AKA Crazy Joe

This is the third longplayer of AKA (from 1972), the leading Indonesian rock band of the 70s and there has been a slight change concerning the overall direction. With the powerful funk rock of the opening title track, the dirty garage beat of the b-side opener 'Skip Away' and 'Raja Jalan', some energetic up tempo soul pop you will find three exceptions to the rule and this implied soft rock and indo pop ballads for six out of nine tracks. 'Crazy Joe' is a rather courageous album for adding those three rawer and more energetic tunes to the gentle plush of the pop tunes for either the power rock fans or the followers of fluffy sounds may be scared off. All those who dare to listen between the notes will find a massive load of delicate arrangements and rather striking melodies that will give you a good time in case you are open for it. This is rather solemn indo pop but it is well composed and executed by musicians who know how to throw in their passion even in with such dreamy clouds of sound. Fans of exotic pop like Baris Manco, soft rock like the late 60s to mid 70s Hollies and Eastern German emotional pop rock like Karat and Die Puhdys may lay their ear on this.