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Album Review: Sorrow sound from Tigapagi
Roekmanaâs Repertoire: (Courtesy of Tigapagi)Bandung-based indie folk band Tigapagi has delved into Sundanese pentatonic rhythm to refine its chamber pop parade
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Roekmanaâs Repertoire: (Courtesy of Tigapagi) (Courtesy of Tigapagi)
Roekmana's Repertoire: (Courtesy of Tigapagi)
Bandung-based indie folk band Tigapagi has delved into Sundanese pentatonic rhythm to refine its chamber pop parade.
In its newly released debut album, Roekmana's Repertoire, the band's sound is infused with an Elliott Smith-ish down-tempo style complete with sorrowful string play like that of Antonio Carlos Jobim or Percy Faith. The result is a classic sound that resembles very subtle keroncong and Spanish folk tunes.
The three-piece band is influenced by both classic and modern styles. Lyricist-vocalist Sigit Pramudita is a 1990s grunge lover while guitarists Eko Sakti and Promadian Febrianto are into classical music from Beethoven and Mark Morton.
The whole album is presented as one track, with each song's ending representing the beginning of another. The pattern keeps repeating until the last minutes of the album, which the group said illustrated the cycle of life and death in reincarnation.
The whole album is associated with eternal sleep or death, which is reflected in the closing track 'Tertidur' (Fall Asleep). Other songs warranting a mention are 'Tangan Hampa Kaki Telanjang' (Empty Hands Bare Feet), 'Birthday' and 'Vertebrate Song'.
People will be keen to listen to 'Batu Tua' (Old Stone) as the centerpiece of the album.
Guest female vocalist Ida Ayu Made Paramita Saraswati on the song 'Nada Fiksi' (Fiction Note) shows off a heavenly yet eerie voice that emulates Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries.
Another vocal talent enriching this album is the appearance of Cholil Machmud of Efek Rumah Kaca in 'Pasir' (Sand), Ade Paloh of Sore in 'Alang-Alang' (Grassland) and Ajie Gergaji of The Milo in 'Tertidur.' These master lyricists inspired Sigit's songwriting style, especially linguistically.
The band was initially recognized for the song 'Menari' (Dancing), which was chosen in the LA Lights Indiefest 2008 Top Ten List. The same song was selected as the Favorite Folk/Country song at the Indonesia Cutting Edge Music Awards (ICEMA) in 2010.
A week before the release of Roekmana's Repertoire, the band issued its first single 'Alang-Alang' on Sept. 24, which was also National Farmers Day. The song is about a longing for the country's victory as an agricultural nation.
Some of the band's music can be listened to on soundcloud.com/tigapagi/.
