LeeHanCheol

이한철 : Lee HanCheol (1996 - 2000)

Related : Zipper BulldogMansion

LINK : KPDB:1011061

1 Biography or Not

Lee Han-cheol 이한철

I first became aware of Lee Han-cheol in early 1997 when he appeared as a guest guitarist in Jang Pillsoon's backing band. I was later to realize that he was responsible for injecting much of the energy into those performances. He is a natural performer and enjoys performing even when he's obviously nervous. While the rest of the backing band usually stands emotionless, concentrating on their instrument (as is the habit in Korea), Han-cheol jumps, dances and moves to the music, infecting the rest of the band with his enthusiasm.
During the middle of the concert Lee performed two or three of his own songs, singing unaccompanied except for his own electric guitar. His songs often have a comic edge and he entertains the audience between songs, milking his thick Taegu accent for laughs. He is one of the few acts I've seen in Korea that realizes rock and roll music is supposed to be fun. It's a great shame that his humor couldn't be appreciated by non-Korean speakers.

I was reminded of both Billy Bragg and Wreckless Eric who both have a playful approach and employ nonstandard accents to express their philosophical affiliations. (Bragg also performs like Lee unaccompanied except for a single electric guitar.) Lee, himself claimed early influences as Elvis Costello and Prince. The Prince influence can be detected on Lee's first album which features a lot of falsetto singing which I didn't notice in his concert. The Elvis Costello influence could be said to be visually obvious because of the heavy rimmed glasses - except that they have become an alternative fashion standard around Asia. Lee obviously values Costello's song writing skills and produces quality songs himself, many with a humorous or cynical aspect. Some of his songs focus on a pleasant melody. Others employ harder-edged rock textures.

He has so far produced 2 solo albums. I prefer the first as a more rounded, balanced product but the second which tends to a heavier rock style is also very good. The first album features mostly the Jo Dong-ik band as the backing musicians. Lee was working in a duo called "Zipper" with rap singer Jang Ki-young has released an album called Magazine as well as backing popular singer Ria during 1998.

Lee Han-cheol initially came to prominence as a winner of the university student's song contest (in 1995, I think). In 1997, he was a regular guest on the TV Drama "Three Men and Three Women" for several months.

His current project is Bulldog Mansion They released a CD in early 2000. The music seems to certre around funk and even includes some dabbling with samba styles.

Bulldog Mansion Daum Bulldog link page

Zipper 지퍼 Zipper was Lee Han-cheol's 1998 experiment in "modern rock" and draws on many sub-genres of contemporary music. He has lost none of his energy or enjoyment for performing and remains the only Korean rock artist i've seen who knows how to really enjoy the music and have fun, and radiate that to the audience.
Han Cheol has changed management to the same company as Ria and (with Zipper?) has been backing Ria at concerts and recordings. Subsequently his exposure and following have increased. The repertoire and style have changed accordingly too. I initially heard that Han Cheol had teamed with a rapper to catch a bigger slice of the market but the new act actually featured little that could be called rap.

I saw Zipper on the final night of what I believe to be their first concert series. It felt strange to be seated in the middle of several teenagers and young women wearing home-made "dealy boppers". However, when the music actually began, my fears were dispelled. The music was pure driving rock that had the audience on their feet for most of the concert in the purely sitting concert venue. The rap connection was there but only about as much as the Run DMC/Aerosmith version of Walk this Way or PM Dawn's remake of Spandau Ballet's True in the early '90s. (Feel free to refresh my memory about the artists.) The concert featured a wide range and variety of songs from borderline heavy metal to pop (Take on Me) to borderline jazz (Two of Us) and remained fresh and playful. I wish I'd gone to more of their concerts and I'm disappointed I can't remember it more clearly now.

Their first album, Magazine is available. I was disappointed that they hadn't managed to capture the energy of the live concerts and I was also disappointed that in aiming at a younger audience the direction seems to be lost. Listening to the album, I feel like a dog playing with a soccer ball - I'm having a good time but I just can't get my teeth into it. It is a very good album best listened to on a quality hifi. The production does not lend itself to simple singalong jingles.

I believe that due to contractual arangements Lee Han Cheol has left the management company (as of the end of 1998) and that may mean the end of Zipper. It would be sad if it is true but I can only hope it would mean the members would be free to produce more interesting music.

--MichaelGlass

2 Magazine (1998) as 'Zipper'

CD:2069214  (Man & Music; DoReMi Records)

==== HongCho, 1998-10-27 ====

Zipper are LeeHanCheol (guitars) and JangGiYeong (sampling, programming, analog synth., and turntable). I heard that the name, Zipper, was chosen because how two people can come together as one. I haven't heard of JangGiYeong before, but LeeHanCheol previously released a couple of albums as a solo artist before, if I remember correctly. He also also wrote and played some numbers for Riaa's recent albums. Actually, for couple of track, Riaa participated as a back-up singers.

The CD is actually pretty good. They have put together this somewhat old European light sound with some theatrical development with modern technics such as sampling and very nice sound engineering (which, come to think of it, might sound a bit like some of Japan's Pop/Rock styles). Definitely, this is a good Pop/Rock album, which I am sure will draw quite a few audience. Although Lee, HanCheol's previous work didn't do well in the charts (I think he had some problems developing short great musical ideas into a full score), I've noticed that he had a very good musical sense about what makes people's feet tap on the floor. With a great cast of band members, which includes (bassist LeeTaeYun), I hope they have a better luck this time commercially.

Bottom line: Didn't grab me immediately, but there is a simple (retro) catchy-ness that might grow on me. As a pop album, I think it's pretty well-done.

A well-done modern pop/rock work by two musicians and a group of supporting casts. I think they are part of the management that Riaa belongs to because she participates in one of the tracks and Zipper played for some of her third album.

Naked Hands
GeoWul	Mirror
BbaBbaBba
NaeGa SaRangHaNeun GeuNyeoNeun	The Girl I Love
TaJo	Ostrich
JeungO	Hatred
Just Enjoy Your Life
SaRangEui DoMangJa	Fugitive of Love
JoSimHae	Watch Out
SeulPeun NoRae	Sad Song
JungDok	Addiction
Today
NaeGa SaRangHaNeun GeuNyeoNeun	The Girl I Love (band version)

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