Still Got It: Watch Electrico Return With A Live Series Featuring Their Glorious Hits

If there’s one name that helped push the local music scene, it’s Electrico (Credit: Aloysius Lim)

Making love in new wave hip since the mid-noughties, the revered Electrico is arguably the one band that augmented the reputation of the local scene amongst the masses. Alongside the aforementioned anthem, the indie-rock household name cranked out radio-dominating hits like “Runaway” and “I Want You”, and the patriotic “We’re Not Made in the USA” that proved that Singaporean music could hold its own. Their meteoric rise – including the accolade of being the first Singaporean band to grace Texas’ SXSW festival in 2007 – paved the way for alternative homegrown acts to chase their dreams. Even today, the effects of their success still linger.

The core trio of Electrico have been around since 1996 (Credit: Aloysius Lim)

Currently comprising the core trio of David Tan, Desmond Goh and William Lim Jr, Electrico has announced a treat that will appease their legions of loyal fans. Courtesy of 19sixtyfive, they are finally releasing their three-album catalogue on all digital streaming platforms; works that range from their dynamite So Much More Inside debut LP in 2004, to their last, more melancholic full-length, We Satellites, in 2008. The release of these albums (We Satellites is already out now) will be staggered across the month of April, culminating in a brand new EP of remade, reinvigorated classics performed live by the band in full force. In case you’ve ever wondered if Electrico’s still got it, this explosive comeback should quash your concerns.

This project was made possible after months of rehearsals (Credit: Aloysius Lim)

Titled B-sides Live at the Power Station, the four-track effort documents the band performing live at Pasir Panjang Power Station, breathing new life into nostalgic masterpieces like “Shadow” and “Only Where I’m Going”. They are joined by an ensemble of sessioning musicians, including Jonathan Shin (keyboard), Daryl Tay (guitar), David Loke (violin), Stella Wu (cello), Erwin Tan (trombone), and Luke Chong (French horn). Videos of these rare, beefed-up performances – recorded during a laborious 10-hour session – will be aired on Electrico’s YouTube channel, released weekly till the EP’s release on 7 May.

The sound of Electrico is amplified and enhanced with an expanded ensemble (Credit: Aloysius Lim)

“Re-recording the four songs allowed us to introduce a deeper side of the band, which is more mellow and mature than before,” says bassist, Desmond Goh, in a press release. “Doing this recording got our creative juices flowing. It also geared us up for performing,” guitarist-vocalist, David Tan, elaborates further.

If you, like me, were floored by the ascent of Electrico in the 2000s, then this series will give you more than goosebumps, but an avalanche of excitement for a band that looks happy to be back. Watch the video, and you’ll see that Electrico is still very much in their prime.

Electrico will unveil a new live performance on their YouTube channel every Friday from 26 March to 23 April 2021. The B-sides Live at the Power Station EP will be released on digital streaming platforms on 7 May, with Hip City and So Much More Inside on 9 and 23 April respectively.