Rock legends make comeback for tsunami victims<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several rock legends have recorded new material for an album that
\nwill be sold to raise funds for the survivors of the tsunami in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
Singer Ahmad Albar and guitarist Ian Antono from veteran prog-
\nrock outfit God Bless, Eki Lamoh, the vocalist of heavy metal
\ngroup EdanE, singer-guitarist Mus Mujiono and female rockers Ita
\nPurnamasari and Mel Shandy recently went into a studio and
\nrecorded 12 songs for the album Kedamaian (Peace), which was
\nreleased on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Albar said the album was an effort on the part of the
\nmusicians to assist the people in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"This is the least we can do to help the tsunami victims. I
\nhope it will have some meaning,\" he said during the album's
\nlaunch at the Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Albar's band, the now-defunct God Bless, was one of the
\ncountry's biggest rock acts in its day. The band, a cross between
\nVan Halen, Yes and Genesis, made its name with hits like Huma di
\nAtas Bukit (House on the Hill) and Semut Semut Hitam (Black
\nAnts). Antono helped shape the band's sound with his histrionic
\nguitar playing.<\/p>\n
The producer of Kedamaian, Reynold S. of 803FR production,
\nsaid a portion of the album's sales would be donated to tsunami
\nsurvivors in Aceh.<\/p>\n
He said the album was sure to be a hit with music fans eager
\nto hear new material from these rock legends. \"They are more
\nmature musicians and that is an added value.\"<\/p>\n
Released by Warner Music Indonesia, the album is packed with
\nmiddle-of-the-road rock songs and a couple of harder rocking
\ntunes that stand out in a market saturated with three-chord rock
\nsongs with squeaky clean production.<\/p>\n
The songs composed by Antono, soulful rock ballads backed by
\nimpressive guitar work, are among the highlights of the album.
\nThe opening track, Adakah Kedamaian (Will There Be Peace),
\ncaptures the anguish felt by disaster victims with its wailing
\nguitar line and weeping piano.<\/p>\n
The second track, Gelombang Tsunami (Tsunami Wave), also
\ncomposed by Antono, features an angelic choir that will give you
\ngoose bumps.<\/p>\n
Lyricist Nugroho Suksmanto penned all the lyrics for the
\nalbum, which were later given to individual artist to work with.
\nAlthough the tsunami provided the impetus for the album, Nugroho
\nexplored other issues such as corruption, environmental
\ndegradation and terrorism.<\/p>\n
The performers were then given the freedom to interpret the
\nlyrics, consisting mostly of pompous and sloganistic statements.<\/p>\n
If not for the superb arrangements by Antono, the album could
\nsimply fall into the category of muzak in the accompaniment of a
\npublic service announcement.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rock-legends-make-comeback-for-tsunami-victims-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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