"Esok Masih Ada....."

Suspect: Butterfingers
Exhibit: Selamat Tinggal Dunia
Price To Pay: RM 39.90
Crime Scene: Horizon Music Centre, Central Market


Since drawing up the blueprint for "Malaysian Urban Rock Grandiose 101" with the critically-acclaimed Malayneum, fans and critics alike has been kept wondering what's the next move for these shape-shifting musical visionaries. After 3 years of pondering (and countless setbacks and delays), they bid the world selamat tinggal.

Judging by their many performances prior to the release of Selamat Tinggal Dunia, it's quite uncertain of what's the agenda this time around. But upon first listen, I was flummoxed. Alt.-folk rock? Highly likely. But then again, pigeonholing a band of this credible is a big no-no. Emphasizing Selamat Tinggal Dunia as a senja period of the bands musical career, the dusk-inflicted concept of the album itself is a testament of a band that has accepted the harsh consequences of reality in the real world but on the other hand, has chosen not to abide by its abrasive means. Before you accuse the band of being bandwagon-jumpers by switching its language medium from English to the national lingo, Bahasa Malaysia -like in the veins of Flop Poppy and O@G-, run through your Kamus Dewan this instant. Instead of opting for cheesy (Flop Poppy), or inventive (O@G) use of the national language, Butterfingers utilizes the simplicity of it with dashes of age-old Bahasa Istana and effortlessly coupling it with heartfelt melodies resulting in a successful upshot.

Ngilu (hidup makan tidur mati muzik), acts like an apologetic excuse to everyone for the niggling holdup that has been bugging this album's release. With Emmett hopelessly singing "maafkan lah hamba/hamba pun hamba wang/pada zahirnya", you just can't help but feel sorry for the man. The first 3-minutes of Daulat Tuanku signaled the bands definitive departure from their famed Seattle-inspired sonic attacks swapping it with Marilyn Manson-ish industrial rock march before morphing itself into a sprawling 9-minute epic. Anyone who've heard Loque's rendition of Cuai may be taken aback by the album version of it where Emmett, with unflappable ease, proved why he is often regarded as a charismatic frontman with a presence. His subtle, whisper-like vocal take on the song echoed a lullaby that instead of whisking you away into slumber, puts you firmly on your feet in adulation of it. When Emmett chanted "untuk seketika/ku hilang kawalan diri" it exerts an eerie analogy with Radiohead's Karma Police when Thom Yorke squealed "and for a minute there/I lost myself". A twist of fate? Definitely maybe.

The sole instrumental track, Urusan Seri Paduka Baginda is beyond doubt; a brilliant oddball. Made up of haunting, poignant, ghoulish-choir and chiming gamelans, it would've found itself firmly tucked between the songs in Bjork's Medulla without sounding dubious. And not to mention a deserving soundtrack slot for an avant-garde horror/ghost flick. The obvious standout track is noneother than the album's title-track, an ode to self-righteous suicide which saw the song altering from hopeful to ambiguous obscurity without a great deal of hesitancy. Such beauty. Merpati Sejoli proved that Butterfingers can rock out like there's no tomorrow and also being brilliant at it. The unimaginative use of the la-la-la-las somehow blends with the song's quirky sleaziness but the band has better ideas by ending the song with brief, bleak gorgeousness done the best Butter way possible. Hanyut, which is perhaps the band's most funky tune to date and potentialy an unlikely radio hit is executed with such swagger that it will have you subconsciously humming along to the catchy chorus. Batak did a fab job at handling extra guitar duties giving Hanyut the much-needed edginess it lacks. Some might say that the manipulation of track-reversing technique employed by the band might be repetitious but it did serve a vital purpose. It's highly danceable! Tentang Tentang -with flourishes of horns, accordion, harmonica and violin pluckings- made its way as the album's fitting end as a (forlorn) last cry for us to wake up, and fight for a cause together.

Apart from the exclusion of Siaran Tergendala and Pancasona, the only letdown of this album is the final mix of Kabus Ribut which could've been better compared to the non-album version that has been circulating for a while. On the contrary, it still retains the sense of radio-friendliness that made it so amiable. However, one distinct facet of this album shouldn't be left unnoticed. Every single track on this album -regardless of the lyrics- astoundingly sounds like a sad parting.

Selamat Tinggal Dunia -as the name itself may imply- might impose the notion of the band bowing its way out of the limelight indefinitely. With Emmett now away in Canada, nothing is certain but the enigmatic frontman was quoted saying, "I don't know how frequent albums are going to be out, but the band will still be there."

Well, esok masih ada.

The Malaysian Invasion Aftermath

As I was prepping myself, I realized that I was only wearing a plain t-shirt instead of my usual t-shirt-over-shirt garb. Perhaps I was finally ready for this.

The last time I was a part of this conspiracy to make the world (primarily Malaysians ourselves) felt our rockin’ presence was 3 years ago when it was charged next to nothing.

