dialogue amoureux, by the maharajah commission

dialogue amoureux

by the maharajah commission

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1.	la lunaire parisienne 04:56	buy track
2.	fear and love 01:59	buy track
3.	the maharajah suite 05:33	buy track
4.	disco sludge 04:36	buy track
5.	la lunaire parisienna et talamena etuark 04:06	buy track
6.	bullitt's requiem 02:54	buy track
7.	russian bowling 03:32	buy track
8.	dew high 05:16	buy track
9.	la lunaire parisienne et duvalier 02:36	buy track
10.	withstand 05:42	buy track
11.	the whole year inn 04:02	buy track
12.	la lunaire parisienne est dialogue amoureux 12:43	buy track

about

The STAR, 24 March 2003

The Maharajah Commission
Dialogue Amoureux
(Monkey Records/AGE)

This is one band that is in no danger of being overexposed. And thank heavens for that. Between noise rock, lo-fi tradition and atmosphereic expansiveness, the music of Maharajah Commission is too idiosyncratic for the marketplace. But it's such innovative bands, driven by creative purpose instead of commercialism that seem to make the more interesting records.

Maharajah Commission is one of the rare Kuala Lumpur outfits confidently independent and punk enough to exploit its individuality and freedom. With mostly deconstructionist rock and exploratory instrumental jams, the band's debut Dialogue Amoureux is a sinister and unrepentant work of free-form experimentation that defies description.

It's got the quirk of Pavement, some gripping Slint, the low key of Silver Mt Zion and a dash of John Zorn in the midst of the ever-evolving clatter that allows for a collision of broken down indie-rock, ragged folk, twisted jazz and whatever the anarchist fancies that fall in between the cracks. This album isn't an ordinary listen by any stretch.

Some of the existential confusion and more sonically out-there undertakings might boggle the senses. But then again, the Maharajah Commission is clearly unafraid to embark on the impulse to capture the inner-currents of sadness, anxiety and isolation.

The broody movie-meets-pared-down indie-rock numbers such as Maharajah Suite and Withstand resonate with emotive tension to expose some riveting duality meant to unsettle and satisfy. The giddily exuberant Stephen Malkmus-inspired Whole Year Inn is a potential "pop hit".

The feverish midnight chill on Dew High, complete with bleak coronet and murky guitar washes, is a wicked wonder too good to be missed. A devilish Tom Waits would be smiling here. More experimental rock and guitar-benders right across the album and this one could possibly turn out to be the first off-kilter surprise of the year from Malaysia's small left-field movement.

Despite some patchier moments, the real strength of this low-budget set comes in the way the band wrestles and succeeds with the schizophrenic structures and how it transforms rigid sonic rules and values craft over attitude and novelty. Not many try or come close.

For the Maharajah Commission, things can only get more bizarre and exciting.

-Daryl Goh

credits

released March 3, 2003

all songs emoted by the maharajah commission.
produced by yandsen yong and the maharajah commission.
recorded within the month of January 2002.
recorded, mixed & mastered by tham kar mun @ the monkey rooms in cheras, kl and pasang, klang.
sleeve design by joe kidd and may chan.
photos by joe kidd and lim fang liang.

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about

the maharajah commission Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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