When it comes to leaving a legacy behind, no one bites harder than Jakarta-based alternative rock titans Efek Rumah Kaca (ERK).

This particular light trained on ERK as a, for lack of a better term, legendary Indonesian band goes beyond whether they have a legacy or not. They do. But, how long can they maintain it?

Before primary songwriter and vocalist Cholil effectively put ERK on a semi-hiatus (former bassist Adrian, current basis Poppy and drummer Akbar still play shows in his absence) by deciding to continue his studies in the US, ERK left a pretty huge mark on Indonesia’s independent scene; lasting from 2007 to 2015 and with only three LPs to their name, Efek Rumah Kaca is a band you’ve heard of, whose songs are trapped in your head, whose voices linger even when the music stops playing.

In other words, they do and will continue to mean something to those listening.

Which also includes those who go on to play music, and they’re the reason why we’re here.
Tribute to Efek Rumah Kaca, a free 14-track compilation LP curated by Ripstore Asia and Creative Commons Indonesia, pulls together submissions of covers by aspiring, largely unrecognized musicians via Soundcloud.

Writing about (or, for that matter, listening, although the impact is less noticeable) cover records extends beyond the language of mimicry; it has less to do with emulating any schtick from the original musicians and more to do with interpretation.

And like most cover LPs, Tribute to ERK triumphs just as much as it suffers; you may pick a couple of favorites and may dispose of the rest. Most of the bum notes from this record stem from the overindulgence of the artists involved: “Sebelah Mata” (The Other Eye) made by newcomer Antartika x Sociophonic turns ERK’s gut-wrenching lament into an electronic affair; it’s a step closer to a parody of the song. The first version of “Laki-laki Pemalu” (Shy Boys) by Salma Nurul is also a cute, but ultimately mediocre, folk-pop cut.

The funny thing is that I don’t even care that these songs aren’t good. They’re still pretty much respectful and what’s even admirable from them — and this project as a whole, too — is the audible love of the band; a continued reminder of ERK’s legacy, the “yes” answer to the “do they have it or not?” question. Please keep this in mind as I begin to write about the great songs on this LP.

No surprise, there are plenty of them. The one-two punch of “Cipta Bisa Dipasarkan” (Creation Can Be Marketed) by Puti Chitara (of Barasuara fame) boasts some hauntingly gorgeous dream-pop dirge, and “Kamar Gelap” (Dark Room) by newcomer Elliona excels at turning ERK’s notable minimalistic pop music into an even more minimalistic tune merely armed with crackling synths and her quiet vocals.

Musically, “Kau dan Aku Menuju Ruang Hampa” (You and Me to the Vacant Space), sung by Fiersa Besari, is the closest this record gets to emulating ERK’s sound and its indie rock edges.

“Menjadi Indonesia” (To Be Indonesian) by Hamzah Bagja Kusuma fittingly incorporates Sundanese folk music into a muted but otherwise pleasant song.  “Di Udara” (In the Air) by Karnivulgar is the LP’s most experimental cut. By stripping the song to rough record-scratches and makeshift percussion, it’s one of the more remarkable songs in the compilation. As is the musically adventurous “Jangan Bakar Buku” (Don’t Burn Books) by Jionara.

By reckoning with ERK’s legacy, these musicians have carved out their own sounds and it’s all thanks to the guys who did it the first time around. When it comes to leaving a legacy behind, no one bites harder than Efek Rumah Kaca, but don’t we already know this?

— Stanley Widianto

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