Jambinai: They Keep Silence
Almost an antithesis to manufactured K-pop is South Korean band Jambinai, who use their country’s traditional instruments to rock out with intensity as seen in their music video for experimental metal track “They Keep Silence.” Eun Youg Sim vigorously plucks the large geomungo to establish the bass line; on Bomi Kim’s knee is the wailing haegeum, bowed sort of like a cello—later breaks out into a shrieking solo. And when Ilwoo Lee isn’t on the electric guitar, he’s wielding his piri, a bamboo oboe. They’re not afraid to get atonal and angry, tapping into the unique aspects of their expressive instruments. Jambinai will be releasing on their album Hermitage on UK label Bella Union this June.
