LTJ BUKEM at The Goods Diner
The legend is back in Jakarta!
LTJ BUKEM (UK)
Saturday, 5th September 2015
at The Goods Diner, Jakarta
Supports by Javabass Crew
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Cover: 150K inc/First Drink – Available at the door
Door Opens: 10PM.
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LTJ BUKEM
Viewed as an innovator in the drum and bass style, Bukem is known for developing an accessible alternative to that hardcore genre’s speedy, assaultive energies. His style pays homage to the Detroit based sound of early techno, but Bukem also incorporates still earlier influences, particularly the mellow, melodic sonorities of 1970s era jazz fusion as exemplified by Lonnie Liston Smith and Roy Ayers. Early in his career, Bukem was identified for his response to the “almost paranoid hyperkinesis” of breakbeat-based house music, and specifically for his reservations regarding the overbearing force of the hardcore mentality.
Bukem’s music from the early 1990s onward represents his efforts to map out an alternative future for drum and bass by incorporating softer-edged influences culled from London‘s 1980s rare groove and acid jazz scenes. Music on Logical Progression reveals these influences, as does his approach on 1993’s Music / Enchanted, which features string arrangements and sounds from nature. His use of keyboards, live vocals and slow- motion breaks on these and future releases earned Bukem’s music the tag intelligent drum and bass. While this designation caused controversy within the drum and bass community, it also influenced the popularisation of hardcore music in the UK during the mid-1990s.
LTJ Bukem has been an integral force in the development of Drum and Bass for well over 10 years and without his input, it is hard to imagine how the shape of our music would look today. He can, almost single-handedly, be held responsible for the conception and development of the more soulful side of Drum and Bass that he has since become renowned for. Labelled “Intelligent Drum and Bass” at the time, LTJ Bukem chose not to accept the new moniker, claiming that it suggested other examples of the genre lacked intelligence; a viewpoint that over the years has earned him respect from some of the scene’s biggest names.
LTJ Bukem at Potato Head, Jakarta
After waiting for so many years, Jakarta’s drum’n’bass massive is finally treated with the presessence of living legend LTJ Bukem. Our friend Ashram Projects sets the gig at Potato Head, Jakarta with proper sounds and the results, the d’n’b heads are coming in drives. The evening started at 10:30 PM with Javabass’ own Random dropping some atmospheric tunes to ease the transformation of Potato Head from restaurant to a party hub. 30 minutes later Jerome took over the decks, delivering some smooth liquid beats before handing the deck back to Random where he upped the energy a few notch. Around 12:30 AM. HE took over the decks from Jerome and took Potato Head into an amazing journey through bass. Here are some pictures from the evening.
24 HOUR CATCHING BUKEM SESSION.
I’m not a good writer , but I have to make a report from Bukem Session at Home Club ( Singapore ) for the Javabass Blog , so trying very hard to write this and came out as log journal as far I can remember from that trip ….
Here we goes ….
24 HOUR CATCHING BUKEM SESSION.
Saturday 26 February 2011
12.00
After a full hectic week at the office & wrapping another blazing Phunktion night at 07.00 with so little time to sleep, I still have to go to my office to make another online revision brief to my tired post editng crew then leaving them a chaos overload deadline for Monday . Then pick up Sintorini & Fyuli at home.
15.15
Stepping deep to the gas pedal, I have to race my car 120km/hour to the airport because we only have less than an hour to check in. Already driving dangerously to fast in Jakarta famous traffic, hopelessness start to come and felt we not gonna make it for the flight, especially when we have to completely stop for a view minutes because there is an accident at the highway. Thank god I got a quick overnight parking space..
16.20
Fast forward … guess what we are the last 3 people to check in with one other passenger, and we didn’t carry any baggage, so quick check in on the counter. Then the terror begins at the immigration when me and Sinto was trap on the ” Umroh Kloter ” while Fyuli already got through. Dozen 75 + grandma & grandpa are slowing the immigration officer. Minutes feels like hours and my nerve almost blow when hearing the last call of our flight. Feel wanna scream but have to keep smiling to the grandma’s and assist them to move forward. Aaaaaahhh..
