So I have listened, purchased, and listened again to The Venopian Solitude's latest EP, Kereta Merah.
Without going into full detail of the EP's background, let's sink into the songs!
There are 4 songs in this EP, each beginning with Kereta Merah and has it's own main title. Think of it as Kereta Merah from 4 different point of views.
The first of the quartet is Kereta Merah - Saya. This song is basically a retelling of the old Malay nursery rhyme that most Malaysians grew up with. While the lyrics are simple and catchy, the kicker here is in the melody. The ethereal presence we get from this song sets the mood for the rest of the EP, which combines gloom, danger, haunting, and, oddly, whimsical tune. You'll find yourself singing along to it while preparing yourself for the rest of the EP.
Kereta Merah-Bapa tells the story of a father losing the battle for his sanity after losing his beloved wife. What surprises me is how this song reminds me of the late 50s-early 60s songs. The rhythm and melody of the song makes you feel the descending madness and despair element of the song. The song lacks the normal verse-chorus-bridge strong structure, which fits the storytelling element of the EP, this song in particular.
The third song in this ensemble is Kereta Merah- Adik. Now this one is very playful. A devilish kind of playful. The song sets a pretense of child-like innocence with its rhythm while the lyrics are dark. Kind of like a mixture of light and dark. You can imagine a child playing innocently while a dark presence hover above him/her. Imagine The Omen and Child's Play combined.
The last and definitely not the least, Kereta Merah-Nenek. Now this one is actually a favourite of mine. It has that eerie tone of old Malay folk songs. The ancient presence that comes with it matches the theme of this song, where the old is observing the young, filled with sympathy. Another think this song reminds me of is traditional dances, especially Ulek Mayang. It has the grace and deadliness of it. This song is a dance, with carefully laid steps that mesmerizes you to a deathly embrace.
All-in-all, this experimental EP is a mix of fantasy-folk music. I can't help be reminded of FInal Fantasy VII's One-Winged Angel when I listen to this. Despite being a self-proclaimed scaredy cat, I thoroughly enjoy this haunting EP, with it's charm a very delightful one. Cheers to The Venopian Solitude for a great EP and best of luck for the future!
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