UrbanWireBy Dinesh Ajith
Our local gaze tends to be directed at foreign artistes like Lady Gaga, The Click Five and a whole slew of Korean groups, rather than homegrown acts. Indian Head Massage, launched at Home Club on Sep 17, however, is as refreshing and invigorating as it sounds and has the potential to have us looking inwards to the same scene that birthed fine bands like Electrico and The Fire Fight.
Indie rock and power pop band TypeWriter isn’t new. Formed almost 10 years ago, the line-up has gone through various changes over the years but you may recognise some of the current members such as frontman Yee Chang Kang from Ordinary People, guitarist Patrick Chng (The Oddfellows), bassist Desmond Goh (Electrico) and drummer Redzuan Hussin (Force Vomit).
Their debut offering, Indian Head Massage, is a 10+8-track, 2-disc music fix that is testament that they’ve weathered the good and the bad to deliver quality music with honest lyrics and catchy melodies that you can bob your head and sing along to.
The album opens with “Sunlight Takes Over”, which sets the scene for the rest of the album with its unique, cheerful sounding violin melody. Chang Kang’s hopeful vocals speak of carefree days under the sun and sheer reckless abandon – “You can go where you want in the sun, all the colours start to run down.”
This first track already is a clear example of beautiful, heartfelt songcraft and sets a high bar for the rest of the album.
“That Deepest Blue” is probably the catchiest song and unsurprisingly, the first radio single off the album. Vocals and each instrument manage to shine through without overpowering the others, making it an instant classic and quite possibly one of those songs you’ll end up putting on repeat.
Standout tracks also include “Enemy”, a fun, pop rock anthem with a catchy guitar riff. “Cry So Well” comes immediately after, kicking in with acoustic chords and moody vocals. Most remarkable in this track is the trumpet in the background, something you don’t hear so often in local rock music, possibly because this isn’t an instrument many people play here.
“Details”, featuring Ken Stringfellow, showcases the band’s rare talent of blending rock’s machismo with apologetic, love-drunk lyrics, like “Maybe I have pushed things too far? Sorry I broke your heart”.
While many local bands struggle to differentiate themselves from their compatriots, TypeWriter easily cuts through the clutter with their light hearted pop-rock melodies and willingness to experiment with atypical instruments like violins and trumpets that aren’t often found in contemporary rock music.
Fans will be doubly grateful for the Extra Service CD, a showcase of the band’s sonic evolution over the years. If you’re looking for a interesting band to ease yourself into the local music scene, Indian Head Massage is a stunning example of honest, passionate local music done right.
Ratings: ★★★★✩
Title: Indian Head Massage
Artist: TypeWriter
Language: English
Record Label: Universal
Release Date: 20 August 2010
Genre: Power Pop, Indie Rock
Tracklist:
Indian Head Massage (Disc 1)
- “Sunlight Takes Over”
- “Enemy”
- “Cry So Well”
- “That Deepest Blue”
- Where To Go?”
- ”Details”
- “Kinda Lost”
- “Sour”
- “Every Nite”
- “Beautiful Knows”
Extra Service (Disc 2)
- “Your Window”
- “For Your Everything”
- “Slow Motion”
- “The F Song”
- “Hospital Nurses”
- “So Tired”
- “We Just Got Here”
- “Burn Baby Burn”