Bingung.
Itu yang pertama kali saya rasakan saat mendengar EP bertajuk Kitsilano yang saya unduh cuma-cuma di web nya Gigsplay.
"Perasaan
tadi katanya ini band Indo deh, tapi kok soundnya kayak bukan. I mean,
gak mungkin deh ada sejarahnya band indo punya lagu beginian"
Asumsi semacam itupun berkeliaran di pikiran saya. Tak memberi celah
pada rasa penasaran, saya geberlah 4 lagu yang terdapat dalam EP
tersebut. Diawali dengan intro catchy 'You Make Me Feel Like Summer'
firasat saya langsung berkata, ini band beda. Totally different. Saya
memang gak banyak paham tentang permainan instrumen yang terkandung di
dalamnya. Tapi sebagai pendengan awal, saya langsung kepincut lirik
pamungkas di lagu ini "When the band goes.." terus disambung petikan
gitar yang jadi anthem. Nempel di kepala. Semua part lagunya punya
keunikan bunyi. Rasa-rasanya bunyi unik itu seperti harmonika atau
pianika. Entahlah, pokonya unik. Kaya akan nada yang saya gak pernah
temuin di lagu-lagu band indo. "Then We Say Hello" menutup rangkaian
nada di lagu 'You Make Me Feel Like Summer'. Ajib
Track kedua, disambut
dengan nada lebih upbeat. Jangan salahkan kepala & kaki saya yang
ikut bergoyang mengikuti irama (ciee). Walaupun beda ambience, tapi feel
nya RFS (Roman Foot Soldiers) lebih terasa ringan dan fun di lagu
"Streets Without Signs". Tetap gitar masih terasa mendominasi, namun
seimbang dengan instrumen lainnya. Entah hanya perasaan saja, tapi
seperti lebih cepat lagu ini mengalun. Jadi mendengar satu kali putar
dijamin tidak cukup. Kuping pasti akan minta tambah. Haha. Suara sang
vokalis khas dan memberi nafas baru bagi penggemar lirik berbahasa inggris. Yep semua lagu RFS menggunakan lirik bahasa inggris.
Di lagu ketiga, "Waterfront",
kembali RFS mencuri perhatian melalui intro yang ciamik. Relatif khas
RFS. Ketiga lagu jagoan di EP Kitsilano ini memberi pemahaman. Seperti
inilah musik RFS. Berbeda dan jangan harapkan seperti mendengar album
band indo pada umumnya. Saya seperti kehabisan kata-kata mendeskripsikan
album ini. Intinya harus mendengarkan sendiri, jatuh cinta dan
menjadikan lagu-lagu ini alternatif bahkan pilihan utama your currently
favourite songs! Seperti saya, hehe. Sejak pertama kali dengar dan
bingung, saya langsung mencari info tentang band ini. Demikian seperti
yang saya kutip dari laman Facebook mereka :
-
Formed in Vancouver, Canada, Roman Foot Soldiers started as a passion
project by 6 international university students in the winter of 2005.
Like their hometown Jakarta, the band is a blend of many eccentric
musical characters. Such contrasts however didn't produce a clash of
creativity, but it did inspire the group to pursue a sound unique enough
to satisfy all band members' appetite.
Roman Foot... Soldiers are Tim Matindas (Vocals), Gogor Yudo (Guitar), Prianka Bukit (Guitar), Reza Adhitama (Bass), Josh Hartana (Keys & Synth) and Luky Ginting (Drums). Matindas and Yudo started as roomates with a passion for songwriting. The rest of the band joined very soon and Roman Foot Soldiers were born, taking their name from a fascination for epic war films and solidarity. The group took on numerous gigs throughout Vancouver's wide-spread indie scene. A formal recognition was achieved when the band finished in the top 3 of "UBC Battle of the Bands" which consisted of 50+ contestants. By 2009 Roman Foot Soldiers had morphed into a more mature electro-rock band employing more experimental song arrangements.
After having graduated with their respective degrees, the band realized that they were in the possession of great group chemistry and music potential. Still having strong ties with their home country, Roman Foot Soldiers returned home to Indonesia in summer of 2010.
The band has released their EP titled "Kitsilano" in August 2011. Currently the band is preparing its debut album under Sinjitos Records, scheduled to be released in 2012.
Roman Foot... Soldiers are Tim Matindas (Vocals), Gogor Yudo (Guitar), Prianka Bukit (Guitar), Reza Adhitama (Bass), Josh Hartana (Keys & Synth) and Luky Ginting (Drums). Matindas and Yudo started as roomates with a passion for songwriting. The rest of the band joined very soon and Roman Foot Soldiers were born, taking their name from a fascination for epic war films and solidarity. The group took on numerous gigs throughout Vancouver's wide-spread indie scene. A formal recognition was achieved when the band finished in the top 3 of "UBC Battle of the Bands" which consisted of 50+ contestants. By 2009 Roman Foot Soldiers had morphed into a more mature electro-rock band employing more experimental song arrangements.
After having graduated with their respective degrees, the band realized that they were in the possession of great group chemistry and music potential. Still having strong ties with their home country, Roman Foot Soldiers returned home to Indonesia in summer of 2010.
The band has released their EP titled "Kitsilano" in August 2011. Currently the band is preparing its debut album under Sinjitos Records, scheduled to be released in 2012.
-
Disebutkan pula dalam deskripsi singkat mereka seperti ini :
Hazy electronic sounds. Jangling riffs. Frolic dance beat
Nah sekarang sudah mulai bisa menjawab pertanyaan dan kebingungan saya di awal. Band ini terbentuk di Vancouver dan banyak terinfluence band-band seperti Cut Copy, Phoenix, LCD Soundsystem, The Strokes, Friendly Fires, Gorillaz. Wajarlah musik yang dihasilkan seperti ini. Seperti apa? Yah makanya dengarkan. Tak apa sesekali memaksakan, untuk musik menarik macam RFS ini.
Ketika akhirnya berkesempatan melihat performa mereka walau hanya lewat tayangan televisi, saya makin terkesima. Selain enak dipandang, permainan dan performance mereka memang meneduhkan hati. Santai tapi punya gimmick yang bikin nagih. Coba cek video sunset on the rooftop mereka di web MBDC. Itu parah banget bagusnya. Saya aja nonton ampe diulang-ulang gak bosen-bosen. Sayang banget pas mereka ke Bandung dalam Tour Wrangler, saya gak kebagian nonton mereka di ITB karena telat. Itu keselnya nyesel banget. Huks. Makanya setiap nge twit pengen banget mereka main di Bandung lagi. Tapi sekarang popularitas mereka makin menanjak. Udah beberapa kali jadi opening act buat konser artis luar hipster. Bulan ini juga bakal main di Love Garage satu hari sama Royskkop. Wuidiiih canggih deh pokonya. Langsung masuk deretan band hipster. Saya rasa ini berkat Sinjitos juga yang fully support RFS. Buktinya Anindyta Saryuf bikin video clip Waterfront gak main-main. Cakep banget sob. Black and white nya bikin simpel minimalis sekaligus artsy. Cool!
Sukses RFS. Saya ramalkan anda akan menjadi rising star di dunia permusikan Indonesia. Wohooo! \m/