Beach(-like) party

SAT 11 | Get your summer best on and you may even snag yourself a prize at Riverhouse’s beach party this weekend. Sure, there won’t be an actual beach present, but there will be a host of live international musicians and DJs churning out chilled, summer grooves all night long, and that’s a pretty good substitute. Everything from Japanese electronic music to a local saxophonist and percussionist duo will be provided to ensure a party to kick the hot season off with one sweaty bang.

WHO: Live DJs and instrumentalists
WHAT: Beach-themed party
WHERE: Riverhouse Asian Bistro & Lounge, #157EZ Sisowath Quay
WHEN: 6pm, April 11
WHY: When there’s no beach at hand, you just have to get creative

Spud rockers

SAT 11 | The Aussie-grown Potato Stars hit Equinox this week with their blitzkrieg rock that’s lasted almost 20 years. Going stronger than ever, frontman Falcon Randwick assures that their upcoming gig will be utterly unlike anything audiences will have witnessed before: “This band is like some sort of exploding amoeba. There is simply no way even we can be sure what kind of mayhem we’ll unleash on stage at any given gig.” And if that doesn’t tickle your pickle, the Spuds, to which they are often affectionately referred, will be supported by swamp rockers Delta Kong and experimental electro outfit timeofhex, a cross-disciplinary artist who converts hexadecimal (numerical) data derived from photographs into music. I think I just heard a few minds explode.

WHO: The Potato Stars, Delta Kong & timeofhex
WHAT: Three Aussie bands
WHERE: Equinox Bar, 3A St. 278
WHEN: 9pm, April 11
WHY: Blitzkrieg, swamp rock and experimental – all in the same room

Wave Electronic Music Festival

TUE 14 | Now this is one party that is guaranteed to be 100% authentic beachside fun, occurring right on Sihanoukville’s Victory Beach itself. Sure, it means driving a few hours to get there, but with most city-dwellers fleeing the town over the Khmer New Year break anyway, there’s no reason not to get down there to join in. Running over five days and nights from April 14-18, Wave Electronic Music Festival will feature Khmer and international DJs playing house, techno, DnB, trance, reggae, hip hop and more. Headlining the festival are Dub Addiction, doing what they do best: delivering some of the finest quality live reggae/dub you’re likely to come across. Don’t stress about transport, as free shuttle buses will run direct to the festival from Otres 1 and Golden Lion Roundabout non-stop every day until the festival closes at 4am. Keeping in mind the non-committal nature of PP party-goers, the savvy organisers are selling tickets at $5 per day, so you don’t have to freak out about planning anything too far in advance. Having said that, it’s a festival, guys: if you’re going to do it then for God’s sake do it well.

WHO: Fun-loving festival-goers
WHAT: Beachside electronic music festival
WHERE: Victory Beach, Sihanoukville
WHEN: 2pm-4am, April 14-18
WHY: It’ll be just like Kazantip, only less expensive, less controversial and actually happening

Golden age hip hop

SAT 18 | Most of us will likely have heard of Aussie hip hoppers Astronomy Class through their 2014 hit Four Barang In A Tuk-Tuk, which justifiably took the piss out of tourists behaving badly in our fine city. The album from which the song was taken, Mekong Delta Sunrise, is a non-stop hip hop journey through the Kingdom, which uses killer beats, catchy hooks and intelligent lyrics to highlight (and often poke fun at) some of the more pressing cultural issues the band noticed while road tripping through the country in 2012. Teaming up with Cambodian Space Project’s Srey Channthy, the tracks are additionally infused with Khmer rock psychedelia and Channthy’s penetrating, spirited vocals. They’ll be bringing their eclectic, high-energy sound to the Penh for one night only, so save the date and get along for a truly original international gig.