16.45
After escaping the immigration we run like hell to the flight gate … and damm its the furthest … now my heartbeat is 200 bpm i guess …. and thinking when we arrive the plane already taxied away .
17.10
We run until the plane door and thank god they still on the ground. Got the back seat and take off with racing heartbeat in our chests. So Thirsty…. not until 30 minutes on the flight we got the drinks….all of a sudden then bumpy rides begin Oh noooo…. anyway we have to fly through this bad weather … time to pray …
19.00 PM
Waking up violently when the pilot touches down at Changi and it was raining quite hard but thank god we landed safely. After all airport business done & seeing the same grandpa that collects trolley, we go straight to the MRT to the city. Little bit more relax on the MRT cause its quite far and will take a while, well just disappointed why my government still can’t manage to have this kinda public transportation back home…
And another scene that so different than home … everybody in the MRT are wearing headphones and looking video clips or playing games on their I Phone 4 … from 5 years old overweight girl to a grandpa with stick … even a Sing chick use it for checking up her make up .. Wow.. the only two using BB is Sintorini & Fyuli, and their Indonesian and in the middle of their BB autism , and i am to shame to pull out my 2g version….. Oh god …I want my I Phone 4 pleaseee !!!!!
22.55
Arriving at Raffles Place to meet Zul Subvert, Rini & his brother , food is the only thing in our mind now, lucky Rini take us straight to food hall, we gonna eat the famous Singaporean ” Chili Crab ” ..Oh my God .. makyuss lah pokoke … enak sokilll . Can’t described with words …sorry guys makan dulu.
11.30 PM
After catching some old stories at the chili crab and Fyuli desperately need to find “colokan” to charge her BB … “well Indonesian you know la” , The Subvert crew drop us straight to Home Club for the Bukem Session , but we arrive quite early so still have time to wash up, change clothes and relaxing little bit , even i can unload my self .. what a relief … now we are ready for the party, the bass already rolling phat inside from Ming as the first line up .
12.35
The nice weather make us hang out side Home for an hour, meeting & chat with some friends and waiting for Calima to take its effect.
01.00
Bukem finally hitting the decks and Conrad is on the Mic. The atmosphere inside Home definitely changes into euphoria and energy. Although Home is not as pack when Dj Marky play, but it is much hotter, I guess the aircon not function properly, ….kipas … mana kipass.
I don’t care because I was waiting this moment for the past 15 years since I first got into drum n bass and the all the hassle getting here. Finally we got to see LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad live where before we can only hear their mix tapes & albums. He start away with a lot of new tunes that I never heard before , I’m so happy listening a lot DnB tunes for the first time in a proper sound , surprise bass line always gets me.
The energy constantly pick up all the way through his set, filling up the room with a lot of his famous deep bass-line & liquid atmospheric pads & not forget the constantly thin Amen breaks cutting through the sub frequencies and always try to switch it between 2 decks…. Classic Bukem style.
Not only beautiful music came out the speakers but Conrad legendary warm voice is filling the room to and he makes you thrill to hear it , switching between MCing to keep the crowd hype up, he sings a lot, especially when they put their famous vocal tunes, the girls definitely scream their lung out and dance their feet of on the wet dance floor.
After 1 hour we are sweating like hell and need some fresh air, going outside for breathe and quick smoke, we rush inside again for the second hour of Bukem Session, the journey goes on. There is no wobbling Jump Up, Techstep stuff or the trending Drumstep tunes from them, its full of pure deep uplifting soulful drum n bass business, blending futuristic beats & soundscapes with jazz , soul, & funk . People are really having a good time.. They smile , jump and dance like nobodies watching, Its all good.
