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Introducing.... KEKAL 2D Representative!
Since the departure of all band members last year, Kekal struggled to find a representative who will act as a "band photo" on the new album, replacing 3 former members. Former Kekal bassist-turned-coffee-enthusiast Levi Sianturi then constructed a 2D illustration, and after few hundred cups of premium coffee and many hours spent in Starbuck's table he came out with a thought-provoking piece of art representing Kekal as a band. This 2D Representative is not a traditional "band mascot" but purely depicts Kekal as an active entity and energy albeit without official members. But there is a problem: it needs a NAME!
Now it's your turn to suggest a name for Kekal 2D Representative!
Join/like Kekal on Facebook and suggest a name. Selected winner will get a package of 3 KEKAL CDs including the new album once it's released! Submissions will be accepted until September 30, 2010. Visit HERE to see the 2D Representative and submit a name for it.
Press Release: Upcoming KEKAL Album Title, Cover Art, and Track Listing announced!
Album Title: 8
Track Listing:
01. Track One
02. Gestalt Principles of Matter Perception
03. A Linear Passage
04. Tabula Rasa
05. Private School of Thought
06. The Regulars
07. Departure Gate 8
08. Heartache Memorial
09. Let Us Blend
10. Open World
11. End Unit of The Universe
Name of record label, release date, and additional details will be announced soon.
"8", the eight full-length album from Kekal is a collection of thoughts and emotions blended together into a unique yet bold statement. Each song displays its character as a balance between electronic and organic elements, rhythm and melody, aggression and atmosphere, simplicity and complexity, beauty and the beast. With "8", Kekal redefines the term 'experimental' in its true sense, but yet listeners will find the entire album accessible and digestible.
Description from Jeff about the songs:
Gestalt Principles of Matter Perception
"Gestalt Principles of Matter Perception" is one of the first songs I wrote for the new album, and it has a lyrical message about the importance of seeing the world (and life) in a bigger picture to get a clearer understanding.. The term itself came from Gestalt psychology that says "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts".. Musically (or sonically), this song has a different structure and almost experimental in terms of putting the elements together. While it combined electronic sounds (synth, fx, samples, etc.) with the organic instruments such as guitar and drums (and vocals), they were not performed in a traditional way.. Guitars were only performed to create ambient effects and percussive sounds rather than being played to make melodies or chords, and the main 'riffs' were actually performed by heavily-amplified analog synthesizers (believe me, they sound sicker and thicker than any metal distorted guitar would sound). I think this song is easily the heaviest Kekal song, and probably one of the heaviest songs ever produced..
A Linear Passage
"A Linear Passage" is the first song that was written originally for the Kekal after "Audible Minority" sessions, before I decided to step out of the band.. I started working on it about March 2009, by collecting samples and found-sounds with my portable digital recorder.. The main concept of the song is about moving forward to one aim or direction, and that there is no turning back.. The song structure, of course, represents the whole concept of moving forward, so there is no 'verse-chorus-verse-chorus' stuff, no sectional repetition in guitar riffs, melody structure, and even the vocal lines.. The musical atmosphere is similar to an experience being in the space-ship, and you will feel some Star Trek vibe by listening to the song: very futuristic, spacey, odd (or space oddity - ground control to major Tom?), and a little bit complex arrangement with some extra poly-rhythmic interchange between the elements during the mid-section..
Tabula Rasa
"Tabula Rasa" is probably one the catchiest songs I've ever written.. It has all the groove, hooks and sensibility of what you call "pop music" (man, I don't like this term), and all the electronic and organic elements interact very well.. Lyrically, it's about mankind's free will, and that all decisions would lead to their consequences.. nothing to do with the computer game!
Watch on Youtube, official music video from the new song "Tabula Rasa":
Private School of Thought
"Private School of Thought" has a more specific theme.. It's inspired by a true story, a bit tragic one I must say (depending on which stance you are looking from).. Based around confusion in life, it led towards something that I would call it a sad mistake, but everything was seemingly well-thought, superbly-organized, and packed with a conviction.. But all of a sudden, everything was broken down into unimaginable aftermath.. Musically, it is fairly organic, basic and simple; some bluesy, dark and heavy mid-paced song that leans toward stereotypical heavy-rock.. I used my acoustic-electric guitar for all the guitar tracks.. It sounds s(l)icker than the solid body electric guitars to be honest..
The Regulars
This one is a relatively short (less than 3 minutes) experimental piece which rely heavily on electronics.. While this song might have some relation with other short instrumental pieces from the past Kekal albums ("Healing", "Paradigma Baru", or "Romantika Destruksi"), "The Regulars" doesn't have any traditional instruments being performed.. Most of the sounds were captured by my portable digital recorder during regular commuting by bus and LRT train to/from work (believe me I got many interesting sounds), and then I got them cleaned, chopped, and transformed into something that make more sense musically.. The only 'traditional' instrument used is an amp-ed grand piano performance that was sampled few years ago.. Fans of Autechre might dig this I suppose..
Departure Gate 8
The song was built around the guitar riffs written and performed by Leo, and it took me more than 6 months to complete.. This was one of the toughest songs I've ever written in the last few years both musically and lyrically, particularly because it says more about the story of Kekal and a need for its own departure from the bondage of the band's historical past.. The beats were assembled upon listening to artists such as Horace Andy and Curtis Mayfield, so it drew influences from them to some degree especially to the rhythmical groove and feel, but without making it stylistically to become either reggae or funk.. The production is intentionally raw and harsh, and it fits perfectly with the theme..
Heartache Memorial
Almost similar with the song "Departure Gate 8", "Heartache Memorial" was initially shaped around Leo's performances which are a couple guitar riffs, a guitar melody line, and a vocal line taken from his own song.. The atmosphere is quite dark and cold, but yet the beat is somewhat dance-able and up-tempo.. The vocals were run through a vocoder for a cold effect, and there are more interesting stuff put together in the mix, making this song a possibly 50-50 electronic & organic..
End Unit of The Universe
I have no idea how to describe this song in words other than it is probably the most abstract and free-form composition I ever did for Kekal.. So I guess it's better to listen to this by yourself once it becomes available..
Press Release: New KEKAL album is being planned for 2010!
Good News! Kekal is NOT dead, and it is proven that new songs are currently in the production.
After speculations about the current status of Kekal following the departures of all band members last year, it is confirmed that a new Kekal studio album is planned for 2010.
The new album will be some sort of 'collective effort'. It means that all 3 former key members (Jeff, Azhar Levi and Leo) have contributed in making 'the whole art-form in one package', while not limited only on the music side. Levi is currently making the entire artwork for the album and Jeff is producing the music. 2 songs will also have Leo's guitar works.
About the album direction, Jeff told that each song displays its unique character as a balance between electronic and organic elements, rhythm and melody, aggression and atmosphere, simplicity and complexity, beauty and the beast. Confirmed instruments being used on recording are: electric & guitars, drums, samples from field-recordings, theremin, analog synths, vocals, vocoder, and TR-808.
The album will redefine the term 'experimental' in its true sense, but yet listeners will find it accessible and digestible.
Kekal is currently looking for a potential record label to release the album on CD and digital later this year. More details including track listing and album title will be announced in the coming months.
However, there is no plan for Jeff, Levi and Leo to rejoin Kekal. Kekal will stay member-less. Stay tuned with the news.