WHO: Astronomy Class ft. Srey Channthy
WHAT: Golden Age Cambodian pop X Aussie hip hop
WHERE: The Mansion – FCC, Samdach Sothearos Blvd.
WHEN: 8:30pm, April 18
WHY: A taste of Aussie hip hop with the best of Cambodian rockedelia

House of sunshine

SAT 18 | It would be unfair, not to mention inaccurate, to simply refer to Sunshine Jones as a “house legend.” While an apt title to an extent, the music for which the San Franciscan DJ/producer is renowned combines sounds collected from his travels all over the world, creating a musical signature that makes labeling seem redundant. With the personal adage that “literally anything you can syncopate is house music” and an aversion to the common fixation of dividing music into infinite sub-genres, Jones experiments with live mixing, singing and re-editing on the fly. The outcome is a warm, beat-driven collection of sounds, which he has presented and remixed live to audiences in Australia, Japan, USA and now, Cambodia.

WHO: Sunshine Jones
WHAT: Experimental house music
WHERE: Pontoon Pulse, #80 St. 172
WHEN: 11pm, April 18
WHY: The more we attend truly awesome international acts like this one, the more they’ll keep coming

He who stayed behind

TUE 21 | After a week or two of Khmer New Year partying, it’s time to settle down and sober up again, and what better way to do it than with an exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh. French photographer Roland Neveu was one of the few foreigners who stayed behind when most of the press corps escaped the country as part of the US evacuation operation Eagle Pull, when Pol Pot launched his Year Zero campaign on April 17, 1975. The 35-mm films he shot that day are some of the only remaining images reflecting the confusion, chaos and panic of the time. This is a rare opportunity to witness the events as they happened, as well as listen to the artist’s first-hand experience during his talk on the Meta House rooftop at 8pm.

WHO: Roland Neveu
WHAT: Photography exhibition
WHERE: Meta House, #37 Sothearos Blvd.
WHEN: 6pm, April 21
WHY: A chance to see photos of one of the most rarely documented and most important events in history

Guilty Pleasures

Although the extinct, car-sized salamanders whose vomit could melt your hair took my fancy for a few minutes this week, it were the Sparklemuffins what stole me heart. Until I found these incy wincy spiderlings crawling up my newsfeed I thought hats were the Devil’s work. I have an unattractively tiny, unhatworthy head, ask anyone, so except for my shoplifting sombrero I’ve never cared for the cloche or the cap. Back in the olden days in between sit-ins, and as penniless art meisters with normal sized heads, my louche leftie parents lounged in fez and fedora, drinking elderberry porter, Gauloised to the eyeballs and scatting to Gil Scott Heron, who was also partial to distinctive headwear, exuberant afro notwithstanding. The olds were tempted to sell me to the circus when it became clear my cranium would never get bigger than a peach. They twice resisted the urge, but maybe they shouldn’t have. I was never a shepherd or a nativity king, never a pony clubber or the captain of the Good Ship Lollipop. The wicked witch or the princess bride eluded the hatless tweensy me. I was never a cat in one that’s for damn sure. I was always the narrator. Or the tree. Where’s that sad violin music coming from?

I should be bitterer having lacked the correct head all these years, but these new found, new world little buggers turned my barebrained soul-frown upside down. Sparklemuffins don’t really have any heads at all either, just a hairy nub with four eyes in it. And what’s worse, and yet so snap, is they have massive great bums. Instead of whining like I always do, since we share identical physiognomy, they’ve made the best of both worlds and fashioned their enormous arses into rainbow spangled tam o’ shanters with a noggin-top stook of nano-dreads sprouting from the crown. It’s a Jah-worthy contortional miracle and a brave sartorial choice, and not a combination I would have thought to try. But somehow those little geniuses make it work. Plus, now they’re famous and have got their own YouTube channel. Like the Kardashians of the natural world, these big arsed, tiny brained arachnids have made it to the top of the spout just looking fabulous despite their physical anomalies, and if they can do it, so can I. Godammit, just because I’m a pinhead with a donk the size of a monster Triassic amphibian doesn’t mean I should deny my inner gay Rastafari fashion spider.

