More Local Fare

Your Resident Local Advocate is back,

for Round 2 of my brief introduction to

the wonderful world of local music

and various other local fare.

This time, it is my great honour

to bring you guys one of my favourite bands.

This following band has brought much

pride and glory to Singapore,
not that many of us realised.
*faint laughter*

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The band came from humble beginnings and their plan was simple,

get two guitars, a bass, a keyboard and a drum set. AND ROCK!

FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE

One common goal:
To change the face of Singapore music.

Ladies and gentlemen,
i give you....


THE GREAT SPY EXPERIMENT


In sequence from right to left:

SAIFUL - Vox/Guitars, and a masseuse by day.

KHAI - Bassist. He's also an aerobics instructor. Don't you judge him now.

MAG - Keyboards. To support her family, she's also a bus conductor.

SONG - Guitarist and an actor very much in touch with his emotions.

FANDY - Drums. Dancer/ Choreographer, SBC.

(ps : if you couldn't already tell, their occupations are fake!)

GSE’s music can only be described as

‘a champagne-fuelled orgy of powerpop, indie, rock and dance,

informed by everything except J-Lo’.

As much guitar-led as it is beat-driven,

with indie irresistable pop hooks,

and dance textures overlaying dance-able rock-grooves,

the music is created with the dancefloor in mind

and the bedroom at heart.

In spite of having only
an independently-released single to their name,
the band has gone from virtual unknowns
to the nation’s indie darlings,
all within the span of just over a year.

Thanks to their incessant gigging and electrifying live performances.
Some of which include internationally renowned events such as
the Baybeats and Zouk festivals.

In March, the band travelled to the USA,
where they tore the stages
at the South-by-Southwest Festival in Austin,
as the first Singaporean representatives
in the 21-year old event.

They also performed at the San Antonio Indie Fest
and rocked the airwaves with live radio showcases,
garnering numerous fans along the way.

In April, the band travelled to the USA again,
this time to perform at New York’s Central Park,
making yet another slice of history as the first Singaporean band
to take the stage at the renowned venue.

They were also the sole Singaporean representatives
at the inaugural SingFest held at
Fort Canning Park a few months back.

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Nuff said, let's let the music speak for itself.



The Great Spy Experiment @ Central Park, NYC

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This is the cover to their first studio album,

titled Flower Show Riots.

Recorded at Snakeweed Studio,

the album is co-produced by Leonard Soosay and
the late Wayne Thunder from the local band, The Suns.

It was then mastered in New York by Howie Weinberg,
a renowned engineer who has worked with Muse,

Franz Ferdinand, the Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Billy Corgan

and many, many more acclaimed artistes.

The Great Spy Experiment's album,

“Flower Show Riots” is now available at

HMV, Sembawang Music, Gramophone.

That's all i could find.

And if i'm not wrong,

this album retails at $18.50

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Come on guys, you've seen their credentials
and you can even visit them at
www.myspace.com/thegreatspyexperiment

It is time to support our local artistes!

This is the good shit i tell you!

You can't go wrong with an album this good.

(Disclaimer : In no way, was Nicole Loh brided, battered, paid, whipped, head-dunked, stuffed with fried bananas, skinned to write this entry.)

Nicole