Case point 1: I’m an avid freeloader.

Also, it was the only Rock The World installment that featured a non-rock act, Teh Tarik Crew. Rock The World III saw another milestone moment since it's the first of its kind to get the live VCD treatment and witnessed the mark of Pan Global Insurance's association with the local urban scene. The line-up for Rock The World IV wasn't that promising so I decided to save my dough for something else. SevenCollar T-Shirt (probably) thought the same and organized a gig of their own in tribute to Mokh since he’s breaking away from performing. After that, I thought things were going downhill for Malaysia’s only concert series made possible by a car insurance company and Lo’s label. Then came 2004…

So far, the Rock The World series has locally break possible new grounds that was far beyond reach a few years back. So what would this year’s installment have to offer? I’ll tell you what:

+ It’s the first to be held in a proper stadium instead of the inappropriate
parking lot for the past 4 installments.

+ The line-up’s a killer.

+ The ever-rare Nice Stupid Playground’s playing.

+ The cover charge was RM 20 instead of the previous blood-sucking RM50.

Although I and Efry have planned on going for it months ago, I had some reservations. My budget is threatening me to live on home-made foods and around-the-clock TV reliance for cheap thrills. But I have to go someplace for the weekend. That ‘someplace’ turns out to be the Trans Regional Music Fest somewhere in Petaling Street. Furniture and the avant-garde The Fly (no, not the Indo band). And it’s free.

Case point 2: Freeloaders can get good, genre-bending music.

But the winds in my sail were whisked away soon enough as Trans was only for non-Muslims aged 18 and above. My weekend’s over even before Friday.

But perhaps Lady Luck had pity on me.

When I called Efry expressing my utter incredulity of the news of Sgt. Weener’s Arm breakup, he mentioned that Adlin managed to score tickets to the concert and Efry told Faiz to reserve one for me. He spoke of the truth. I’m going to Rock The World V. For free.

Case point 3: Freeloaders are prone of getting free stuffs without asking.

When I was on my way to the stadium, Adam gave a text saying that it has begun and Tragic Comedy opened the show with their Matchbox 20-like alternative rock. The moment I was right in front of the entrance, Couple started their set with Goddamn Mighty Tune. Bugger. Faiz, Efry and the rest were nowhere in sight. My ticket’s with them.


Remember I mentioned about Reciprocal Avenue 5? Here they are. From left: Usop, Adam, Imran, Amirul and Farhan.

They showed up eventually but too bad Couple was through with their set and Singletrackmind was halfway through their first song. I had a stirring feeling once I saw the stadium seats, the goal posts and the score board. It was at this same stadium that I first witnessed Malaysian football in its flesh with Arwah Tok Asit and (Arwah) Ayah way back when I was 6. Anyways, the idea of setting up the main stage on the field is atmospherically brilliant. Feeling tired? Jus roll over the grass and rejoice its natural fragrance. Very Woodstock-ish.


See? Lepak abis...

Talking about Singletrackmind, Alex and his posse's set was a pivotal turning point. It got the crowd lapping up to their repertoire of modern (Pan Global) rock numbers and consequently set the pace throughout the whole event. Their live interpretation of "People In My Own World" was downright explosive. I for once, was down with the band. Perhaps the mood was just right. Republic Of Brickfields managed effortlessly translating the Woodstock-ish atmosphere into pleasurable, ear-friendly tunes. Apart from Cromok, these guys were undeniably veteran scenesters with a massive cult following. Fronted by Aru, it was definitely the most chilled-out set for this installment. If Singletrackmind got the crowd off their buts and on their feet (or in some cases, generic body-surfing), The Republic's brand of laidback-groove reggae got everyone skank-ing and pogo-ing as if they're bunnies high on Easter eggs. Their rendition of Bob Marley's mind-numbing classic "No Woman No Cry" was somewhat expected but it was without doubt, executed with utmost style and swagger enough to even bring Marley back to life. My favorite was the ode to urban youths aptly titled, "Generasi Bundle". The song kind of echoed the suara rakyat spirit last heard during M. Nasir's folk-rocking days with Kembara.



Since A.C.A.B went AWOL, who else fits the bill to fill the skinhead/Oi! quota other than Roots N’ Boots themselves. Earlier on, one of the guitarists received devastating news of a loss of a family member. He then was later replaced with the band's resident sessionist. I don't have much to say about this band except that their aggressive Oi! punk guitar works really packed a piercing punch that I have to constantly check my ears in case it bleeds. Oi! Oi! Oi!

