The Upstairs appear to be Indonesia”s answer to The B-52s. They have a similar style and the same successful mixture of punk and fun. Their EP Ku Nobatkan Jadi Fantasi is a free release from Yes No Wave to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day. It is a different sort of EP for Yes No Wave as it tends to be much more mainstream than the usual selection of eccentric artists on the label. The album consists of previously released material with only one new song but it’s all new to me. The title tune gets everything to a rousing start and immediately illustrates the B-52 influences. “Dansa Pekir Pekan” is the new track and it is a very melodic upbeat tune. The Upstairs are supposed to be popular with the teens of Jakarta and this is quite easy to see with such catchy tunes as “Alexander Graham Bell” and the electro-pop “Televisa”. However the two live tracks also show that this band has the kind of musicianship that is always ready to spread out and get creative. This is a nice change from the American / Euro indie bands I usually hear . Highly recommended.

The EP is available in 192kbps MP3.

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