OK, now it's time for an album review. This album contains Indonesia's finest bass players. Some of them are member of well-known Indonesian band like GIGI, PADI, COKELAT and EDANE, while the rest are famous solo artists and session players.
1. All Stars - Rame-Rame
A nice rendition of a well-known song, rearranged and played by all the bass players involved in the album. Part jazz, part funk, part rock, blend it all into one juicy song. Lots of slaps, taps, and other thunderous techniques showed here.
2. Thomas Ramdan of GIGI - Alone
Thomas seems to suffer from a "split-personality syndrome". When he's not touring and making record with GIGI, he's really into the electronic music scene. He played with one of Indonesia's well-known DJ, DJ Riri under the name RRT. The idea of combining Riri's electronic live p.a with his basslines really catching up with Jakarta's dance scene. He even produces his own music under the pseudonym "Livink" and released one song in the Jakarta Movement 2005 Compilation album. The song "Alone" here is probably another creation of his extended personality. Thomas is showing more of his song writing skill rather than his bass playing skill. He kept his basslines simple in the song. No super fast slap and pop or high-skilled tapping here.
3. Indro - Titik Awal
Indro is a famous Indonesia bass player. He had played with most of the country's top artists. He also released his own solo album. This song is a full-fledged jazz piece, complete with the pianos and horns. This one is clearly more "song-oriented" rather than a "bass-in-your-face" song.
4. Rindra of PADI - My Friend's Song
Rindra, the bassist of one my favourite local bands, PADI. This one is a bass-oriented jazz song. He really stepped out of his role in PADI's music. Any PADI's fans probably wouldn't recognize this song as being written and played by himself. Well he surprised me too. Lots of slap'n'pop here with just the right proportion, which is why I vote this song as my favourite song of this album.
5. Bintang - Kupuja
Another Indonesian famous session bass player. Fretless lovers should be pleased with this song. Some nice slap'n'pop also thrown in, blend with acoustic guitars and a female vocal, this one is a "song-oriented" pop ballad piece.
6. Iwan Xaverius of EDANE - IXS II
Now this one is a standout from the other songs in this album. Have you ever imagined what happened to Dream Theatre if John Petrucci would back a little and gave Myung more space with the bass in the sonic space? Well here it is... A progressive rock song written and played by one of Indonesia's best bass player from the legendary rock band EDANE.
7. Barry Likumahuwa - Mi Angelita
Barry is one of Indonesia's finest young bass players. Recently he hit the local scene with his posse, BAZ ATTACK. A group of five young and talented bass players in the business. This song smacked me with layers and layers of jazz-oriented basslines with a small touch of latin music.
8. Bongky Ismail - Regge Kasmaran
Being the ex-bassist of SLANK and current bassist of BIP, Bongky is quite an old-timer himself. This song is also a standout from the others in the album by being true to the reggae root. Somebody give him some weed... ya man!
9. Adam of SO7 - 1..2..3..Go!
A simple straight rock song with a touch of jazz in the middle by the Yogya man himself. Further explanation not needed. ENJOY!
10. Nissa Hamzah of OMELLETE - Rush
Another promising young bass player. The song itself is quite a bomb. Hard and heavy guitars with her in the middle fiddling those fat notes in the upper register. Guaranteed to make you bang your head. Another favourite of mine of this album.
11. Ronny of COKELAT - Basskuhepi
Just like the title said, this is a happy jazz-influenced song. Just like Rindra, Ronny also escapes from his band stereotype. Rather than writing a rock tune, he explores the wonderful world of jazz with this song. Reminds me a lot of Lee Ritenour songs.
12. Ari Firman - Summer Sky
Ex-bassist of The Groove, a jazz band that lost one of it's vocalist recently prior to the release of her solo album. The song itself is a jazz pop tune with a touch of r'n'b and soul. But I just couldn't capture the "soul" myself. It's not because this song is bad, but probably it's just me and my taste that differs...
13. Bondan Prakoso - Psychadelic Sub Rhythm
Once again, another young and talented fat stringers. Leaving his past as a children popstar, he revealed his true self with his funk-rock band Funky Kopral. Recently he produced his solo album collaborating with a local hip-hop group. This song probably the best way to see both influence clearly. A groovy funk basslines twisting along the song, and right in the last half of the song, a poppish part occured without being out of place. A sweet combo!
14. Arya Setiadi - She's Mine
I don't know this guy. The song itself is a nice romantic ballad backed only by shakers. I don't know with any of you out there, but this song reminds me a lot of one Steve Bailey's song which I forgot the title...
15. All Stars - Cucakrawa
Another rendition of an Indonesian well-known dangdut song, but you probably wouldn't recognize it since it has been heavilly rearranged into a funky jazz piece. An upbeat groove, truly a masterpiece.
posted by fleizenkruz @ 9:57 AM
