I got curious about Naomi And The Boys, The Quest and all those names from the Singapore 60's music scene whenever some journalist from that era decides to go retro and write about glory days. Spinning yarns about how great it was is good but let me HEAR it to really know how great they were (ARE). Then i stumbled upon Brian Richmond's Singapore Beat show on 90.5FM (10.30pm every night). A half an hour show, Brian would always spin something that would knock me off my feet. Last month Singapore 60's Vol 1 came out. a collection of 4 EPs from 4 essential bands, The Thunderbirds, The Crescendos, The Cyclones and Naomi & The Boys.

Released in Oct '65, Naomi & The Boys' I Know is from their Happy Happy Birthday EP. Although the title track blazed its way to No.1 on the radio charts and was voted Song Of The Year 1965, I Know is like that low profile girl who sits quietly in the corner of the office, who beams with that something special undernealth.... since then ive fallen so in love with Naomi's voice.

Around 83 or 84, Zircon Lounge used to gig at the Rainbow (somewhere around Cuscaden). Don't think they would allow a 15 yr old like me in. I did try sneaking out of the house but failed, and was always cursing, wondering why they have gigs so late at the night. A few years ago when i was playing at a pub (not too far away from Cuscaden), i 'showed' a group of underagers the 'other' way inside. I did it cos i felt their adventure into the night shouldn't end with them being turned away at the door.
This week is a Zircon Lounge special. a double treat. Savior is the first "radio single" off Regal Vigor.

wide-eyed, 14 yr old, i was checking out New Order and decorating my school file with cut-up mag pics of Joy Division and OMD. then i saw Chris Ho with his band, The Transformers (later to morph into Zircon Lounge) on some TV special. i can't remember what they performed but who cares.... they looked cool and they rocked postpunk new wave. and then i felt being alien wasn't that bad after all. the derision hurled at outsiders during school hours matter a little less too. a few years later, after graduating from shorts to long pants, Phil intro me to Chris. i had my copy of Zircon Lounge's Regal Vigor album with me. he autographed it. a little older then but still wide-eyed.
here is one of the songs off that 1983 album, a cover of Lou Reed's Sweet Jane . the quality of the audio transfer is poor but not the cool manner of Zircon Lounge's interpretation.

Last saturday was the Lomowall Wonderland exhibition put together by my fFurious friends. A must see. Especially the ones from Tokyo using colors that u wanna sink your teeth into. Its at the MRT tunnel linking Citylink to the Esplanade.
Saw Esam of Stoned Revivals (now on loan to FV) at the opening party. Was introduced to Wan of FV who told me about Slank and Irwan Fals. I came back home, did a search on Kazaa for more cool bahasa indo rock and dug through my pile of tapes for old Stoned Revivals stuff. Although my fave is Teenage Queen, this gem titled Vacuum is less oft heard and deserves its time in the sun again.

nostalgia strikes. The Pagans cover James' Sit Down back then at the substation. it was wonderful as the whole congregation sat in rapture with a sense, a purpose of something beyond the individual as we sang along. there's no bootleg of those gigs. i wish i had my recording walkman. i really wish i did. those were really special times that went undocumented.

I first heard Daddy In A Lift eleven years ago, in a situation thats very much like how the protagonist in the song was in. It moved me and defined exactly how i felt for loved ones lost.
Listed as performed by Twang Bar Kings, this is essentially Leslie Low on his own. It's from a compilation titled Gang Bang. It is one of the best songs i have ever heard in my life.

couldn't believe this is only the 3rd time Pat has done solo gigs. though he has done The Song You Say I'd Never Write many times before, this round it blew me away. then came the Smiths' Ask Me and even those who were vaguely familiar with its lyrics were singing along.