Taufik
Blessings
[Sony-BMG]

by The Toneknobber

Hooking itself up on the number one spot on the RIAS charts for weeks, it's obvious that Singaporeans have not gotten over the Singapore Idol fever. Coming in from the cold following a delay in its original 20 December 2004 release and a slip-up on a song title credit, Taufik probably sleeps undaunted with a smile on his face - much like the obviously posed expression seen on the album cover.

The album of 11 tracks offers a number of classic funk and soul hits like Al Green's ‘Let's Stay Together’, Stevie Wonder's ‘Superstition’ and Billy Paul's ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’. All reworked and given a new lease of life to please the ignorant ears of his teenage fanclub but tearing away the essence of their purpose in musical history.  If that wasn't bad enough for people who hold revered names like Wonder and Green close, the cheesy karaoke-type beats literally kills it to non-existence.

And then there is the very Singapore community song-type anthem of ‘I Dream’, a song of a young nobody's dreams coming true. Very touching, yes but very puke-inducing as well. A possible hit at next year's National Day parade, the thought of 65,000 Singaporeans at the National Stadium singing along to it is also something to worry about, considering the amount of vomit that might flow from the homes of level-headed home-viewers come August 9. That was single number one and the first disaster at that.

Almost like a prophecy, the second single came tumbling soon after in the form of ‘One Last’. The sappy slow number not only sounds like a reprise from God-forsaken group All-4-One but also has that annoying karaoke-sounding trebly drums machine beats that seems to plague the whole album. One track worth mentioning is ‘Backup Against The Wall’ which bears close resemblance to a Justin-Timberlake-hit-put-together-by-The-Neptunes. And yes, it is pretty funky too.

Perhaps the album's saving grace comes in the form of the last track, a classic Malay song called ‘Ibu (Mother)’. Most of us should be able to remember the tune from a certain powdered milk TV commercial that aired in the late 1980s. The classic song was written by Sharif Rahman, composed by Ahmad Jaafar and sung by P Ramlee for the 1953 Malay film of the same name. Someone at EMI Music Publishing messed up the song accreditation along the way before the album release without clearing its copyright. His first jump from the nest and he’s already nose-diving in flames.

So, whether or not Taufik's cute boyish smile and alleged eyeliner-drawn eyelids appeal to the listener, the music speaks for itself. Give it a listen and tell us what it tells you.

Rammstein
Reise, Reise
[Motor Music GmbH]

by P2

The legendary German industrial outfit is back with their 4th album release, Reise, Reise. No doubt their musical inclinations have not changed much, they have progressed with heavier and more gut wrenching tunes rather than more industrial beats. Although most of us don’t understand a single word of German, fans of Rammstein invariably end up singing along to their songs word for word. This album doesn’t fail on that score as they viciously attack their amps and our speakers with such adrenaline-inducing force.

The tracks in this album are truly of epic proportions. On reading the translation of the first track, ‘ Reise, Reise’, it gave me an idea on the depth of Rammstein and how the explosive vocals actually pour the meaning out to you. The tempo picks up in the following track ‘ Mein Tell’. Chugging along like the largest locomotive you’ve thought of, guitar riffs make up the major bite of it, mixed with goth-industrial tunes. ‘ Dalai Lama’ is melodic, yet with an element of surprise as higher octaves are used in the vocals for a change. Creepy touches with heavy guitars fading are typically Rammstein. Both ‘ Keine Lust’ and ‘ Los’ show the progress that Rammstein has made. The former song is more up-tempo and quicker while the latter is acoustic. Very refreshing changes, I might add.

‘Amerika’, a blunt projectile aimed at Americans and the influence they are having everywhere, causing everyone to lose their identities. “This is not a love song/ I don’t speak my mother tongue” Probably the quote of the album, for me.

Surprise, surprise, a female voice in Rammstein! Yes indeed. ‘ Moskau’ features a female backing vocalist. But part of their heaviness does get toned down due to this. Goth melodic vocals are the highlight of ‘ Morgenstern’. Once again, they experiment with a choir in the chorus. Wonderfully sculpted and molded into a track that makes you feel like going to war at times although the song doesn’t mean anything close to that. The following track, also of war-like proportions, is ‘ Stein um Stein’. Starting off ever so quietly, it squares out into a balls-crunching chorus. You could actually feel the emotion in the voice and music that’s pouring out.

The album’s second single, ‘ Ohne Dich’, a beautiful ballad, so melodic and punched with deep German accent. Mixed with synthetic sounds and smooth guitars, it produces a wafting flow that ebbs into your mind and stays there. The final track (oh no, it’s the last track already?), well guys, ‘ Amour Amour’ keeps you asking for more from Rammstein. If you’ve hooked up with a girl who’s into metal, you might want to listen to this track with her alone someplace. After all, the first line means “Love Is a Wild Animal”. I’ll drink to that!

