GHEDE CHOKRA'S

The Indonesian prog scene of the 1970s does have some bands and albums worth checking out. I think Giant Step's Giant On The Move and Guruh Gipsy's self-titled album are probably the best, and there are also some other good albums by Abbhama and God Bless.

Before all that came Shark Move, who released this record in 1970. Its main songwriter Benny Soebardja was also to lead Giant Step later.

Shark Move's sole album is very raw and unique, yet I think it's a fantastic time capsule. The category may say symphonic prog, but this is clearly heavy psychedelic rock with a lot of fuzz guitar from Benny and great organ playing from Soman Loebis.

It does take some patience though. The downside is that the album was poorly recorded and has a demo feel. It sounds poorly mixed at times and there are issues with the drum sound and other things like broken English and occasionally offkey vocals. It also has three songs in English and four more straightforward ballads in Bahasa Indonesia.

Despite all this, it begins with a wonderful song called My Life. Careening along for nearly nine minutes through guitar freakouts and organ breaks and some tasteful flute, it has a lovely melody and plaintive existential lyrics.

The next best song is Evil War, which captures the anti-Vietnam War feel, and has some great keyboard. However the second half of the album is a bit dull because it has three ballads in a row.

Aside from the album being in two languages, another thing that makes it schizophrenic is that there are five different lead singers on the seven songs.

So I don't quite know what to say. It sounds like I am not recommending it highly, but I really do think the high points are worth an investigation.

Maybe you should listen to the more polished Giant Step first and then come for this.

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