Note to Self: Music in my ears (Inspired by Hazrul 'Roll' Halim)

1978 - 1985

• ALLEYCATS. It's a family and a Penang thing. First cassette bought was the 'Penyanyi' album (1979). (Abang Mat D , a friend of my uncle, was the ultimate fan!)
• Black Dog Bone. It's a family influence and the ties we have with our Singapura clan.
• Carefree, because it was radio favorite play.
• Sweet Charity's Berita Gempa. The title song is about earth quake. (enough said) Abg Rosli and Abg are legends. I have the Sejuta Wajah reunion concert CD in my collection, thanks to Sabri Nasir!
• Jamal Abdillah. Dendang Perantau left a mark in yours truly. A sense of adventure, a need to see the world only to return to bonda (..with a foreign babe in tow!)
• Boria Teluk Air Tawar featuring Nasir Wahab. Event of the year would be the final in Angkasapura which we would eventually lost (everytime) to Boria Sungai Penang. They have better comic skit led by the legendary Maidin and Peae but Nasir was the better singer.

1985-1989 - Rock Kapak the Early Year:

• The age of rock kapak dawn upon us. Resistance was futile. Every kid in that era was infected. Everybody wants to learn how to play guitar (at the very least that 3 magical cords)
• Search' s Cinta Buatan Malaysia. The cassette cover was unforgettable. Balada Seniman Jalanan was the rebel's anthem and was the sound track for Nasir Jani tour de force Kembara Seniman Jalanan. It was interesting times, philosophical time , all induced to the max by homegrown herb!
• LeftHanded's Kabul contains my all time jiwang fav Mengejar Pelangi. A slow rock song with potent lyric (semakin ku dekat, semakin jauh kau berlari). Kabul was an instrumental piece with Man Kidal and Allahyarham Samad cringing and wailing their guitar , reflecting the mood and sympathy of the Muslim world to the Afghan's cause. Kabul was a very political record, a statement on the USSR's occupation of a Moslem's land. As I said, these are philosophical times with ideal manifested through music. Rock kapak was about substance and ideals. It was too advanced for its time.
• Wings's Hukum Karma. The songs, the music, the lyrics and the time it was released all come together to create this monster of a record. Joe's Gibson Les Paul sound, Black unpredictable beat, Eddie standard stock bass line and Awie vocal at his supreme peak made the album what it is. Fotostat was a song on the rampant bootlegging/music piracy that is still an issue till today. Sembunyi splendidly uncover corruption and human folly. Orang Kita was the center piece with its Malay dilemma message. It is so strong that you can labelled it as racist. This album made a statement without making a statement (if that make any sense). A must in any rock collection. One of the best rock kapak album. Still sound fresh even till today.
• May hails from Ipoh Perak. Hakikat the album came out in 88 and boasted Sketsa Sebuah Cinta and Sendiri. Derita Bangsa was it's social statement, in a true Kampung Manjoi's style. Mus's vocal was and still is May's musical signature. A true rock kapak hero.
• Gersang's Perbezaaan album with it massive hit Masih Aku Terasa. This song was the first rock kapak song to made it Anugerah Juara Lagu final in 1988. Man Bai is the first peranakan to made it to rock kapak hero status.
• Desire was a Kelantan based heavy outfit. It's Sumpitan Senja album in 88 with its big speedy riff was too infectious for me to ignore. It's edgy heavy sounds was a prelude to my later interest in rock founding sound and style. It's sophomore release, + - / * in 89 was a major success.
• Junction first album Arah was a total rock kapak jiwang. The melodic songs and the vocal was a real tangkap nangis. It broke down rock kapal harder outer facade and touched that soft jiwang inside. I am still looking for this album as I have lost the cassette I bought at a 'kedai kaset' Kepala Batas. A must for unrelenting rock jiwang collection. Unabashed , without comprise , no excuses just simple plain jiwang jiwangan at it best!
• Belantara was considered the thinking band because its line up were a group of recently US graduates. Srikandi Disisi was released in 89 and brought an american edge to the rock kapak scene. Jiwang song with a heavy and loud sound. Srikandi Disisi was the hit song and it was heavy. Hadiah HariJadi was a story of a hari jadi (of course) of the awek while our hero get ready to set sail to foreign land (to study in US with MARA $). Our hero presented the song as a present. It's sad, melodic,heavy all wrap into one song. Perintah Berkurung's content could be mistaken for a Rage Against Machine's material. Another lost cassette that I am still hunting for.
• Rusty Blade's Berat album came across selat tebrau in 88. Its a mixture of jiwang songs and story of forgotten warrior of the past (P Ramlee, Mat Kilau). Yeah it sound corny but it is REAL. HEAVE METAL in rock kapak is born and Yantzen, Khalid Mobin, Mat Nor Hendrix is at the fore front of it. Khalid Mobin was in the same mould as Abg Rosli Mohalim and has a uncanning resemble of Tom Morello of RATM.
• Rock kapak's era achieved nirvana twice : Anugerah Juara Lagu 1990 and 1991. It was the pinnacle of its influence over Malaysia music scene. The impact it has left on my generation is life long.