GangSanE

강산에 : Gang SanE (1963 - )

LINK : KPDB:1216

1 Biography

Kang San-ae 강산에

Another male singer playing out the role of macho poet-rocker which is common in Korea, Kang San Ae (stage name) has been on the scene long enough to have made several albums. The stage name and image seem to be designed to evoke imagery consistent with traditional Korea, nature and perhaps even shaman spiritualism.

His current album, "Yeon-O" (연어), is enjoying moderate success. The hit song taken from the album, which has a title long enough to challenge even a Korean speakers memory (거꾸로 강을 거슬로 오르는 저 힘찬 연어들처럼), is a laid back song which rolls along with the feel of a balmy afternoon. The guitar solo in which notes just tumble gently out sounds like something lifted from a Beatles record in the Rubber Soul/Revolver period. The album combines quite an interesting mix of styles. On the first listening, I was disappointed at the impression of a standard rock album but gradually noticed the range of styles which includes a variation on the traditional Arirang and a song that I'm told resembles a song by the Cult very closely. The songs come together in an interesting blend of modern rock with homage given to classic rock and folk roots.

Kang San-ae's wife is Japanese (or Korean Japanese) and many of the musicians on the Yeon-o album are Japanese which could have something to do with the "Beatlesque" flavour that permeates the album. The singer has attracted some criticism because in his early career he preached some anti-Japanese sentiment and is now viewed by some as a hypocrite and opportunist. I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and attribute his change of heart to personal development.

--MichaelGlass

2 YeonEo(1998); Salmon; 연어

CD:2065513

★★★★ Rock, Gayo, Male Vocal, Funky, Ballade

GangSanE is the outstanding male vocal of 90s. His voice and lyrics resist against authority. This is his 4th LP, he piled his career and made wide fanz. [Play:GangSanE4YeonEo.mp3 GeoGguRo GangEul GeoSeulReo OReuNeun Jeo HimChan YeonEoDeulCheoReom; Like that Powerful Salmons which Swim against the Current] (Wow..too long) is represent this album. Feeling of common people are in his philosophy. And he thinks about around himself carefully. And [Play:GangSanE4Comedy.mp3 Comedy] contains self-mocking lethargy. I love that song. Also listen these songs[Play:GangSanE4EokJi.mp3 EokJi; Unreasonableness] and[Play:GangSanE4MissTambourine.mp3 Miss Tambourine]. --DisTort, 1999

3 HaRu AChim(1999); One Day Morning; 하루아침

CD:2085456

★★★★☆ Folk, Korean Roots Music, Brave Voice, GaYo, Techno/Trans

This is a remake album. Some songs are from the great singer-songwriters like HanDaeSu, LeeJeongSeon, SanUlRim, JoDongJin and others are traditional. The form of this album is extraordinary. One side is rock style producing and the other side is techno style producing. All traditional songs and SanUlRim are remaked in techno/house style by DJ DalPaRan. And rock style songs are produced by Hachi, his old musical companion. The original singers of this album were very unique, independent artists. And they were frontiers of Modern Folk and Korean Rock also. This album is not just homage but completley GangSanE style remake.

[Play:GangSanE5MulJomJuSo.mp3 MulJom JuSo; Gimme some Water], [Play:GangSanE5HaRuAChim.mp3 HaRu AChim; One Day Morning] are resistant songs of HanDaeSu. The two songs are very powerful with his brave voice. [Play:GangSanE5JeBiGgot.mp3 JeBiGgot; A Violet] is very lyrical folk number by JoDongJin. The most still song. [Play:GangSanE5UYeonHi.mp3 UYeonHi; By Chance] is LeeJeongSeon's acoustic blues love song. I think the techno/house part is more unique point of this album. DJ DalPaRan's play is very hazy, GangSanE's voice also vague.

[Play:GangSanE5GabDolIWaGabSunI.mp3 GabDolIWa GabSunI] is very old and sad love song. GangSanE digest it with serene style. [Play:GangSanE5KoiJiNaChingChingNaNe.mp3 KoiJiNa ChingChingNaNe] is Korean thanksgiving song. Very dance-able song GangSanE sings in quiet storm. He sings like femal vocal in [Play:GangSanE5DoRaJi.mp3 DoRaJi; Platycodon], but also suitable. [Play:GangSanE5NaeMaEumEJuDanEulGgalGo.mp3 NaeMaEumE JuDanEul GgalGo; With Silk on My Mind] is one of the best song of SanUlRim. It's good for listening the two songs in comparison. GangSanE has folk, modern, male and powerful images. This album shows his root and his now. One of the best remake album! --DisTort, 2000

• 이용우 Weiv:154

4 # MyeongTae(2002); Alaska Pollack; 명태

CD:2261624

5 Discography

	Year	Album Title
	1993	HalABeoJiWa SuBak
		Grandfather and Watermelon
	1994	NaNeun SaChunGi
		I'm in Puberty
	1996	BbiDdaGi
		Cynic
	1997	The Essence[best]
	1998	YeonEo
		Salmon
	1999	HaRuAChim
		One Day Morning[remake album]
	2000	Live Best

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