With Naza and Alim out of the line-up, everyone was eager to see who closed the gap and how Radhi would survive without two of the most significant OAG/O@G members. The moment he went on stage, the lazy bunch that was occupying the stadium seats came flocking to the main stage area in mere seconds. I was afraid that last year's fiasco would repeat itself. So then the new line-up was unveiled. Farizul (They Will Kill Us All's vocalist) on second guitar, the devilishly babelicious Sarah (The Officials' rhythm guitarist) on bass, and A.C.A.B's very own drummer Mr.-I-cant-recall-his-name. They started off with a Beatles cover "She Loves You" which according to Radhi, a statement of what O@G is all about. I was a lil' bit ecstatic when Farizul lashed out the chords to "Knocked Silly". 60's crunch-pop fuzz at its best. Surprisingly, they didn't play anything from their Malay song catalogue. Overall, it was a little bit of a letdown as I was expecting them to unleash their latest materials since news has been spreading around of their upcoming LP due early next year. I've always been intrigued with Tempered Mental’s twist of Tool/The Smashing Pumpkins-laden songs. It tends to resort to a subtle, spine-crashing hard rock action that at times, sounds triumphant beyond any expectations. Melina may not be the best (Gender-wise, she kicks other chicks' ass) bassist in the country but she is without a shred of doubt, the only bassist who can take up main vocal duties even when (mostly) thumping those mind-boggling bass lines. As a singer and a songwriter, there's only been a slight improvement in her. The band needs to step up their game if they want to be embraced outside the musiccanteen.com fraternity. They're lacking depth despite all the technicalities of each band member. Their live take on "Honestly" (Not to be mistaken with a Zwan tune of the same name) sounds rather punk-ish. Punk is good but they made it frustratingly bland. If only they played the song featured on the Rock The World III VCD. Now that's awesome.

It was then time for the compulsory Maghrib break. We hung out the stage’s right corner (Sorry, God).


Me and Efry

The show then resumed with Love Me Butch. On the verge of releasing their much-anticipated follow-up to the award-winning debut Enter Posthuman, they're destined to set the sky a blazing with their dose of new-age metal. Syahrul's presence as a frontman was commanding. He even did his own 'sound check' throwing his trademark shrieking war cry much to the crowd's excitement. They started their set brilliantly with "The Protector" that got me pogo-ing (A first!) along to those massive dance floor beats courtesy of Winder & Kevin. "Embrace" made an instant long-lasting impression on me upon first listen but it was "Stumble Upon A Glass" that was the deciding factor. I'd kill to get a copy of their sophomore effort if I have to. One word: Primal.

When Haroun, the MC, announced about a band from Sarawak being here in KL for their Rock The World debut performance, I was sure that he was mentioning Nice Stupid Playground. Obviously I was proved otherwise. Judging by the non-musical spectrum from an amateurish point of view, you kind of expect Indo Rock from Evanstarr with the slick wardrobe donned by the frontman. I don't know why but their brand of Malay Indie doesn't appeal much to me. Being a newbie to the plateau of the urban scene, it's safe to say that they're a Kebangsaan version of Nice Stupid Playground. Having riding on the immense success of their debut EP, One Buck Short’s form was nothing short of inspiring. These pop-punkers amazed everyone with their theatrical-like set. The slow, brooding build-up to their radio hit "That Day" was majestic in all punk rock manner. They've surely proved me this time that they're not one-trick ponies prancing playfully just for the thrill of it.

It was Nice Stupid Playground up next. Their first KL show after a long absence from the scene during these year's Urbanscapes left everyone in hunger for more. The word 'lush' was smeared all over them. What better could they do to pay tribute to the fans' loyalty other than chanting a song about an ordinary window in a bedroom? "Bedroom Window" made everyone stood in awe, acknowledging the band's authority on introspective, steadfast melancholia. Surely they've gain a new legion of followings. They demonstrated that making music to cry to without the tears is unthinkably possible.



Hmm. So Dragon Red opened with Korn's "Blind". Predictable huh? Their take on the Christmas classic tune "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" was nothing worth the buzz albeit being jarringly catchy. The only highlight of their set was a surprise collaboration with Rina Omar (who's also guitarist Amil's big sis) on 3rd vocals for their most popular anthem, "Fade Away". Like O@G, they decided to play covers and old hits rather than their latest material. It's kind of insulting for their fans (fortunately, I'm not one) and apart from their association with ICOM and musiccanteen.com, whether or not they'll make it after the release of their upcoming debut Holocaust is still a big question mark to be taken lightly.

When SevenCollar T-Shirt decided to pull out of Rock The World IV in exchange for Malam Pesta Muda Mudi, it was perhaps the most strategic move they've ever cast in their performing career. It has only been almost a month since the release of Drones so being just about in time for the album's promotion is kind of rewarding since amongst all the bands performing, they're the only one who has recently released a new album. It couldn't be any better than promoting it in the biggest concert series in Malaysia and also getting paid for doing so. For new drummer Adil, pressure was clearly nothing but a group of alphabets put together in a sequence. He rocked big time. Seeing Ham abusing a Fender Jaguar instead of his trademark Telecaster was quite a sight while it lasted. The only upset was Duan's flat delivery on "Brand New Number One" but the ferocious intimacy induced by "Chemicals" made his flaw almost forgettable.



