Glitz. Glamour. Groovy rock ‘n’ roll. Psychedelic surf pop. It can only be the latest homage to the much-mourned Cambodia of the 1960s, those (largely) dizzying pre-Pol Pot days in which the achingly hip city of Phnom Penh – then a hothouse of creativity – was the envy of even Singapore.
This latest time machinery comes courtesy of the recently established Lightbox art gallery in what’s fast becoming a hot-and-happening Kampot. “This is an opportunity to reflect upon and showcase the classic music and cinema that blossomed during the golden era in Cambodia, recognising the sweet nostalgia with which these memories are tinged for many Cambodians today,” says Katharina Glynne, director of Lightbox. “One huge night to honour the creativity and glamour of ‘60s Cambodia, a time of golden voices, swinging bellbottoms, and psychedelic music that continues to sound out across the Kingdom of Wonder. An opportunity to celebrate the incredible sounds, voices and stars to have emerged from a decade of culture and music that still pulses through the streets of Cambodia today.”
Any huge night demands a suitably huge and stellar line-up, and in this case Lightbox has procured precisely that: iconic Cambodian singers of the era, including Pan Ron, Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea, will be present – albeit not in the flesh, but immortalised on pop-art prints by Sticky Fingers. A rare performance by Cambodian Space Project will portal guests back to the psychedelic sounds of the ‘60s, conjuring forth the decade’s rousing flared-trousers-and-beehive-hairdos spirit. Stijn Deprez is on visual projection standby to craft a lively collage of old-world street scenes and snippets of classic Khmer cinema, while DJ Mute Speaker is poised to spin vinyl late on into the night.
WHO: Cambodian Space Project, Stijn Deprez and DJ Mute Speaker
WHAT: ‘Golden era’ Cambodian dance party
WHERE: Lightbox art space, Kampot (095 293585)
WHEN:: 7pm October 25
WHY: It’s the best we can do until someone invents time travel