But getting my hat on requires me to leave the house. First of all it’s so hot out there. Second of all there’s the massively testicled bale of mange I call Coconut, the legally blind Baskervillian gatekeeper at the bottom of our stairs who takes no umbrage with anyone else except me. He’ll happily accept pats and treats and photo ops with tourists, but lies in wait just to scare the living shitsticks out of me on the way home from midnight badminton. Since his eyesight’s crap I thought spritzing myself with the Old Spice I banned Hubster from wearing, even though my Nanna gave it to him before she passed over, might trick that canny canine into thinking I was someone else. Clearly I stink harder than Old Spice: old Coconut’s got his choppers out the minute I turn the corner. Sometimes I think he’ll just sink his fangs gum deep into my calf and I’ll have to drag him round Aeon or meetings like he’s a jilted lover who can’t bear to see me leave. The only way to get him off my case is to pelt him with those candies people throw around to occupy mischievous spirit children. By the way people, of course they’ll go nuts on your appliances and mess with your taps with all that sugar! I’m doing everyone a favour. Still, sorry ghost kids.

Once I’m past my canine albatross there’s the short walk down Bag Snatch alley to our nearest hat HQ, Phsar Kandal. Although I live steps from CharmingVille’s undisputed premier head-centric shopping destination and go past most mornings on my way to drag Hubster out of the pub, I haven’t been inside for a year – not since the stick-limbed crone with the betel rosined toothpegs grabbed my lavish breasts and cackled “Thom! Thom!” to anyone who would listen. Which was everyone, because you can’t beat a massive white chick getting her boobs granhandled in a free, impromptu live comedy show right at your workplace by everybody’s favorite resident shamaness, especially if that workplace includes live fish writhing on the ground and boiling woks of oil and crickets just waiting for that hilarious, perhaps even terminal, pratfall to end ‘em all. No sir.

I was apprehensive in anticipation of this humiliating en-masse thigh slap. But the call of the brave Sparklemuffins was strong, and I wanted their copious hair. Their commitment to hats. Their joie d’ vivre. I craved their whole damn shebang.

“It’s getting sunny out there, and we live in the fucking Magic Kingdom of Hats, after all!” I said to myself out loud as I parkoured down the stairwell. Coconut, for once, was nowhere to be seen. Phsar Kandal, epicentre of all things madly cranial, here I and I come.

Evrywhr & Anywhr

Evrywhr has been busy since he touched down in Phnom Penh a little over a week ago.

“It has been non-stop since I got here, but I’ve got to say I’ve had an absolutely amazing experience so far,” says the elusively titled Grammy Award-winning artist and songwriter.

Evrywhr is halfway through shooting his month-long Cambodian adventure series, which focuses on his exploration of contemporary Khmer music, culture and the artists that are pioneering its development. Masterminded by an awesome crew of producers and technicians from Los Angeles, the web series will hopefully be launched later this year.

“I have been blessed with this incredible opportunity to work with artists from across the world,” Evrywhr says. “I’m learning about traditional Khmer music and meeting the most amazing collection of people. It’s an overwhelmingly beautiful experience I can’t compare to anything else. I can only sum it up with the words ‘love, truth and travel.’”

When asked what he had been up to most recently on his Cambodian adventure, the experience that sprang immediately to his mind was, justifiably, a taxi ride.

“We got a taxi from Siem Reap to Battambang yesterday. It was crazy, I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I definitely have a new appreciation for rollercoasters and knowing that they, at least, will end safely.”

In Battambang, Evrywhr visited the Phare Ponleu Selpak circus school to meet some of the performers after experiencing the epic performance they put on the night before. He then travelled to Kampot to meet some more musicians for his final show in Phnom Penh and for some much needed R&R.

“After checking out some of the stuff going on in Kampot, I’m looking forward to relaxing and doing some writing,” he says. “I have been so inspired since I arrived in this amazing country and that has kicked off so many ideas which I’m keen to work on. It’s getting time to turn off the TV cameras and turn on some creation.”

Evrywhr is getting pumped for the big show, which is scheduled for Friday April 3 in Phnom Penh.

“So far, we’ve been travelling around locking in artists for the show,” he says. “We’ll have Tin from Sliten6ix. I have met so many amazing people, but Tin is my favourite so far. He is real and I love that. We’ll also have Sam Rocker, this amazing lady from Siem Reap with vocals like I have never heard before. I’m not going to mention too many names just yet but I think we might have a very special Khmer guest lined up for the show. It’s definitely going to be one not to miss.”