I haven't had the slightest clue about The Hidden but my doubt of why did they get the 3rd last slot was cleared when I was told that they got their songs hitting Japan's airwaves. International acceptance? Perhaps. See, lately the eclectic Japs are high on either two kinds of genre. No-wave experimentalism or hard to consume (at times extremely ridiculous) metal/hard rock. I strongly felt that The Hidden's agenda falls under the latter. But providentially their sense of melodic urgency akin to Swedish metal music is relevant enough.

Then came the most unexpected line-up band since Exist. Cromok. This ol' school trash metal meisters made it clear to everyone (and Hillary Duff) that trash is so not yesterday. However, Hillary Ang couldn't make it so any hopes for the band churning out "Another You", their most melodic tune ever crafted to date were dashed. The moment "Journey" made its boisterous stomping to the ever-energetic crowd, you know that Cromok will continue to strive somewhere in the middle between mainstream and underground scene for many years to come.

Despite all the often negative accusations thrown at this hardworking band, being this series' headline act is a testimony that Disagree’s live stage prowess is something to be taken seriously. "Crumbs" lacked its commercial impact caused by the saxophone's mic failure only to be corrected a few seconds before the song ended. But that didn't stop the fans from punctuating the night's vast emptiness with swaying cigarette lighters. As if they were blessed with rock gods' smiles upon them, Jason Lo was invited on stage for a rabble-rousing rendition of Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" bringing the concert to a perfectly vigorous finale.

When everything subsided, we were left hanging around to wait for Faiz and his Aussie mates. So eventually we were introduced to Julie and this other kid (Sorry mate. Can’t recall your name) and went off. Faiz told us about how he was told by his mates that compared to Big Day Out, the crowd that we had was equal to their mosh pit. Not that I’m offended by that remark but it did ticked me off a bit that they didn’t contemplate the vital facts. The only think I can think of right now is the line-up itself. If we were to get the same line-up as Big Day Out, hell, there’ll be no way to occupy the colossal pack even if all stadiums in the country put together.

Though the ‘invasion’ ended half before midnight, we were obviously too late to catch the last Komuter ride back to Subang. The closest we could get was Kelana Jaya’s PUTRA terminal. Then came the act of the century: Walk all the way back to USJ. Literally. It was half past midnight and we’re pretty sure that judging by our speed and level of fatigue, we’d arrive home in time for Subuh. Efry, Khazim and I couldn’t take it any further so, just as we’re ascending the flyover interchange above the Federal Highway I pulled over a taxi and we headed straight to bed… errr, home.

Looking back, it was worth every drop of sweat. Will there be a Rock The World VI? Quoting Enya, “Who can tell, only time”.

Final verdict: Being freeloaders can be a good thing.

5J: Convergence01

For me, when it comes to defining life, it always boils down to this age-old question:

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Either which, there will always be a void to fill.

Last night the void was sealing a bit. It was 5 Jujur’s inaugural reunion after 2 years leaving Seafield behind as another chapter of life began to unfold for us. It was certainly, one of my most look-forward-to affairs post-secondary school.

Two weeks prior, I was told by Adam about Aliaa organizing it. It was kind of on a short notice, but it shouldn’t be an excuse for not attending. But already the fun factor was down by 2 since Hafeez had to attend class the next morning and Izzat had to train for a rugby meet with UKM.

Since Ibu was out of town, I had to ask E-Bub for a lift. So she swung by, we had a lil’ chit chat, and before I could embrace the coolness of her Kelisa’s air-conditioning, we’re there. The only people that we’re there the moment we arrived were obviously Aliaa, Sue Chin, Melissa, Imran and her girlfriend Hana. Desperately struggling to start the barbeque fire. Okay. It was only 8:30 p.m. Minutes later Adam showed up clad in the Starsucks t-shirt. As we were munching on French fries and fighting desperately to keep the barbeque fire from dead, Ninie, Sharifah, Intan and her beau Faris came much to our excitement (Seriously. It’d be dead bored with only 8 of us around) and their presence pretty much got the ball rolling. Earlier on, I tried to convince Din of coming but he said it all depended on the attendance. So while the rest were busy catching up, I gave him a buzz just to be sure that he’s coming. He had to. We insisted. Before we knew it, he walked through the gate with style and composure. Just like the Din we all know and love. It was quarter past 9 and frankly, the number of people that showed up was dismal. Somehow, someone got a hold of Haleem and again, he had to come. We clearly insisted. He came alright. He turned up dropped with such aplomb that it made us gleaming with hope that this gathering will prevail marvelously despite the poor turnout. Siew Lai initially couldn’t make it since she was (probably) under ‘restraining order’ by her parents. But after she -with the help of Melissa and Sue Chin- persuaded the folks, they went blitzing out of the lawn to pick her up, also joined by E-Bub.

Whoever said that ‘quality is better than quantity’ surely has stronger reasons to why he or she came up with that quote rather than the palpable rhyme factor. It’s actually true. Okay, so there were only 13 of us out of 44. Only a quarter it. But what made it fine was that it was the right crowd, the right mindset and the suitable atmosphere to compliment the overall vibe. Heck, with great food, nothing can go wrong.

