Since it launched on 1 October, our Junksounds Awards 2009 has been gathering up a volcanic mass of votes from all over the region and beyond. At last count, we reached 100,000 votes in a span of a month! It's certainly been beneficial for our South East Asian nominees, who've gotten exposed to a whole larger audience from across the globe (at least we'd like to think so, heh). Find out what makes some of these musical phenoms so special by listening to their tracks right here on our Compilation #1 & #2!
Like a colossus rising from the ocean depths, Filipino alt-rockers Archipelago carve out towering rock faces with a kind of medieval vigour. From their debut album Travel Advisory comes this swirling, crunching single that should make Lifehouse aficionados feel all gooey inside.
In a world where geeks rule, The Dorques have gleefully extended the nerd kingdom into hipster indie realms. 'Supercool', taken from this Filipino quartet's self-titled debut, struts through the hallways with bubbling synths, gawky Spanish lyrics and frontgal Nina Beltran's wide-eyed coos. Bow down to geek power, yo.
Fervour and frailty gush out in equal measure in 'Euphony', the defining single for one of Malaysia's indie pop breakouts of 2009. The six-piece act has been around for six years, but as this year proves, the waiting game to fame can sometimes be very worth playing.
www.myspace.com/lovesickavenue
With four members hailing from three countries, Tilu find common ground in their shared love for jazz, funk and pop, plus the uncanny ability to unite it all into a delectable soundscape for lovers to snuggle and snog to. Why can't we all get along this well?
Singapore's fresh-faced band factory pops out another gang of nubile young chaps with savvy emo chops. That's always a potent combo, and Audiocean demonstrate that rock-slanted karate is best dished out with plenty of power chords. Haaai-yah!
Rumour has it that Killeur Calculateur are the darling band of Malaysia's modelling community. That means that (a) Models like zombie movies, (b) Melinda Looi's 2010 collection will feature stop-start catwalk struts, (c) we're so bringing our cams to their next gig, and (c) long live the underdogs.
www.myspace.com/killeurcalculateur
It has not been the smoothest of years for Malaysia's They Will Kill Us All, with frontman Fizul leaving the band. Yet all that tumult only amplifies the stunning desperation of 'Curtains'. Plus, the band now has a new singer, and new songs. And it's a new year. Bring it on.
'Tis the season for the ascendance of Malaysian post-hardcore bands, and Asthalin are certainly one of the country's shining stars. From their EP Ability Of Being Cruel comes this moshpit monster, with a title that probably won't go on Christmas cards anytime soon. Ho ho ho.
"Mummy, what is 'udon'?" asked Timmy. "It is a kind of Japanese noodles, son," replied Mummy, beaming with pride at her son's growing love for foreign languages. "Oh ok," replies Timmy. Silence. "Mummy, what is 'bukkake'?" Mummy stopped what she was doing. Silence. "Eat your noodles, boy."
www.myspace.com/astroninjarock
It took a while, but Thailand's terrific threesome finally released their debut album Under Skin this year. And from that supercharged release comes third single 'Electricity', which doubles the voltage via chord chugs and blistering drum work, yet never forsakes its melodic centre.
In the distant future, Singapore scientists will discover a way to power the entire country by harnessing the raw energy spewing out of the gazillion emo bands that populate the island. When that happens, we reckon 'Mirrors' should be more than sufficient to light up all those Pasir Ris apartment blocks on its own.
Malaysia's Estranged may remember 2009 as the year they shared stage time with rock royalty such as Korn, Anberlin, Kasabian and The All-American Rejects. Or, they might just remember it as the year when they finally got haircuts. Either way, it's been a good year.
With three chart-topping singles, company sponsorships and a music video launched on a Boeing 777, Malaysia's Pesawat deserve multiple props for reaping what their hard work has so painstakingly sown. 'Excuse Me' needs no pardoning for its lofty ambitions. Here's to infinity, and beyond.
Malaysia's Arcade Fire? Not too shabby a comparison, and one that Malaysia's definitive buzz band will gladly take. The ten-piece outfit have garnered a solid reputation as transcendent live performers, but 'Woo Song' is fully capable of invoking goose bumps without any visual aids, thanks very much.
After many months of hot-blooded anticipation, Singapore's next big thing finally cut a full-length this year. And from Henri (an album about a bear) comes this breezy jaunt that sashays through the afternoon sun with a buggy-full of horns in tow. It's a great time to be a bear.
www.myspace.com/thefirefightsg
Singapore post-rock stable Kitty Wu Records unleashed another band upon us in 2009, and Lunar Node were only too happy to cast their ambient afterglow for all to bask beneath. The five lads are barely 20 years old, yet already string out some well-aged melodies that should stay fresh through the changing seasons.
If you're not properly acquainted with Faspitch, then listening to 'Follow' would scarcely suggest these are actually one of the Philippines' definitive hardcore acts. But such is the versatility of the quintet that even as the growls are suppressed, the belly-bursting fire isn't. And never will be, damn it.
At just under four minutes, 'Invisible Room' is the second shortest song in The Observatory's fourth album Dark Folke. That tells us two things we already knew: (a) miserable music works equally well in bite sizes and (b) music like this proves that happiness is way overrated.
www.myspace.com/theobservatoryband
