Bangkutaman : Reissuing an old album on Record Store Day

Jakarta-based indie-pop band Bangkutaman is celebrating International Record Store Day by releasing their old album on CD.

Love Among the Ruins was actually released sometime back in the long tale of Bangkutaman. The band created a big buzz after this album released. Yogyakarta was its home at the time and the music managed to steal positive attention outside the city.

The original version was released solely on cassette in 2003 through Blossom Records, the indie label of the band’s close friend, which made a massive contribution to the Yogyakarta scene.

Now, a decade after, the band decided to make the album available again for fans.

“I always remember how obsessed I was with The Stone Roses at that time. I’m happy with this album being available again for fans,” says guitarist J. Irwin, who’s heavily influenced by John Squire, The Stone Roses’ guitarist.

“Both me and ‘Acum’ [Wahyu Nugroho, bassist/vocalist] were boys who wanted to conquer the world with this album back in the day. We were so naughty and after nine years, it’s actually a good ride back home to when we were stubborn enough as boys,” he says.

Love Among the Ruins was a bold mark of a generation. The jangly guitars mixed well with wild crowds and Lapen, Yogyakarta’s old-fashioned liquor. They are the ones who introduced stage diving at an indie-pop gig.

“I stole my college money for this record,” says Acum. “But then, if you want to know what Bangkutaman looked like before Ode buat Kota (Ode for the City), you all should listen to this album.”

Irwin adds, “Those were hard days and we tried real hard to play in other cities. Trashy words are there, often found with daily lives on the road with friends. But yeah, that really put something in us.”

The band now almost has the same line-up as with the Love Among the Ruins era. The only difference is that they now have a permanent keyboardist, Madava. Drummer Dedyk Irianto was also on the record.

For nostalgia, “Kabut” (Mist) from the album got some play on MTV Indonesia with an extremely blurry video clip, shot at Kaliurang in Yogyakarta.

The band will reissue the album on International Record Store Day, which will take place this Sunday.

There is also a record-release party at the Monka Magic Store, Kemang Raya in South Jakarta tonight, with performances from indie-pop comrades the Ballads of the Cliché, Dear Nancy and Astrolab.

The event should stick in people’s memory because the record is being released in an intimate gig. If you have some time, please come.

— Felix Dass

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