Album Review – So Much Fun by Various Artists (2022) (Shiny Happy Records)
Indonesian pop has traditionally been fey. Indonesian pop tends to be twee. Indonesian pop is caressed with incidental jangled riffs. Eko Sutrisno’s Tangerang (Indonesia) based, Shiny Happy Records label, tends to be where the best of it, and much more of a simiar ilk from around the world, is housed.
The concept of this album is far more simple than the wonderful pop intricacies that emanate from it. Get ‘jangly sorts’ from around the world to add their take to their favourite tracks from a whole plethora of superb acts from Indonesia.
The result are brilliantly eclectic. Initially it could be argued that the featherlite appeal of much of the Indonesian pop aesthetic, lends itself to dream-pop adaptations and of course to the realms of twee.
As such Cinema Lumiere – Lazy Sunny Day(Annemarie Cover), Archaster featuring Kiersten Yu – Let Me Dance In The Sun (Tikki Tikki Tembo cover) and Nah – Catclysmic (Perfect Angel cover), add swirling dreamy textures and chiming jangle to the delicate core musical palate, whereas The Very Most – Funny Little Dream(Funny Little Dream cover), Anthony Rochester – sometimes (Tamankota cover) and Caramel Snow – Precious Time (The Sweetest Touch cover) go so far in their quest to accentuate all that is perfect about twee-pop, that salacious yacht rock nearly energes.
As good as all the above is, the best of this So Much Fun release resides in the more faithful jangly indie-pop adaptations. Here the quirky Television Personalities style Midden Heap – Worth fame Pop Band (The Sensitive cover) moves easiy into a the Brighter reminiscent meancholy of The Laughing Chimes – You Must Swallow Things When Beauty’s Gone (Ocean Chimes cover), whereas the beautiful simplicity of the 60s inflected Les Bicyclettes De Belsize – Shining Light (Sunny Summerday cover) and Grand Drifter – Maybe (The Silent Love cover) add genuine maturity to the gloriously frivolous mix.
This does not appear to be on any physical format release, which is something of a travesty considering the fact it is one of the most enjoyable listens of 2022 so far !
[…] The result are brilliantly eclectic. Initially it could be argued that the featherlite appeal of much of the Indonesian pop aesthetic, lends itself to dream-pop adaptations and of course to the realms of twee…JanglePopHub […]
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[…] The result are brilliantly eclectic. Initially it could be argued that the featherlite appeal of much of the Indonesian pop aesthetic, lends itself to dream-pop adaptations and of course to the realms of twee…JanglePopHub […]
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