Welcome back to Underground Hum, oh you beautiful indie geeks you. As always, thanks for the feedback. This edition of Main Stage is going to be a little different than the ones you're used to, because instead of talking about one band, we'll be talking about a newly released local netlabel compilation featuring some of the coolest net-released bands out there. Now, let's get started.

Main Stage

By now, most of you are probably familiar with the netlabel concept, which is to provide a medium of expression and distribution for artists on the internet through what is called a Creative Commons License. The Creative Commons License allows people all over the world to download music by these netlabel artists for personal use at no charge, while anyone who wants to use the music for commercial use must then pay a small fee.

A few weeks ago (in UH Reverb Sunday May 4), the good Mr. Ari Ernesto P introduced you to Yes No Wave Music, a Yogja-based netlabel that has been providing a podium for local artists to speak from for the last two years.

Recently on May 25, the supercool and peachy keen guys at YNM have released their second annual compilation called Music Beyond No Borders Vol. 2. This compilation works as a decent sampler of music YNM has, still is, and will be releasing. Vol. 2 works off one very vast platform, which is "rock music". The bands compiled in Vol.2 provide various examples, experimentations, and explorations of that genre and beyond; be it surf rock, drone metal, death metal meets 8-bit chiptuning, electro-deathrock, down to your basic old buddy: the college indie-rock song.

Here's a track-by-track breakdown and quick bites to give you hints on what to expect of the compilation:

"Gravedigger 69" by Gravedigger A powerful kick-start to this compilation featuring roaring and rolling thunderous guitars, steady drumbeats over a cloud of effects and distortions, and punk-esque lackadaisical vocals.

"Wild Seahorses" by Southern Beach Terror A too cool for school surf-rock anthem filled to the brim with all the requirements of a good surf rock tune: calm cool swaggering guitars that stroll on like a gunslinger through swinging saloon doors looking for a fight, flirtatious drum beats and cymbal play, and plenty of crowd-rousing yells."Nervous Breakdown" by Shure 5 A short and densely-packed hardcore/metal screamer that opens with manic electronic blips and beeps before unraveling in pure unadulterated mayhem.

"Hymn for a Friend in the Sky" by J. Irwin A nice little pop-rock ditty with smart bluesy guitar-work that flirts with light pentatonic touches over dreamy organs, and laid-back sing-along vocals that'll reside in your head by the 2nd verse is brought to you by this member of Brit-rock inspired dream-pop collective Bangkutaman taken from his solo EP of the same title.

"Kecuali Mengenang Betismu, Oh Sembadra" by Sungsang Lebam Telak The very first Indonesian act featured on Underground Hum: Main Stage. These certifiably insane Bandung-based Jazz-mutilators are definitely one of the most interesting and worth-catching local bands out there. The piece included in this compilation is a psychotic piano and drum dance of seduction like I've never heard before.

"I'm With You" by Risky Summerbee & The Honeythief What starts out as a nice little poppy walk in the park quickly turns into a mad psychedelic ride of screaming guitars, manic drums, and bulldozing basslines before landing back into tranquility. A rollercoaster of a tune.

"Redicovering Atlantis" by Bla Bla Blast A persistently loud and in your face sonic blast of screams, hammering guitars, and frantic chiptuning/pitchbending beeps and blips. Definitely one of the strongest and most memorable pieces in the compilation, it takes you on a high that is almost impossible to come down from.

"Astral Altar" by Serigala Jahanam An intriguing although slightly longish drone-metal tune that plays quite nice with the contrast of low-tempo guitar work over growling vocals. All served with a thick haze of distortions.

"Side of a Day" by Evely Candy Machine A pleasant ambient electronic piece with calm steady beats, a lot of phasing, and a nice dreamy coat over everything.

"When Women Congregate" by Shorthand Phonetics A nifty little instrumental piano piece by this Bandung-based multi-instrumentalist, med student, and Underground Hum: Main Stage alumn. A very playful yet lively composition that will definitely get stuck in your head for at least two days straight.

"Merah" by JimboDivine A dreamy and uplifting synth-rock piece featuring steady drum beats that roll on forward like a steel train underscoring the inspirational lyrics and the chorus-like vocal arrangements.

You can download the entire album for free at http://www.yesnowave.com/albums/yesno013.htm. Be sure to also check out the full albums by some of the bands included in the compilation that are also available on the site.

That about does it for this week's Underground Hum. Be good now, children!

-- Paul F. Agusta

If you have any questions, suggestions, praises or curses just send us a note at undergroundhum@yahoo.com

For all of you indie bands or artists out there, let us know if you have a gig coming up so we can include it in future editions of reverb. Be sure to include the name of the event you're playing, what other acts are billed, time, place, date, and entry fee if any.

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