Kyoto Protocol

Happy New Year, one and all.

If you believe the Mayans, this is the year that it’ll all end in flames. And with much wailing and gnashing of teeth too.

Basically, the end of the world will sound (and look) like the two dudes from LMFAO fucking Justin Beiber to a Nicki Minaj song. Scary shit, right? Anyhoo, till great balls of fire actually start falling from the sky, the good news is that 2012 promises to be an exciting one for music lovers. Yes, even here in Malaysia. And yes, despite Sasi the Don, Juara Lagu, Awi Rafael and all the excrement that will, predictably, be shoved down our throats over the course of the next 12 months.

I for one am looking forward to Kuching-based Love/Comes shaking up the scene this year with a proper LP. From what we were already treated to last year, it’s safe to say that these fellas are only just beginning to realise their huge motherfuckin’ potential. And that, to me, is exciting news. Almost as exciting as the very real prospect of The Garrison landing actual kicks to the groin of poseur-ish pop punk and declaring it dead for all eternity.

I’ll be honest, I’m one of those who, in early 2011, felt that the Malaysian indie scene was in dire straits. It seemed like a shit parade of pop punk poseurs as the likes of Rosevelt, An Honest Mistake and Once Upon A Time There Was A Sausage Named Bob grew bolder with their ridiculous haircuts and even more ludicrous per-show payment demands. But then, just as I’d given up hope, The Garrison emerged and all was right with the scene again. Subversion, the band’s debut LP, is intense, ballsy and authentic. And best of all, it makes you feel like anything is, in fact, possible.

But of course, 2011 in Malaysia was not solely about punk. It was also about the blues, stoner rock, metal, acoustic folk pop and, at least as far as Ferns and Furniture were concerned, Arcade Fire. So here then are Three Fingers Back’s 10 Favourite Malaysian Releases of 2011. And once again, you’re advised to disregard the numbers:

TFB’s 10 Favourite Malaysian Albums of 2011

1. Kyoto Protocol – An Album
2. MonoloQue – Jejak Tanah
3. Love Me Butch – Worldwide Transgression
4. Furniture – They Made Me Out of Dreams You’ve Forgotten
5. Rollin’ Sixers – Rollin’ Sixers
6. The Garrison – Subversion
7. Liyana Fizi – Between the Lines
8. Ferns – Fairweather Friends
9. OJ Law – Yesterday is a Distant Dream
10. Pesawat – Take Off - Three Fingers Back

caught this Malaysian band at last year’s Baybeats Festival and to be honest, was not that impressed. There was nothing sufficiently unique about them amongst the scores of card-carrying “indie-alternative” rock bands that play at the Baybeats Festival every year.

However, I am glad to say that based on this brand new single, I have revised my opinion about Kyoto Protocol somewhat. The band (Fuad Alhabshi – Vocal/Guitar Gael Oliveres – Keyboards/Vocals Shakeil Bashir – Bass/Vocals Hairi Haneefa – Lead Guitar) have delivered a song that is an intriguing mix of Tom Jones-channeling vocals, 80s post-punk guitars and Dylanesque put-down lyricism (I like the line – “Don’t need your shit, I can swallow mine” especially) - Power of Pop

Fat crunchy riffs with a vocal presence to match, Kyoto Protocol are Malaysia’s answer to the best alt rock acts that have been the staple of fans here for the better part of the past two decades.

Their influences are obvious – referencing the distortion driven rhythms of that brand of hard rock which had as its epicentre a city in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. and the more contemporary iterations that followed.

For all the familiarity their sound may engender, Kyoto Protocol aren’t derivative. For this reason, the band deserves to be considered (and judged) on their own merit. Fuad Alhabshi, the band’s creative force who moonlights as a research analyst, knows his way around the genre well enough to pull and twist together its disparate strands or styles into a thick buzzing riff which he then puts his voice to.

An Album, which as far as titles go, is not unlike naming your pooch, ‘Dog’. But with only five tracks, it is closer to being an EP rather than an album in the conventional sense of the word. Still, this merited highlighting for the simple reason that An Album fails to satisfy. It’s too brief for something this enjoyable. Kyoto Protocol has forced you to practice sonus interruptus.

That said, they are exemplary on the five tracks that make up An Album, which incidentally also hints at their potential as a brilliant live act. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. First a long player in the true sense of the word is due. And they’ve set the bar pretty high for themselves. (Monsoon, 2011) – Nick Mun - Spades Magazine

Kyoto Protocol’s album title is a misnomer, a 5-track record is hardly an album. But we forgive them, An Album is a career-portentous EP that will make you salivate for more. ‘Mosquito’ is feet-tapping fun but don’t let that distract you from the lyrics, Fuad is one helluva songwriter; “suckle on breast til you’re 18/ go to university and get your degree/ exit a product of the big machine.” - JUICEOnline.com

Ah, here I am again, writing about Kyoto Protocol. And oh look, it’s the 100th post! What a coincidence. Let’s proceed.

A lot of us, until three Saturdays ago, have been hooked on Kyoto Protocol for mere live sets on stages big and small (and tiny too), and gone home with rings in our ears while reliving great moments through filtered spectacular in YouTube videos. So, it was high time when the album launch took place, and at the end of the night, each fan got to bring home a piece of Kyoto Protocol with them.

