Top 5 artrock bands in Indonesia - guest post by Ababil Ashari

Hi! I’m Indonesian! ^^; Here are our Top 5 Bands + Shorthand Phonetics! by Ababil Ashari

Hey, so funny story. I sent this lovely site a press release concerning my new, free awesome, awesome, awesome, FREE, awesome awesome, http://www.yesnowave.com/albums/yesno022.htm awesome, AWESOME, awesome, and FREE download album in hopes to get a post about it on Artrocker.

Instead I got an offer to write FOR Artrocker. It was a dream of mine since forever! . (Albeit the dream was specifically about writing on www.joystiq.com… but whatever Artrocker will have to do!)

Specifically the powers-that-be wanted a High-Fidelity style top 5 list of the hippest, most happening bands alive in Indonesia today. So…Here. We. Go!

Highly Subjective Top 5 List of the Hippest, Most Happening Bands in Indonesia (in no order and excluding Shorthand Phonetics)

1. Sungsang Lebam Telak (quirky free-form jazz)

These three dudes (pictured above) make something that can be loosely called "low-brow atmospheric lo-fi jazz for the masses". With the combined drums, piano and bass they’re scramble your minds with left-field dissonant chordage and loony madness in general. If those words intice you? Look no further than these dudes to fuck up your day!

Their album is out on the esteemed French eDogm netlabel. And here is their most recent release:

Sungsang Lebam Telak’s "Kecuali Mengenang Betismu"

http://www.edogm.net/releases/edo019/index.html
http://www.edogm.net/releases/edo019/edo019_-_Sungsang_Lebam_Telak_-_Kecuali_Mengenang_Betismu.rar
http://www.myspace.com/sungsanglebamtelak

2. Neowax (lo-fi psychedelica type deal)

When I first became aware of them they immediately pulled a machete and threatened me to "Test Our Vitamin Sounds!" And I did. And I liked it (and stabbed me anyway)! It’s like Sonic Youth meets the blues on acid. Go get their new album! It’s out on Yes No Wave Music and tell me how right I am!

Neowax’s "Ghost Treat Magic"

http://yesnowave.com/albums/yesno021.htm
http://www.archive.org/download/yesno021/yesno021_vbr_mp3.zip
http://www.myspace.com/neowax

3. Nervous Breakdown (experimental hardcore)

Nervous Breakdown will floor you with breakneck speed in vain of Larm, and kick your ass afterwards (all under a minute of your precious time). These guys are super tight and tidy too, so at least you’ll make a pretty corpse at your open casket funeral. To tempt fate, download their latest here on Yes No Wave Music!

Nervous Breakdown’s "Never Green"

http://yesnowave.com/albums/yesno014.htm
http://www.archive.org/download/yesno014/yesno014_vbr_mp3.zip
http://www.myspace.com/nervousbreakdown2006

4. Concrete Aluminum (shoegazing ambient noise)

Born from the tradition of Starflyer 69, My Bloody Valentine, Bright Eyes and Spider Jerusalem comes ambient noise band Concrete Aluminum. Pretend their MySpace tracks are an EP (Hey just called it "The Myspace EP" for now), and be lost in the mystical sounds, odd lyrical nods, and the pervasive nature of the reversed samples. I find the MySpace page to be a good way to clear your head and meditate, I’m sure you’d do too. Can’t wait for the REAL EP!

http://www.myspace.com/concretealuminum

5. And Here We Are, the Kids (acoustic orchestra pop chamber music thing)

Words cannot adequately describe the work of Agatha Tika Pangestuti (Guitars), Aristya Wismoyo (Drums), Alwin Daniel (Guitars/ Bass), Alrein Putrananda Wajong (Guitars), Benedicta Sherrine Budiman (Guitars), Danika Dwi Budiarti (Piano), Dylan Amirio (Guitars/ Bass), Gilang Kembara (Strings), Gema Sutan Assin (Strings), Jamal Soemadipradja (Guitars), Jessica Leofitri Mangunsong (Piano), Kamadiputra Surianegara (Drums), Hilary Vincentius Bennet (Percussions), Ivan Abednego (Guitars), Reynold Adi Putra (Percussions), Sasha Kohar (Strings), Sabrina Nissa R (Strings), Silkanzy Musrian Badjiser (Sampler), Timmy Soerianto (Percussion) and Kevin William (Percussion)… So I won’t try! Here’s the MySpace.

(fuck I wish I was in their class)

http://www.myspace.com/andherewearethekids

Super special mention ALERT!!!

I have a band too you know! It’s called:
(awkwardly changes to third-person)

Shorthand Phonetics (alternative lo-fi indie rock/post-rock/electronica)

This "band" was created to tell the fictional story of Hanabishi Hideaki, a Japanese Med School student. His story is either rendered in wailing guitars, driving drum beats, quiet acoustics, post-rock atmospherics, or IDM beats depending on what fits the mood of the moment (and the mood of God/TheAuthor).

Shorthand Phonetics’ third, "Fire! (I Could Have Died and All I Could Think About Was My Charred Diary)" (the third "book" in the saga) is a perfect encapsulation of this sound. Go get it on Yes No Wave! Now!!!

Shorthand Phonetics’ "Fire! (I Could Have Died and All I Could Think About Was My Charred Diary)"

http://www.yesnowave.com/albums/yesno022.htm
http://www.archive.org/download/yesno022/YESNO_022_-_Shorthand_Phonetics.zip
http://www.myspace.com/shorthandphonetics

Well that’s it! Enjoy the music!

And Indonesia said "Hi!", by the way.

Ababil Ashari

Ps. So much for not tooting my own horn, yeah Dave?