Everyone had a pleasant time. Sue Chin would go around and ask every single one of us what we are up to lately, Melissa and Siew Lai would be busy ‘cleaning’ up Sue Chin’s uproarious antics, Din just couldn’t help himself but to tease Intan over and over again, me, E-Bub, Sharifah, Haleem and Ted just can’t stop tantalizing Misha Omar…oooppss! Ninie, Aliaa made sure that the good stuff (food!) kept on coming and Imran, well, busy with the missus. One of the funniest moments was when I kept on complaining about how can most of them forgot each other’s name and vice versa. They instantaneously counter-remarked my whining by collectively shouting, “Duh! You were the class monitor!” Ouch. My bad. Okay! Group photo!


Sorry Imran. You left too early!

Towards the end of the night, we unanimously made a vow to hold this reunion every two years. 2006 will (God-willingly) witness Convergence02 in Din’s place. As all of us left, not knowing what tomorrow has in stored for us, we knew that all in all, it was an amazing night. At least I do.

As I drove by past Aliaa’s house bidding farewell to others, it made me realize that it doesn’t matter if the glass is half full, or half empty. No one asks us to really think about it but in the end it does left us in befuddled-ness trying to find the significance of it all. Now that’s life.

Thanks to:

Aliaa – for the canny initiative, making the first step forward when everybody else’s running backwards.

Sue Chin, Melissa, Siew Lai, & Imran – for being sporting and top-class chefs for the night.

E-Bub & Din – for the lift.

Adam/Ted, Sharifah, Intan, & Ninie – for the much-needed company.

Haleem – for the gags.

Shite

Shit. Just found out that Mak's house was broken into this morning. In broad daylight. Unbelievable. The fucker(s) took away Ibu's and Nek Chu's luggage. Ibu's purse is in it, their passports, cellphone, ID, driving license and the all-important wedding ring. Major fuck-up. I've yet to know every single detail of how it happened but right now Ibu and Abg. Hisyam's is filing a police report. Probably they'll be back tomorrow.

"Don't worry now, don't worry now, don't worry coz' it's all under control"- Bandages by Hot Hot Heat

Hopefully.

Romance Postmarked Holiday

I believe I’m quite ‘ok’ at handling surprises but I’m always game for anything for that matter. This time around, the surprise was spending the weekend at Mak’s place in Taman Putri Wangsa, Johor Bahru. It was the kind of surprise that’ll make you dump your happening weekend city life in a heartbeat (If you have any, that is. Mine is on the brink of non-existence).

One of my (un)close-knit aunts is getting married in Singapore. Normally, all 4 (or 5, if Ayah tags along) of us would be fine traveling down south in one car. But since Mik and Nek Chu came on board, I had to play Kevin McAllister for a few days. With tuition in tow, I had nothing to complain. Besides, it’s only Singapore. I wouldn’t want to bore you with all the details so to pin things down; there I was in ol’ skool JB.

Yes, the wedding’s in Singapore but JB’s my drop-off point. Saturday in the city was quite ‘moody’ since the downpour just ceased. Gave Mawar a text just so to see whether she’s in campus or at home. Nope. No reply. Anyways, being a city bloke, I’m accustomed to the honking, the bumper-to-bumper and whatnot but here, it’s like having a nightmare when you’re awake. Sure, compared to KL, this is commercial hecticness at a smaller scale but the fact that it’s only a howl away from the ever-busy Causeway; it made the ridiculously-annoying traffic congestion in Pudu Raya looked like a bump on the road. Intimidating? You bet.

Aha. But my escapade was in Taman Putri Wangsa. A good 15 miles away from the too-frightening-to-be-real nightmare. My arrival was greeted with the kids shrieking, “Cik Pa’an datang! Cik Pa’an datang!” Ah, nothing like the voices of my beloved nieces and nephews to make my exhausting day memorable. All of them were surprised to see me since I wasn’t on the ‘guest list’ (Nice one, Kak Noli). Spending time seeing the everyday exploits of my nephew Haziq, is quite amusing since he epitomizes a ball of energy quite accurately. Pedal to the metal, all of it or none of it. When he was months old, he’d be always sitting on my lap, quietly observing everything and everyone around him. Very quiet. Not even goo-goo-gaa-gaas. But now at 6, it’s hard to get a hold of him unless he gets worn-out by all the blitzing and jumping around the house. See, to avoid all the shitty regulations set by the Singaporean government onto Malaysian cars entering the island, Ibu and the rest went in with a cab and left the Waja with Abg. Hisham. He doesn’t own a car. Not that’s bothering him much but knowing that he’s in possession of it for a few days, the kids couldn’t be any happier. It almost meant the world to them knowing that they could go anywhere. Even for the shortest amount of time. I then made a promise to myself to treat every single one of them to the nearby McDonald’s someday soon. They’ve given me so much joy. It’s the least I could do to make their childhood a meaningful phase in their life.