Simply titled An Album (pronounced as ‘anal bum’ just for buffoonery purposes), it is a debut every KPeep is more than familiar with, but with better production. The album title is not exactly eloquent, in my personal opinion, especially coming from a band like Kyoto Protocol. But I suppose, if it were meant to be a wordplay, then it would make sense. Well. Maybe not. It is a personal kind of Kyoto Protocol humour thing. I think.

An Album is a tight compilation of first world country woes. Do you ever feel complaisant in life yet uncomfortable simultaneously? Do you ever feel taken advantage of yet incapable of changing things to your accord? Do you ever feel redundant yet irrelevance is all you are good at? This one is for you.

The debut record opened with Mosquito. The tenacious bangs of the drums and stimulating introductory chords with a strong and sturdy energy that persevere throughout the song, pretty much like the pestilent pest itself. “Swat me as many times / You’ll find I cannot die”. They may annoy you. They may draw you in. Whatever the feedback may be to their music, Kyoto Protocol has landed, and like it or not, they are here to stay.

Big Machine is a production line of the young and hopeful, spirits set and ready with a degree in hand, minds all painted in green and in wads of moolah, can’t wait to buy things they don’t need, and impress people they don’t like. “We all live in utopian dream / Suckle on breast until you’re 18 / Go to University and get your degree / Exit a product of the big machine”. Bet you feel so special right about now, don’t ya?

It is a rather apt arrangement to have their first single, Pussycat, placed third on the album. It works up a kind of anticipation past Mosquito and Big Machine to get there, (or you can just skip to the track, if you like, of course), and by the time the all too familiar bass and effects flood your speakers, you are ready for it. I’m not going to go into details about Pussycat, because I have already done that. You can read all about it here.

From here on out are anti-romantic love songs. The fetching and rather blissful melody of Gimme Nothing would tempt you to hop on your office desk and dance the shit out of it, whilst almost immediately, brings you down from the high with Never Know. The sexy sway of guitar croons, throaty vocals that breathes seduction, and drippy lyrics: “As always I never know / How things tend to end so / Always in the waiting line / Never the winning kind”. This sex is on fire.

An Album proves to be a suitable album to sing along to at the top of your lungs when you are stuck in traffic, or even when you are just having a bad weekday. It is hard not to when that clear yet roughed up vocals make you want to belch your heartiest along. The enslaving drums and ample guitar riffs, you can’t help but bang the heel of your palms along to the beat on the steering wheel, as you scream along to the powerful end of “Are you this tame all the time, time, time, time – fuck!” But seeing that there are only five tracks on the record, it is much too little for gridlocks in the city that goes on for hours.

In the meantime, turn up the volume. Sing of this shitty life. Sing of the apathetic society. Sing of your inevitable career. Sing of an unrequited relationship. Sing. Sing your heart out. But watch out, the car in front just stopped. Hit the brakes! - Backseat Radio II

Prior to An Album (unofficially and cheekily pronounced “anal bum”) you will need to see them live to understand why this local band has been one of the fastest rising bands in the past year.

Kyoto Protocol is at their best live because, let’s face it, not many bands out there really know how to engage the crowd as performers. Add that and the fact that Kyoto Protocol has really good songs and we’ve got a winner. Now that their debut has been finally released, we have some issues… For one, despite An Album being called for what it is, their long awaited debut isn’t so much an LP but rather a mini-album consisting of only 5 tracks of original material – which could mean that it won’t satisfy your Kyoto-itch.

Still, from opener ‘Mosquito’, you’ll be hard pressed to restrain yourself from tapping your feet and singing out loud – even in the office. The magic happens after the notorious single ‘Pussycat’ when you reach the last 2 songs (‘Gimme Nothing’ and ‘Never Know’). Unfortunately, this is when you realise the fun has come to an end and you’d need to start over all over again. Replay is a good function to have and so is this mini album!

LISTEN TO: ‘Gimme Nothing’
IF YOU LIKE THIS YOU’LL DIG: Foo Fighters, Fountains of Wayne, Green Day (before American Idiot).
RATING: 3.5 - JUICEOnline.com

In a nutshell: Freeform rockers Kyoto Protocol unleash their debut album, packed with 5 tracks of signature KP goodness. Titled 'An Album', Kyoto Protocol want to challenge the idea of what makes an album an album- the ideas and music within, or just the sheer number of songs.

Why we like it: Stocked with quirky rock that wouldn't look out of place on a Foo Fighters or Queens of The Stone Age album, this is some extremely stellar indie rock courtesy of KL's premiere rising band. Packed with poppy, but off kilter hooks and riffs, everything on this album is designed to get you humming along while contemplating the anti-consumerist perspective of the lyrics. Standouts include 'Pussycat' and 'Never Know'.

Why we don't: It's a ride that's all too short, and you're left repeating the album to catch that spark all over again.

Verdict: This album is more than worth a spin. It's too short for its own good, though, and you'll be asking for more long after it's over. It's awesome to see a band take rock by the balls and twist it into a signature sound, and we couldn't be happier about Kyoto Protocol. - MSN Entertainment Malaysia

One only needs to survey the highly inventive racket the outfit makes, which is a sweet amalgamation between punk, soul and blues meshed together with songs of anguish, angst and defiance. - The Star (Malaysia)