*****

In recent years, Banyen has been faced with something of a dilemma. From being a mor lam plern specialist, she has branched out into luk tung and even some decidedly odd Latin recordings, but this has also moved her ever further away from what she does best. On this disc she returns to her roots.

Isan Lam Plern is not, however, a simple retread of past glories. Her voice has become much smoother over the years — compare this recording () with Pae Rak, from 15-odd years ago (). Whether this is an improvement is of course a matter of taste, but while her new style is less authentic it is at least something different.

Another immediately obvious feature of this recording is that it is determinedly party music. Every track includes a backdrop of whooping and clapping which emphasises the social role played by mor lam as an accompaniment to social events and ceremonies; more so in the days before mor lam became a matter of stars serving up three minute songs. The aspect of lam as background to dancing and other shenanigans also explains why the tracks tend to fade in and out, rather than having actual beginnings and endings. Finally, the similarity between each of the tracks and their lack of boundaries makes them blend into one another.

This is problematic. A CD is not a wedding or a funeral, and the characteristics which make this kind of music succeed at a live event are not necessarily those which make for a successful recording. Some listeners may have a greater tolerance than others for listening to whooping, but it can't be good when one finishes listening to a CD unable to recall most of the songs.

Fortunately there are a few tracks which are more interesting than the others. Track 6, Kit Hawt Khoi Baw, has a beautiful, hypnotically yearning lyric which contrasts intriguingly with the ever-present party atmosphere, and track 13 has a quirky Latin element in the keyboard part, but these are slim pickings from a 14-song album. Isan Lam Plern wins points for effort, but it doesn't really meet the standards Banyen has set herself.

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