Sunday night, we’re invited to a kenduri by Pak Mat since he’s off performing the haj on the 15th. Pak Mat and wife, Cik Nor are into the satay business where they supply them to hawkers and restaurants around JB. They’re also a family friend since Pak Mat’s family was Mak’s closest neighbor in Taman Sri Pandan. Going back to Pandan after so many years has images of black and white memory flashing right in front of me. This was the place that I always looked forward to spend my school holidays eons ago. Strolling around the neighborhood looking for playmates was my favorite pastime. Speaking about playmates, Pak Mat has 5 kids. 2 of them were my closest buddies. Bedah and Zaid. Bedah’s a year older while Zaid’s a year younger which makes me; ‘the middle guy’. I like to point out that it’s a cool fact that I actually have a friend named Bedah. You only come across such name in Ujang, Gila-Gila and the likes of it. And her name is Zabedah so you can’t say that the ‘Bedah’ is made up. It’s authentic. Anyways, we played a lot of kiddie games together but the one I recall the most is badminton. What’s so unforgettable about our brand of badminton is that with the absence of racquets, we used pot lids instead. Inventive huh? Well someone who won the Nobel Prize did state that imagination is important than knowledge. So I did see them that night at the kenduri but not a word is uttered. 100 bucks says that they don’t even recognize me at all. Think again because you’ll lose. Hell, I’ve changed a lot for sure but I don’t think they have. Zaid still has the same hairstyle and that dorky look and demeanor, Bedah still bears that adorable grin of hers whenever she talks to someone and not forgetting her intoxicating giggle whenever something/someone cracked her up. Boy, has it really been that long? Those pot lids-shuttlecock-smashing days are sorely missed.

Before boarding the 11:30 a.m. bus back to KL, I gave another text to Mawar telling her that I was leaving. Moments after I bid farewell to Abg. Hisyam and kids, she called and ‘scolded’ me for not telling her earlier. She is at home. It then came to me that MMU students are still on holiday. Absent-minded me. We talked for a while and it ended with us exchanging regards for our families. It was nice hearing from her. It’s always a pleasant delight. She did say that she’s coming to KL somewhere around this week. Can’t wait.

The rest will be coming home tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’m still quite exhausted by all the traveling. By the way, I might be going to Rock The Word V after all. Great. I declare myself, already broke for the next 2 months.



“Cik Pa’an dah nak balik ke?”

Fast Forward: A Homage to Twothousandandfour

Even though we're nowhere near the jolly 'ol Christmas spirit yet, I can't help but to feel the sudden grief that this year is nearing its end. It has been a great year. A truly great year indeed. Met a whole bunch of fantastic people, done a whole lot of great stuffs, learned tons of exciting things, and most of all, it all sums up and made my life a one that is worthwhile to live.

Ah, 19. The ultimate year before you can kiss much of your extended 'child privileges' au revoir. Or in simpler terms, a quote from Alia.

"It's the last year that I am allowed to be a teenybopper!"

Oh once again, have fun with Cik Li. Be nice. Actually that quote doesn't really encapsulate the whole point of being a-blink-near the age of 20. Yes, you still a year short to have a say on whom or how you think the country should be governed but it should be an alright start to begin about thinking of what importance do you hold to this world. It's never too late. Agaetis bryjun.

When I was in high school, everything seems so obviously absurd. But in the same time fun as well. You have your daily activities planned out right through the whole year.

Wake up now, go to school, eat your lunch, go have fun, brush your teeth, go to sleep - Mutato Muzika by Couple

Most of us back then would often on a daily basis moan about how they can't wait to get out of the tragically un-hip school uniform and live the life they've always daydream about during Science class. Reality check: Being in school is better than anywhere else.

Seriously. This is cliché No. 1.

"Enjoy your school life. It's the best ever moment you'll ever possess. The one you'll look back to and get yourself lost down memory lane."

As desperate as we are to avoid clichés, this one is here to stay. How undeniably true. Reality is harsh. Harsh can be painful. Pain makes you feel alive. This is life. Live it up.

2004 made so many deep impacts in my life that even the dino-exterminator meteor felt like a soft pat on my lap. If this is an RPG, my EXP bar has probably burst for the umpteenth time. I felt like I was reborn. It all started in Part 2. Having En. Syam as a lecturer was one of the highlights in my academic voyage. While most students find his off-kilter teaching methods often unnecessary, redundant and at times; ridiculous, it was that same method that taught me the joy of education that has kept me going on till this day. Then came Mokh in the picture. Before, I was just one of his regular customers at his bedroom-cum-recording studio. Now, he's the one that I can proudly claim as a mentor. The guy that complimented us on our first session there with words that is truly significant.

"Sound korang macam Mogwai la.'"

