A lovely stream of ballads emerges on Fredy Sutrisno’s heartfelt “Music From The Heart II”. Full of such passion he crafts a world that feels so intimate. The lightness of the arrangements further adds to the sun-drenched gentle breeze of the delivery. Everything about it feels so absolutely tender, from the careful lyricism to the way the album evolves at its own pace. Stylistically he draws from a whole slew of genres from the poignancy of Bossa Nova, the infectious celebratory spirit of power pop, even with a little bit of shoegaze thrown in for good measure. By offering such a wide variety of influences he creates a sound that is uniquely his own.
References abound throughout the whole of the album. His sweet and subtle vocal cues feel highly reminiscent of the gentle demeanor of Joao Gilberto. Never belting out his vocals he goes for a decidedly softer touch. This approach further emphasizes the compassion that ties the whole of the album together. A living breathing thing the album has a strong sense of life to it. Beyond this he draws from more contemporary influences, with some of his more intense songs going for a physicality akin to shoegaze groups like Slowdive, with a sprawling soar sound that feels truly awe-inspiring.
Delicate piano introduces the album on a high note with “Baby Please Don’t Go”. Sung with a sense of yearning the song proves to be one of the album’s highlights. The buildup in particular, with the incorporate of the electric guitar adds to its emotional impact. A bluesy disposition highlights the dreamy “Asmara Diantara Kita” where the glowing organ serves as the song’s background, with the laid-back rhythm working on an emotionally laden note. Cinematic sweeping strings defines the whirlwind of “Cinta Suci”. Bursting onto the scene with a tremendous outpouring of emotion the urgent “Tonight” rushes on by at a breakneck pace. Neatly following up on this energy is the poignancy of “One Last Time” where they build upon the previous track to make a piece of power pop that harkens back to the early 200s. This retro vibe further adds to the song’s fervor, making it another clear winner.
“Feeling” moves things back into a slower, more meditative state. The way the song takes its time to grow feels majestic. With “Tak Lekang Oleh Waktu” the guitar work has a gorgeousness to it. Layer upon layer is implied in a painterly fashion as it proves to be highly colorful. Soulful with his poetic lyricism is the beautiful “How Can I Live”. Sly grooves lift up the directness of “Kan Dan Aku”. Neatly bringing the whole of the album to a fantastic close is “Incomplete” which ties all that came before it together.
Fredy Sutrisno sculpts a poetic beauty on the powerful “Music From The Heart II”.
