A MYSTERIOUSLY masked experimental rock and electronica band from Kuala Lumpur has teased a line-up of fresh tracks with their debut single titled 'Lines' recently. It is the first of eight songs to be released this year.
Introducing Engineering Bureau (EB), a concept band that blends music, visual art, and technology. It premiered the thumping new number on Hitz FM on Sunday (January 24) and major streaming services the following day.
Describing itself as "taking six years to be fully functional", EB’s sound draws influences from '70s arena rock, '80s electro-pop and '90s electro-funk, and industrial rock.
"Engineering Bureau is an electronic rock project. It was formed to create music, visual art, technology (featuring) aural-visual performance experiences. [For EB] visual elements are just as important as musical elements," a band member who identifies as [M/o/o] explained to The Vibes recently.
"It had many other names before which didn't quite stick. As we were building and designing things like our lighting system, costumes, masks and props it had grown so complex integrating it all. It finally got to a point where we realised that what we were doing is so technically driven it might as well be an engineering project, hence the name.
"It also is an oblique reference to how society is becoming increasingly engineered. Technology and media's pervasive influence is profoundly changing us all."
The band listed a diverse set of influences. They include Alice In Chains, Ministry, Einstürzende Neubauten, Parliament/Funkadelic, Death Grips, Primus, Rush, Skinny Puppy, Jane's Addiction, System of a Down, David Bowie, Soulwax, Budgie, Aphex Twin, Soundgarden, Nitzer Ebb, and Nine Inch Nails.
Other than [M/o/o], the masked group who opted to remain anonymous in their creative venture consists of other members [RZ/R] and [RB/T].
In a press release issued earlier, the band notes they are masked so their identities are intentionally obscured. It is a signal of non-conformance to today’s social media-driven demands.
This obfuscation of identity, the band said, reflects the state of the world where everything is increasingly homogenous.
“Who knew that we would be releasing this track at a time when masks are a necessary social item," [M/o/o] said, alluding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"And with masks on, everyone looks the same. Despite that, and so much technology being used, all our old problems still exist. Particularly with regards to bias and bigotry on race, religion, and sexual orientation.”
'Lines' is written and produced by the band and recorded in their studio in Kuala Lumpur, but the group sees themselves as live artists.
“The pandemic is halting not just us but a lot of other artists globally. The three of us come from the background of being live performers and that’s what we bring to the table."
"We take these experiences and added a multi-sensory visual narrative that is relevant to the period and the world that we currently live in. One that is increasingly enveloped by technology, which has an unpredictable impact on society and culture.”
The band also hopes that the vaccine for Covid-19 will be made available soon.
“We are ready. If all goes well, the visual and performance aspect of this project will begin to publicly appear at the end of May 2021.”
Listen to 'Lines' here. – The Vibes, February 6, 2021