Efry was there. Hafeez should remember about it. After all, he blew up the amp. Heh. And Mokh didn't charge a single cent for it. Kindness is a language that the blind can see, the numb can speak, and the deaf can hear. I was sold.

The 3-months semester break in March pretty much kicked things off. Efry -then Mokh's second-in-command- offered me a job. Mokh was organizing a charity gig in his backyard (which later turns out to be his front lawn. Long story) and an extra hand is needed. Did I hesitate? Hell no. What I thought would be a one-off thing eventually turns out to be my bread and butter for the whole 3-months. I didn't ask my parents for money. Not at all. For 90 days. Being Efry's workmate has FUN written all over it. We made sure that we took care of each other. Mostly to kill the boredom that was often inevitable (read: delayed gigs, excessive decibel-defying noise from hardcore bands, ignorant musicians who think of us as their bellboy). But none of that beats being under the tutelage of Mokh. He may be 28, but he is wise as Gandalf The White. Both I and Efry owe him our life. He saved us. Twice.

When Abg. Hisham came to help around in the house somewhere around May, I'd never in a lifetime thought we'd have the deep, profound, hour-long conversation in the back alley that sunny Thursday evening. He opened my eyes, yes. But sadly I'm still searching for what I'm supposed to look at.

That same 3-months had seen me getting involved in a propitious friendship. I met Fuzzy. We clicked instantly. Went through a whole lot of hits and shits together and the beauty of it is, till this very day; it remains platonic. She's responsible for lists of things that I've done. This blog is a testament to that. For that, I am very thankful. It's only been 9 months, but here's to many years to come. Cheers, Fuzzy.

Talking about this blog, it has become a de rigueur part of my everyday life. Addictive, infectious, contagious, you name it. And this is where another thread of amity is weaved. Alia Ali, Cik Li's eternal soul sista, made her debut in my comment box. Without a shred of doubt, she's the most independent person I've ever made contact with. She's what I like to claim "The Jane of All Trades". For an architecture student, she surely knows her life 'structure' very well. Being a music savvy multi-instrumentalist is to me, one of her many strong suits. She'll go far. Anywhere, but far. Killer. Yes guys, she's still available. Heh. Available but taken. Hmm...

Musically, it was one hell of a roller coaster ride. I've gone from a grunge upstart, to a Brit bleaker, to a full-fledged experimental/avant-garde hopeful, to an attempt to be an electro-rocker, and now, it's an amalgamation of a fragment of everything undergoing a valiant effort of fitting it all in a consumable pop format. Yeah, yeah. Call me a sell-out. It's my "intellectual property". I am allowed to do as I please. Surprisingly, I can write a number of decently-good pop song. In Malay. Neat. The chemistry with Hafeez has done wonders so far. I like what we have worked on to date. The collaboration with Alia might be short lived, but it was personally memorable to me. I was exposed to an array of possibilities that could be executed effortlessly which may result an invigorative outcome.

After 3 semesters, my meandering days in UiTM Perak was over. As this was explained recently, I wouldn't want to relive the thoughts. Not now. I chose to walk along the path of shoulder-high shrubs. The road not taken as Frost said it. I may walk through it alone. But I'll never be lonely.

It has been quite a jaunt. So many to thank, so little of a moment to express heartfelt gratitude.

Cliché No.2

"Live life to the fullest"

Reality check: There's nowhere to go.

Live it up.

The Awakening: Revenge Of The Platypus

"Ladies and gentlemen give it up for 'They Will Kill Us All'.."

2004 is yet to draw its curtain but I dare say that that was the quote of the year. Try reading it in a more sinister kind of way. You'll get me. In simpler terms (perhaps in my twisted terms that is), "Applaud them! We're dying anyways!". Clever. Oh, it was from the words of Mr. Jason Lo on the second season finale of Latte@8 last Thursday. They Will Kill Us All is actually a moniker for the guest band of the night. Have you ever heard of them? Possibly, they're new to the scene but the band member(s) are obviously not. Edwin's in it. He was with O@G the last time I saw him, gracing the cover of ROTTW. The (psycho) bassist looked familiar and the drummer has an eerie resemblance to Kalai (could it be him?). Their music is o.k.

RM 16.00

Yup. That was the amount of cash that costs all 8 of us to get to KL yesterday. Yes, ALL 8 of us. Me, Faiz, Efry, Dee, Apai, Picq, Rhue and Izwa. For those who know me well, I almost get people phobic when going out with more than 4 people. You know, 2's a company, 3's a crowd, 4's a family. I kinda live up to it. But 8?! Slump in another schmuck and we'll be your local Slipknot anyday. And me being the oldest (and the biggest, and the one with the shortest hair, and the one with the most off-beat dressing style, and....), I felt like a school teacher on a field trip right smack in the middle of Kuala Lumpur. Faiz was the reason we drag ourselves there and Dee, Izwa, Efry, and Apai was the cause for us to arrive home past midnight. Wayyy past midnight. When it comes to shopping for wardrobes, they're worse than a typical female shopaholic. Insane. So Faiz was intimidated by the crispy clear-ness of Fender's American Telecaster. He was planning on getting one. Bummer. But I got my eyes fixed on an erhu in Woh Fat. It's only RM 105. I've been longing to play/incorporate it in my pieces/own one the moment I fell in love with it's Oriental vibe it transcends. I will get it. And figure out how to play the goddamn thing later. Anyways, I experienced new things:

::- Paying my debut visit at Woh Fat.

