Protocol
Afro – The Youth (Indische Partij Records)
CD/DL
Out Now
Jakarta
based Indie Rockers, Protocol Afro release the debut album.
There’s a
big world out there folks. A big world
where there is music for everyone and a big world where band exist that you
never heard of, from places you know little about. From Indonesia come Protocol Afro, a six
piece guitar group boasting ‘anthemic and catchy alternative pop’. Check.
Released to
coincide with Indonesia’ National Awakening Day and aptly entitled The Youth, Protocol
Afro have assembled an album of nine catchy stabs at rock/pop that pays
off. Including two remixes of previous
singles Music and Radio, the band are pretty gifted at knocking out a tune or
two. Light It Up is case in point – a
lively and noteworthy tune with a few 80s synth sounds chucked in for good
measure. Guitars wail over a good, hard,
clinical production and the vocals are strong.
With tracks
written to embody youth it sounds fresh and exhilarating at times. They’ve gone for the anthemic feel too, and
often pull it off although new single Streetside could have improved with a
slightly better chorus. Previous single
Electrified has a dance/funk feel which adds another string to their
metaphorical bow with some powerful production and a more memorable
chorus. The title track goes more poppy
and a distinct likeness to the voice of Robert Smith becomes evident, in fact the
track does at times bear strong resemblances to early work by The Cure.
Ending with
the remixes (by Riot In Magenta and Illogic State) it’s a good enough debut
packed with some good solid tunes particularly Radio which has been stripped
bare and re-constructed with a near Techno backing.
Protocol
Afro certainly have potential and their songwriting proficiency will serve them
well. Songs are well formed and
likeable, possibly on a grand scale and you get the feeling that just one lucky
break could be of a huge advantage to them.
8/10
Links
Indische Partij Records on Soundcloud
Protocol Afro on Twitter
Published on Louder Than War 18/07/14 - here
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