SHAH Alam-based indie rock duo Jaggfuzzbeats have begun to explore a harsher sonic territory with their latest EP 'Subtle Shift'.
The six-track release was made available to listeners yesterday. It comes four years after their 2017 album ‘Rest Now’, which contains eight “college rock” tracks.
The band noted that the first inklings of the 'Subtle Shift' appeared in 2019 with the tracks 'In Time' and 'Fade'. It continued through 2020 with 'Not My Fault' in December. In mid-April, Jaggfuzzbeats launched a music video for the song 'Sweet Darling', which is also part of their latest release.
A project that's been brewing over the span of years and a labour of love, the band describes 'Subtle Shift' as "a pat on the back, a slap in the face and a warm embrace."
On the EP's essence and the duo's journey, drummer Omar Aiman said: "This EP is an insight into us hitting that quarter-life crisis benchmark and really going through it."
Omar, together with vocalist and guitarist Azrul Zainal laid the foundations of Jaggfuzzbeats back in 2014 in Shah Alam, in a time and place which they described as concrete wallows of cigarettes and worldly disenchantments.
Azrul noted that with 'Subtle Shift', the band was more involved in the entire creative and production process compared to previous releases.
"We’re more hands-on this time around and the direction of the sound is definitely where we see ourselves at the moment."
And while 'Subtle Shift' was officially made available on Friday, the band had premiered the latest recordings on April 27 with a special release on streaming platform Bandcamp, which was accompanied by a surprise bonus track.
The indie-rock duo's journey began on Soundcloud, with the release of their debut track 'Hours' which, poignantly put, was "roughly produced in Azrul's bedroom".
In January, Azrul said similar to the band’s album, the new EP was recorded in Melodiya Recordings, a recording studio based in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
When they debuted 2014, the band established itself with their first single 'Hours' on a music streaming platform. The track paved the way for other singles, including 'Wasted Night', 'Talk to You', and 'Damncoldurban'.
Following the 2017 album, the band also returned with their singles 'In Time' and 'Fade' in 2020, ahead of a planned sophomore album. But, the idea for a second full-length release was scrapped late last year, owing to personal commitments and the vast inconveniences brought by the year-long pandemic.
The term Jaggfuzzbeats has also been described as a portmanteau of the three elements that make up the band's sound. 'Jagg' alludes to the iconic Fender Jaguar guitar model used by Azrul, while 'Fuzz' notes the usage of Fuzz distortion guitar pedals, and 'beats' refers to the rhythm aspect of the band.
As mentioned, the band has also been described as a “college rock” band that carries elements of American indie rock that is a throwback to the late ‘90s and early 2000s, a soundscape which Azrul in January said, “fits for most parts”. – The Vibes, May 1, 2021
Listen to 'Subtle Shift' here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4rvwAsZ7T6iv7U8eVi1sWl