Here ‘s some video , sorry about the low quality :
Getting deeper into the second hour, he begun to play many of the famous classic stuff back from 96 like ” Horizons ” and ” Atlantis ” even though keeping the energy very high level and Conrad never stops singing soulful lyrics with his amazing voice. If I’m not skipping… 3 rewinds that night with perfect timing.
Awsome set & vibe.
Bukem set finish around 03.30 with a big applause from the crowd, after that Singapore local legend, Dj Kiat step up to deck and continue the party with his unique style of Duby minimal jump up rollers cuts and accompanied with a female MC that sing with a powerful vocal to … I guess its their own tunes that they play … very cool and nicely produced, another different style of drum n bass. Kiat please send me those dubs … I want that SG sound…. woohoo….
04.10
Exhausted feeling is crawling inside us, so we go outside to sit and find fresh air, by good change we ended hanging out with Ajay, Ungku, Ming & the owners from Home Club also the legends them self. Chatting with Bukem about our emails with him year ago, we realized that he is a very nice and friendly person yet he give us another surprise, that he said going to play in Jakarta on 18 March…. Oh My Gosh….. I thought it was still Calima thats speaks…. No it’s for REAL!!! …Jakarta get ready to roll…
05.00
When finally home closed, we still chatting outside and realized we have to go back to the airport, our flight is at 10 am. We still have plenty of time so Ajay & Ungku take us for some breakfast near the airport for some dim sum. Hanging out for an hour waiting the sun go up, fyuli still on the “colokan ” hunt ( get i phone girl ) and the rest are trap in cycle of Paradise In Bali stories and the Singaporean racist jokes, we laugh until our jaw is cram … well Calima is still here … i guess Singaporean is bored being Singaporean … and Ungku …I think our Indome is better than your MaggieMie.
08.00
Ajay & Ungku dropped us at then airport, wait a half hour for check in then we go inside with an hour and half before the flight, so ” Judulnya ” airport shopping while BB charging, the girls hunt perfumes and duty free alcohols , my self got 3.5 Star Wars Sandtrooper figure in vintage style card for discount price … yeeiy.
Finally after the last security hustle while boarding on the plane, our plane take off to the sky. Watching the beautiful clouds and rewinding last night snapshot in our head we finally feel a sleep.
12.00
Landed safely in Cengkareng we go straight to Hoka Bento because we are so starving. Then we pick up the car at the parking lot and go back to Jakarta. I’m so tired and sleepy, only the feeling of happiness for this amazing journey can wake me up for driving the car … all of a sudden I realized that i have go straight to the office to check the editing work for final presentation on Monday …AAAAHHHHH ….. zombies mode on.
I guess you all already know LTJ Bukem gonna play here in Jakarta on 18 march at Potato Head. Many thanks go to Ashram Project to make this happen. To bad that Conrad didn’ join in this time, it will be super perfect if he did, but most important for our beloved scene here, this is the first time any UK DnB dj play in Jakarta since the last time with DJ Frenzic at Jakarta Movement 04, so excitement will be high after waiting for 7 years, and this time is not an ordinary DJ but carried a legend title with in his name, not only special in the Drum N Bass universe but also well known in the other dance music scene, because his unique sound, and the skills in djing , the producing quality is first class, and this is constantly since the 90’s so experience is unquestionable . If you wanna know more about Bukem just go to his site: http://www.myspace.com/therealdannyltjbukem & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTJ_Bukem .
So to all junglist out there … OldSkool or NuSkool and also all ravers that maybe not into the DnB scene but love & carve for good quality soulful dance music …I recommended you to prepare and come for this one ….. “wajib hukumnya ” not only because this is a lifetime experience & the importance moment for our scene, also to show the legend what are the Indonesian junglist its all about , I know you all can rock the dance floor …..
Its only 100k so don’t miss it … ” nyesel klo nggak ” . See you guys bounce & roll at Potato Head…..
( now I’m praying very hard Phead can take this bare …. 😛 )
LETS SMASH IT!!!!!
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