More Good News! (I swear, really and truly, though not on a bible. But my hand is wrapped around a bottle of Baltika, which shall bring truth forth. Happy, positive truth. ;-)

    Frenzy. The word conjures images of teenage girls, decked out in baby t-shirts, glittered eyes, frantically shouting and hollering towards (insert teen idol here) and reinforcing obscene and irreparably ignorant statements they haven't the context or experience to accurately qualify. 

    Or sharks, bloodthirsty and swarming. Not sure there's much of a difference between the two, but what the hell, right?

    Or, the word, to a group of musically inclined indie art geeks in Seoul, conjures up images like this:

    I've talked more than once about the great podcast Korean Homesick Blues, which has presenter Dave Candler introducing a great many obscure musicians based in Korea to the rest of the online world. One band he has yet to feature is Frenzy, and I hope he includes them soon. Having released one CD, Nein Songs, they have a well-carved niche in the scene. Shoegazy, yes, but very clean-cut intentions in their music and the best tone management I've ever heard. No hyperbole. The bass always speaks clear and clean when melodic, low and guttural when providing a foundation. The guitars always have a place, low volume and fuzzed for background, clear and clean for melodic lead, perfectly matched with no lead role given to either player. The drums are tribal and muffled, or sharp and biting, either atmospheric or propelling depending on the needs of the songs. They are some of the nicest guys I've met among the Seoul (read: Hongdae) music 'scene' as well, which is less of a community and more of an apathetic bloodbath whose participants bleed each other to death via passive aggressive snipes.

    Anyway. Hear Frenzy here via the blog Sonic Masala (I've directed you to the 2010 July page so you can get the snarky scoop on Frenzy, about five bands down from the top) or go to their Facebook profile. Better yet, go to one of their upcoming shows which you can look up on Korea Gig Guide, the hands-down best place to locate brain-stimulating music (or not, in all too many cases) in Seoul and elsewhere on this (insert perspective-demonstrating adjective) peninsula. I'll be at the December 12th Club Ssam show, where I'll finally get to see Bit Gwa Soeum, a Pixies/Airish affair.