::- My first taste of Times Square

::- Funky first ride on the KL Monorail

Flabbergasted fun.



Hafeez swung by a few hours ago for a quick visit on his way home from Terengganu. Good news, folks. Into Wherever... is back, up and running. It's a typical meeting. Same issue, same topic, different day. See, I mentioned about being 'the one with the shortest hair'. Hafeez and a number of other relatives/friends/contact kept commenting, "Oh, stail rambut baru ye?". It's funny. The haircut I'm donning now is exactly the same one I've been sporting for the past 13 years of my life. And they claim it as "stail rambut baru". Heh. Irony 101 is in session everyone.



This is me way back in Part 1. Circa October of '03. I decided to trade the look for something like.....



...this. This is my hair at its longest ever. In the campus library two days before I was 'apprehanded' by examination officials right after the LAW240 paper. After approximately 8 months of sporting a hairstyle that requires the hair to be more than 2 inches long, I went back to my 'roots' and.....



...this is me now. My parents like it. They've always like it. Says I look more presentable this way. Ah, well. Hair grows. They come and go.


Had a peek at Fuzzy's a moment ago. Nice new layout. She wrote this heartfelt entry. It felt like a tribute. An ode. To me. Geez. Am I all that? Kudos to Shorty as well. You're the 'B' in bomb. Both of it.

Rindu banget sama lo Fuzzy. Kita kan ketemu jua nanti. Bila mentari mula mengerti erti kedelapan....

Perlis won the coveted Piala Malaysia. Syabas no...

Hey!

So.

I haven't had the chance to fully re-cap what has been going on lately. This will take a while.

Well, obviously Ramadhan has ended. But this time around it happen to be the most significant Ramadhan in my life (and others, nonetheless).

1. The Tak Bai Massacre.

2. The U.S Presidential Elections (Which saw Mr. Bush reigning the office yet again. Will there be a follow-up to Fahrenheit 9/11? Will it be named Celsius 7/11?).

3. The passing of an icon that is Yasser Arafat (Al-Fatihah).

4. SevenCollar T-Shirt released their sophomore album Drones.

5. My dismissal from UiTM.


Yeah. Pretty dramatic ain't it?

I wouldn't want to 'unleash' all the nitty gritty details but it's safe to say that I've made an appeal, and will start tuition on Monday so I could get a head start if my appeal receives the nod.


Now.

Right. How's my Raya you ask? It's one of the most relieving moments I've ever had in recent years. Going back to JB was a brilliant escapade. Seeing my nieces and nephews all grown up, running around in haphazard patterns chasing each other's shadows, hearing their laughs and high-pitched screams whenever a horror/ghost flick is on is nothing but therapeutic. It'll be a cliche if I were to claim that they've remind me of how's life suppose to be lived. But they did just that.

I just got back from campus yesterday. Squatted there for 4 days (including last Thursday and Friday) hanging out with the guys for (possibly) the last time. Went beraya at Afiq's on Tuesday. Not only did I fill my vacant tummy, I bagged 6 brilliant track off of The Dissociatives debut courtesy of Kazaa. Back in the block, Boy has yet again failed to disappoint me. He always made sure that the goods kept on coming. Thanks to him I'm now a proud owner of The Times' Soda Pop Rok 'N' Roll days before it hits stores nationwide (it was released on November 30th) , Head Automatica's Decadence, Interpol's Antics, The Velvet Teens' Out Of The Fierce Parade and a compilation of various unreleased materials, and cool video clips/live footage from Sparta, Head Automatica, My Chemical Romance and Death Cab For Cutie. I'm gonna miss trading music files with you, bro.


It's been a while since I met Fuzzy. We didn't even met while I waste my (possibly) last days in Bote. So I spent the last night there trading heartfelt text with her. I think we're being ridiculously sad and all as if we won't be seeing each other anymore but it was, sad.

Thanks to these guys, this is perhaps, the best summation of what I really want to say to my Bote mates.

The Boohoorah Theory - SevenCollar T-Shirt

Hey friends,
Don't you know,
I'm alive and well...

Don't you worry,
I'm not sorry about,
Anything I've done...

I'm not taken aback...

I'm not worried,
Don't feel sorry about,
Anything...

I'm not looking for sympathy...

I'm not looking for sympathy...

I'm not looking for sympathy...

In my silence,
I have learned...

In my silence,
I have learned...

I have learned...


Shhhh...

Fuh. That's that. I'm out. Catch you guys later.