Truly, Rammstein has not failed to impress me one bit. Although the areas where the vocals have been played around with too much and caused the overall heaviness to lessen, they’ve maintained themselves as a band to be reckoned with. They are indeed a breed of their own. I give Reise, Reisea thumbs up. For those who’re not familiar with Rammstein.Maybe it’s about time you gave it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Leeson
Hero Music
[self-released]

by voksprung

Leeson is back in town but this time he’s not about to bring further shivers to the Monetary Authority of Singapore. We are talking about a five-piece unit formed in August 1998. As one of the up and coming bands in the local music scene, Leeson is made up of guitarists Gerald Teo and Thomas Wu, vocalists Jamie Gibbings, bassist Brian Koh and drummer Mark Cheng. According to the band, their influences include The Flaming Lips, Super Furry Animals, Kent, Wilco, The Velvet Underground, My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths, Suede and The Verve.

The Hero Music E.P. marks the band’s first official release after the arrival of Gibbings and Cheng in 2004. After listening to their debut album, there is no doubting the band’s individual talents. Hero Music is an enchanting mixture of experimental subterranean 90’s influences. Does Pablo Honey ring a bell? Well, let’s put it this way; just imagine throwing yourself back to the earlier sounds of Radiohead, Unbelievable Truth and Suede.

The opening track ‘Travels With Lizbeth’ is a 2-minute foray into the Leeson manic mindscape. Gibbing’s excellent vocal ability, coupled with the band’s tight vocal harmony, takes the listener into the higher state of depression. The guitar riffs during the chorus of the second track ‘Killing Spree’ spark a return to the Butler/Anderson days of Suede. My favourite track is the closing number, ‘Master of Ceremonies’ – probably the band’s most imaginative track. The guitar solos hold an approach reminiscent of old Chinese operatic sounds. This fusion of local and foreign influences has been seamlessly combined, marking an end to probably this year’s most outstanding debut release.

Hero Music was produced and mixed by Leonard Soosay who brought us acts such as The Boredphucks and Sherene’s Closet. For reasons known only to the band, each track is no longer than 4 minutes. The time has come to herald another newcomer onto the scene. With Leeson, Singapore’s music stock can only rise. By the way, what’s happening these days with good old Nick??

Owen
I Do Perceive
[Polyvinyl]

by sdre

First off, I would need to make a clarification. Owen is not Owen. There isn’t an artist named Owen, except for Mark Owen, of course. It’s a pseudonym. It’s a facade. A mask. For acoustic performer Mike Kinsella, Owen is a name that he has taken for himself, and his solo acoustic project. And having released 3 previous albums prior to I Do Perceive, lets just say, Mr. Kinsella hasn't lost his smart poetic sensitive lyrics nor has he forgotten how to fingerpick his way into your head.

Starting off with tracks like 'Who Found Who's Hair In Who's Bed' and 'Note To Self', Mike seems to have a flair of singing swear words and taunts in the most gentle way possible. And not to mention, Mike's signature twinkling guitar lines, both acoustic and electric guitars. Chancing upon 'Playing Possum For A Peed', intricate fingerpicking slowdances the song into verses like “I’m made up of instincts/ None of which are too keen/ But I get by with these high cheek bones” and 'I’m a man with desires/ And if I told you any different, I’d be a liar.' Some people just have the right amount of guts to say what's needed to be said.

In this MTV age that we live in, it’s rare that we find people who sing indefinitely about the challenges in life and the relationships, not only with the opposite sex but friendships as well. 'Put Your Hands On Me, My Love' begins with “Put your faith in me my friends/ Well, put your foot down my brother/ That's no way to live putting the needs of others ahead of yours/ While the world wakes up early and wastes the day working for money/ They don’t need, to buy things they dont need/ We'll sleep in, we'll do it again” Seemingly focusing on the lyrical content, those who are more technically/musically more inclined would brush this album off, think again.

"Bed Abuse" begins softly with a pipe organ swelling slowly, but surely. As the drums and delayed guitar progressions as well as the well phrased finger picking of his acoustic guitar, Mike Kinsella has outdone himself on this track. It’s my favourite, simply cause of its infectious drum style and delay guitar sounds. It goes on and on. Breaking evenly and giving the listener some room to breathe, it eventually slows and fades out to gently picked arpeggios and soft drumming. 'Lights out' is a typical end to most acoustic albums; it’s very slow, very gentle. Almost sleepy acoustic rock if that made any sense. And kicking in a distorted solo line out of nowhere gives the listener a shock awakening.

I would recommend this album to fans of slow and rock ballads and even acoustic music. More can be heard at his label's website, http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/store/product_view2.asp?prodID=353 .

Fans of Cap N Jazz, American Football and Joan Of Arc might find this much different from the dissonant chords and time signatures. Still a strong chance of prevailing, this album.