*****

Jeab Ganokpon certainly knows when she's onto a good thing: Khopkhun Mor Chit gets two airings on this album, appearing first and (instrumentally) last. It's an irresistably likable piece of up-tempo luk tung froth, perfectly suited to her perky style. Track 2, Sing Nganbun, is if anything even more energetic, dispensing with any semblance of content beyond the desire for song and dance. Track 3, Chokdi Pi Mai, takes a step back, with a gern section and more traditional constuming; this is an old-school Jintara-style lam number which makes a welcome change of pace. The following two tracks are in the same mould as Mor Chit, though less memorable.

Hawng Hai Bert Keun and Jao Sao Jam Pen, tracks 6 and 7, are typical luk tung ballads. There's nothing particularly wrong with them, but Jeab's rather laboured style (all tremolo and sobbing) is unconvincing. Track 8, Sao Nakrian Tam Taw, is one of the best on the album: a relentless bass-line accompanies a strongly rhythmic vocal line which Jeab's sharp voice always keeps alive. The next song however is a rather pointless rehash, only lighter and with an irritating drunken cheer of a refrain. Nawn Tan Ma Ti Lang is again similar, but has an engaging grace to it. With the last track, Si Sang Ga Sang, we are back in the up-tempo tung territory of Mor Chit in which Jeab is clearly most comfortable.

This is a commendably ambitious album: while the tung ballads don't quite come off, there are admirable songs in different tempi, both tung and lam. Jeab's lively style and voice will never make her the most moving lam and tung artist, but they do provide impressive and varied entertainment.

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