As he speaks about his experience in the Kingdom, Evrywhr seems almost overwhelmed by the unique and diverse levels of creativity the country has thus far provided.

“It’s perspective. It’s all about perspective in life,” he says. “In America, in general, we lack perspective, lack the ambition to travel. To understand someone else is not to tolerate, but to put yourself in their shoes. I’m learning here. I’m learning about myself through the Khmer people, through experience, and as I learn more I am able to show more to others.”

Evrywhr will perform with a myriad of renowned Khmer and international musicians, artists and DJs at Rock Cambodia. He will be playing original tracks written with many of the creative artists with whom he has collaborated on his journey. Profits will be donated to organisations that promote contemporary art and music in Cambodia.

Evrywhr performs at 9pm on Friday April 3 at Rock Cambodia, #468 Monivong Boulevard. $5 door.

Raising the bar

In 2012, when Kanji first opened its doors on Sothearos Boulevard, there were only a handful of Japanese restaurants in Phnom Penh. Swiftly, Kanji earned the reputation as the “go to” place for creative Japanese cuisine, and the restaurant became the choice of embassy types, the city’s nouveau riche and those seeking something special on their night out. Three years on, and with 67 Japanese restaurants now in Phnom Penh, the pressure is on Kanji to maintain its spot in the limelight. Rising to this challenge, Kanji has launched a new menu, with Luu Meng (the inspiration) and Mike Wong (Executive Chef) setting out to lift the bar, yet again, for Japanese fare in the city.

Behind this renaissance, Luu explains, was a desire to increase the simplicity of the menu and make it easier for his customers to choose, while maintaining the quality for which Kanji is renowned. Given the size of the new menu – artfully printed and in book format – you wonder how successful he has been with the former goal. Still, what is between the covers looks as appetising as the menu is extensive. From the sushi and sashimi for which Kanji is famous, to nabenomo hot pot and chicken katsu ($8.80), hibachi scallops and Kagoshima gyu taki (seared Japanese beef) ($38), to noodle and teppanyaki sets ($22), there is going to be something here to satisfy your Japanese culinary fetish. There are even a few surprises thrown in, such as the beautifully presented Kurogoma tempura ice cream ($4.80) destined to become a capital favourite.

In conversation, Luu and Wong emphasise the importance of ingredients and freshness to the Kanji brand. There is also an emphasis on authenticity. The three come together in what can be predicted to be the restaurant’s new signature dish: the akame tuna. Although I am a “keep the tuna in the ocean” sort of guy, I have to admit that this is some of the finest fish I have ever tasted.

At a recent event, tuna fillet masters from Japan – yes, there is such a thing – were on hand to prepare the dish, which features the meat cut from the top portion of the tuna. From here, the fillet is lightly seared and seasoned with Kampot red pepper and freshly ground rock salt. The finished dish is designed, Wong explains, to deliver the full natural taste of the sea. And it is as good as it sounds. But such a meal does not come easily and Kanji plans to airfreight fresh tuna each day from Japan in order to serve it. This will be quite an undertaking in a country where logistics are not always a strong point, and tuna is most definitely not the kind of thing you want hanging around out the back of Pochengtong.

With so many culinary options in the capital it can still be a challenge to find a dining experience that matches quality with passion. Kanji delivers this at a price, although what you receive still represents superb value. Those who appreciate fine Japanese food will welcome this new menu.

Kanji Japanese Restaurant , #128 Sothearos Boulevard (next to Almond Hotel)

Always shaken

The sultans of smallisimo have struck again. The place is Harry’s, and it’s the Norbert-Munns brother’s latest instalment to Bassac Lane, the capital back alley turned boozy-hip hangout. Downstairs the bar sells beer and wine and an eclectic mix of James Bond accessories: cufflinks, pocket watches, aviator shades. Upstairs is Harry’s martini bar, which serves the classic cocktail half a dozen ways, including a Chicago 1951 and a Winston Churchill. The former comes with gin-soaked anchovy-stuffed olives, the later with but a “glance” of vermouth. All are served in frozen glasses with a heavy-handed gentleman’s pour. Always shaken, never stirred. Because Harry would have wanted it that way. Harry’s Phnom Penh, Bassac Lane.