s a reason they appeared in our lists for 2015, 2016 and 2017, and there’s no reason to break this streak this time – especially having such song as “Morning”.

This alternative rock / indie pop / shoegaze group from Bangkok has always been good in steering between styles while maintaning a great level of songwriting, and that’s also the case of this song. It starts low-profile – is that FWENDS’s softest song ever? But that rock burst you’ve been expecting from the first second finally comes, with May Chucheewa’s high voice put in contrast with a male choir.

So enjoy this song as well as FWENDS’ other recent single “Front Row“, and see you next year, right?

FWENDS on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.

This Bangkok-based quintet has already appeared in out Best of 2015 and Best of 2017 with their “tropical inspired pop” that made us smile every time we heard one of their songs.

But the smiles of Gym and Swim’s fans might have been a bit faint for a while, since the band went quiet for a long while… Only to come back in a spectacular way in October with a new video called “Surfin’ Baby”.

Faithfully to its straightforward title, the song has been clearly inspired by surf music. It includes adequately bizarre lyrics that will only help you get teleported to Gym and Swim’s crazy dream. Though beware, it ends up rather as a nightmare.

Gym and Swim on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Early in 2017, Plasui Plasui released a single titled “Dream”, and you couldn’t imagine a better introduction to this most dreamy band. In the next months, we would hear a lazy lo-fi instrumental “Paloy” and “Same Here“, the closest they got to slowcore yet.

After a longer break, this year Plasui Plasui came back with their best produced and composed release yet, a 5-minute video called “Time”. In this slow-paced dream pop classic, you can either enjoy the overall atmosphere or focus on any part of the trio’s members – the voice and bass parts of Rattasart Thoschuay, or the guitar lines of Thanapol Potisong and Jakkapan Pejsanghran.

In the following months, we were lucky to hear more three more songs from Plasui Plasui, and it’s worth checking out each of them.

Plasui Plasui on Facebook.

You might already know PLOT from our Best of 2015 list for Thailand, where they appeared with a wonderful (even if short) song “For Mom & You”.

2018 started great for PLOT fans, as in February we heard a great single “Ma’am asok“, a strong and emotionally intense song that also showed a versatile approach to vocals.

Then in the middle of the year, PLOT released a song called “Pheraa Khun Rea Kheiyn” (เพราะคุณ เราเขียน) accompanied by a video directed by Pakkawat Tanghom. It has that classic feel that makes songs quickly become concert standards and sing-alongs.

A great rhythm section, Radiohead-like approach to tension-bulding, and some incredible guitar section towards the end.

Plot on Facebook.

Late in 2018 alternative quarter Poomjit (ภูมิจิต) released their awaited new album called “MIDLIFE”, and it’s been exactly what the fans have been waiting for… well not exactly, which is actually good news.

This single called “Cring” (จริงๆ), which came out with an official video in November, is a great example of Poomjit’s ability to mix attractiveness with rawness, their overlapping guitar lines with rock’n’roll energy that builds bar after bar to burst out sometime in the middle.

There’s a reason that in the video, they start as human, but end up as wild animals. Maybe the truth is, that sometime we’re like monkeys, and sometimes they trick you into becoming one.

Poomjit on Facebook.

Rasmee Wayrana is one of the most original artists not just in the Thai scene, celebrating traditional morlum music and mixing it with blues and West African rhythms.

In 2016, we heard her beautiful debut album called “Isan Soul“, which also brought her international acclaim. Now she is working on her upcoming second album called “Arom”. We have already heard some first takes from it, including “The Beauty of Loneliness” (ความงามของความเหงา), which apparently is also her thesis project for her cultural arts studies.

A captivating, repetitive chant is accompanied by a video directed by Siriphathra Sriboonrod, both beautiful and dramatic – just like Rasmee’s music has always been.

Rasmee on Facebook.

You should already know indie-pop trio Safeplanet as we’ve written about this exceptional band several times already. But every time they release something new – which actually happens even just twice a year – it turns out so good that we need to feature them again.

2018 also brought two new songs from Safeplanet: “Answer” (คำตอบ) in late September, and a bit earlier “Strobe Light” (แสงสว่าง​). This latter comeback single was a classic example of the Bangkok trio’s trademark sound.

Clear melody accompanied by a slightly blurred, guitars and rhythm section with always-forward approach is a short definition of what Thitiphat, Aphiwich and Chayapan do like no-one else on this planet.

As for the lyrics – of course it’s about HER, but you’d guess it from the mood and that lovely little grace notes in the chorus.

Safeplanet on Facebook.

Telever is a Nakhon Sawan-based trio composed of Tae Kittitad Toonrad (voice, guitars, bass), James Thanadol Tabutr (guitars) and Team Anuruk Jansontima (drums). The clearly love the classic sound and unhurried tempos of ’90s shogaze, but they manage to recreate that atmosphere without falling into pure nostalgia.

This track appeared just a few weeks ago as the first track on this band’s YouTube and other channels, and it’s a good reason to follow what they might follow up with in 2019. Is “Chem” predictable? You bet it is.

However, if you’ve ever fallen asleep to My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive, you’ll keep these 5 minutes on repeat.

Telever on Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp.

Weird was this remarkable single from Two Million Thanks, from its first seconds to the very last ones. With helicopter sounds, guitar riffs mixed with crazy fuzz, with digitized vocals and spoken intermission, plus a music quote toward the end that we’ll let you recognize yourself…

Yeah, “Dek-D” (เด็กดี) is a real adventure, one that some of you will love from the first listen, and some will will never finish that first one – probably even before you see the monk in the video, who silently announces a signature change (not the first or the last one).

But this it what we have Two Million Thanks for, isn’t it?

Two Million Thanks on Facebook, Twitter.