Acoustic & Dining by Depapepe

As requested by my dear friend Christopher Yap, he asked to review on Depapepe's album titiled Acoustic and Dining. I am appalled and intrigued at the same time due to the fact that the last HMV store had decided to end their business at 313 Ochard 2-3 month back. Appalled because that's the only place that one can find a depapepe's album in Singapore. None of these great music is ever, never coming on shore. Nevermind that you can order online with rapid fast shipment, the concern here would be the little egoic singaporeans never will see the light for Art or Music for the matter. The Dynamic Duo had conquered South East Asia with god's speed except Singapore. Sympathically, i am just intrigued at what obnoxious behaviour my countrymen had to offer. We are like hay grass, sway at the influence of a strong wind, the influence of other's culture, we are never cultured people, poignantly. MInd you, you could argue the same principle against myself, but that's another story. I say to my brother Yap and brother Raymond, " bros, there is no market here. There is simply no market here." 

Now let's shift my attention to the album, Chris had wanted a full review on individual tracks, however i think i will probably run out of adjectives for descriptions. For this review, i will just focus on two fundamental aspects that are typical in Depapepe's songs. First would be the spiritual element, the uplifting of one's spirits when you just float on air by just listening to the tunes. Oh by the way, Depapepe are an instrumental guitar duet group from Japan. By that, i dont just mean 2 guys strumming guitar only, we will get to the technical aspect on the second.

There comes a moment when you are attracted to a kind of tune that lift your whole body,make your head lighter from the stress work contribute. The unjust one felt from society, or just simply everyday noise that in one way or another creates tons of distraction away from the things you love. It felt this way when you are embrace by the songs, you forget your worries and at this moment. You are on a rocket ship, deep in space, without gravity. Once, you felt blood clots in your body, hypertension, hyperventillation, asphyxiation. You get relief, cure, somehow a palliative process just by one function, listening. With that come peace, that's how powerful Depapepe's music is. It is able to shift your focus, from the crowded orchard road back to nigara falls, from the sardine's pack MRT stations to tranquality. Uplifting, and in-spirit to charge your batteries for another day. And if you are lucky like myself, your mind creates an unfathomable images of the wonders of the world when you press the play button.

There comes another moment, when my fellow countrymen would have to discard the commodity charged pop culture and fell in love with pure artistry(i hope soon). The chemistry of Depapepe is so contagious and intricate that many are following their progress. Watching the duo live is eye popping; one would play chords while the other rip on riffs and in an instant, it is switch around with perfect timing in Unison. Non-related in blood kinship, but plays as if they are Siamese twins. Audacious technique, crafted rhythm, brilliant composers and the ability to connect with the audience. It's even more astonishing when they can't really speak english. Quality musical notes are palpable in nature, soothing in form. And when combine together, the magic comes in multi-facet dimenson. It is a daunting task that my fingers are in pain while playing the instrument, but i love every minute of it.

till another day,

Nate