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Because camera and handy cam were not allowed entering PL Fair 2006, I could just present you the report of the latest Pangudi Luhur High School Fair, which themed Batavia (Jakarta Custom), December 2^nd, 2006 by this piece of writing. I went to PL Fair 2006, at their school base at Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, because I just want to see two of my favorite bands, which are Homogenic and Whisper Desire, and also to accompany, four of my friends. I arrived at Pangudi Luhur High School at 4 PM, with four of my friends, but unfortunately, I didn’t realize that Homogenic has performed earlier in the afternoon, so we actually missed their show. I actually didn’t know what are the musicians who were going to perform in PL Fair, except Nidji (hehe..). So the band that I wait for its performance is Whisper Desire.

I didn’t know why I just amazed with this band. After I saw them perform nicely at Pure Saturday Night (the last Pure Saturday performance with their latest vocalist Iyo) as an opening band, as a Pure People (call for Pure Saturday’s Friends, not Fans), I certainly cannot judge this band as an ordinary Melodic Indie Pop band like its seniors. This band has potentials to be a great Indie Pop revival from the 90’s era on Indonesian independent scene. Their first EP, “Berakhir Awalan”, had shown their high tense of Indie musicality. From the influence from bands like The Cure and Pure Saturday, Whisper Desire, which the name was taken from one of Pure Saturday’s song “Desire”, has brought a new wave of Indie Pop with their own characteristic. So, I think the report is going to be about Whisper Desire only, after I got amuse from getting almost all of the members autographs :)

Well, Whisper Desire finally performed on the main stage at 5.30 PM, with their line:

vocal : Aritonang, Freddy
guitar : Wisatrya, Rabindra
guitar : Mirdad, Mikael
bass : Gobel, Enrico
drum : Pamungkas, Hertri Nur
keyboard : Miranti, Anika

As the same at Pure Saturday Night, they use one additional guitarist, Gorbie to change their guitarist Mikael who at that time, went to Australia, continuing his study, and an additional backing vocalist Esther.

Whisper Desire performed after the stunning Cheers PL. Because it was raining, they only played four songs, which only contained one song that included in their first EP. First song, titled “Sekejap”, opened their performance with a drizzle pop anthem. “Kembali” as the second song, presented an afternoon pop drive that flows into your head. The third song “Diatas Batas”, one of my favorite song that is included in their first EP, and got the award “Video Clip Of The Week” and “Video Clip Of The Month: November 2006” from “Demo” on O Channel TV, a local television program to their video clip, made to drive some of the viewers to follow the song that sounds like mixed between “Pathetic Waltz” - Pure Saturday and “Just Like Heaven” – The Cure. Because the rain was getting heavier, the song “Kita Akan Bertemu Disana” that sounds more atmospheric and a bit like “Labirin” – Pure Saturday, ended their performance with their promise to release their next EP, which include the songs they’ve played in February 2007.

I unfortunately met the members of Whisper Desire one by one after their performance, and after I had some conversation with them at separate and random places at PL, I could describe some trivia about Whisper Desire (please confirm if there are some mistaken):

1. The name “Whisper Desire” is inspired from Pure Saturday song “Desire”. (told at Pure Saturday Night)
2. All the members of Whisper Desire are the alumni of Pangudi Luhur High School year 2004, except the keyboardist and the backing vocalist.
3. Whisper Desire developed in 2004 as a prom night band in all the members’ farewell party, playing The Cure songs.
4. First song ever made by Whisper Desire is “Berakhir Awalan” and recorded in July 2005.
5. Until this writing is publishing, they haven’t made any merchandise of their band, except for themselves :)
6. Their next EP will be released in February 2007. “Insya Allah.” said Freddy.
7. Ninot (Whisper's drummer) is the first person who told me that Homogenic had performed in afternoon and I missed it :)

And after I got some conversation from each member of the bands, I got each member’s autograph to the CD case that brought!

Keep up the good work and performance guys!