KLUE - Articles

Like football?

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:19:48 +0800

How does watching a live screening of the UEFA Champions League Final sound to you? Wait, we haven't mentioned the best part: you'll be watching it under the stars in exotic South Africa. Got your attention now? Great. Thanks to our buddies at Heineken, all you have to do is take part in the Heineken Star Final competition to be in the running to win this all-expenses paid trip. Here's how it works. Firstly, log on to www.championsplanet.com.my. This site will have all the information you need to arm yourself with knowledge on the game. Basically, all you need to do is follow the instructions and kick your virtual football all the way from Iceland to South Africa. If you are one of the two players with the fastest travelling footballs by the time this contest ends on 16 April, you'll join other Heineken Star Final winners from all over the world in South Africa. You can always check your standing on the site, and try to beat the fastest time! Remember - 16 April is the closing date. So get kicking now!

Swap Thing

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:38:25 +0800

Local arts initiatives Cloudbreak and Dram Projects, along with UK’s York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre and Soho Theatre Young Writers, are collaborating on an exchange project that will focus on encouraging young people to develop a strong sense of identity through theatre. The project, entitled The Landscapes & Mindscapes of Malaysia & UK, will involve 10 participants from each country who represent the cultural and social diversity of their hometown.

This Commonwealth cultural exchange will begin with a box. Participants from both countries will fill this box up with anything they think represents their city, like maps, pictures, music, poetry… anything goes! When this box is exchanged between the two countries, the participants are tasked with interpreting the contents for the Out Of The Box sessions. Finally, both parties will collaborate together on a final piece that will be performed in both KL and UK. The final 10 for Malaysia have already been picked and includes Zuhairy, Nurul Dayanna Norji, Louisa Marie Low, Priya Kulasagaran, Patricia Low, Adam Kharul Hurri, Tan Hui Koon, Nural Hamizah Mohamad , Marvin Wong and Fairuz Sulaiman. Check out CloudBreak for updates on the project.

Text Sarah Chan Photo CloudBreak

W.I.P

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:59:52 +0800

There’s something a little disarming about putting anything into your mouth near or in a construction site. However, the people behind the highly successful 7ate9 resto-bar have thrown caution (and loads of dust) to the wind and have created another resto-bar WIP (Work In Progress), with a construction site theme. Perhaps, they did not have enough money to finish their construction, but despite the slight cheesiness, the yellow tape and lack of buttcrack-baring hardhat-wearing builder types (thank heavens, the wait staff are dressed in overalls!), the food is very good.

We arrived in between lunch and dinner and had to choose from their limited off-peak menu. We ordered myriad dishes whose origins traversed the world. The lamb kebabs (RM17) were good, subtly flavoured and of a good size with an excellent mint chutney. The tofu puffs (RM15) despite their strange name were excellent. Little deep-fried parcels of tofu stuffed with shrimp and chives, served with proper chilli sauce, were smackingly hot and garlicky. The mushroom mania pizza (RM28) was thin and crispy with a good mix of different mushroom varietals but the sauce used was a tad too sweet. I

had a supremely refreshing apple, kiwi and rosemary juice (RM17) which was very good palate cleanser. The off-peak menu is perfect for in-between snacks but WIP serves a full menu between 12pm and 3pm and then again between 6pm and 10pm. There is really everything on the menu, from ribeye (RM38) to an extensive but generic North Indian menu (RM25-30), to sang har mein (RM33) to an RM18 nasi lemak. Added to this is their limited dessert menu that upgrades the humble ais kachang with the addition of Haagen-Dazs ice cream.

Also, they have four draft beer choices, seven bottles and a whole host of inventive cocktails, liqueurs and juice concoctions. It’s a little expensive but for a night out drinking to be coupled with great food (that stays true to its origins – all the dishes we tried were pretty authentic), WIP might give its BSC competitors a run for their money.

Text Priya Narayanan Photo Sarah Chan

Michelangelo’s Italian Kitchen

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:13:46 +0800

Michelangelo’s Italian Kitchen is yet another addition to the growing market of mid-range Italian restaurants situated in malls. Michelangelo’s is spacious but remains cosy with its warm lighting and rustic décor. On first impression, the restaurant strikes you as an ideal place to share a meal with a group of friends. Just try to ignore the obvious reference to Michelangelo in their reproduction of The Creation of Adam.

The restaurant serves fairly typical Italian fare, save for something they call the Sizzlelini, which is available in options of seafood, chicken or vegetarian – all served in a sizzling skillet. For appetisers, the tomato basil bruschetta (RM9.90) is a good order as it’s very light, leaving you wanting more. The Rotisserie Cacciatore (RM19.90) is one of their specialities. The dish consists of roasted chicken leg in tomato-based sauce, baked with cheese and served with spaghetti. The pasta was slightly spicy, adding a good kick to the dish. The roasted chicken was slightly disappointing though as the spices and herbs did not infuse the meat.

The Ravioli Cheese (RM17.90) was presented messily but thankfully, tasted better than it looked. The pasta was creamy thanks to the spinach and cheese, but was balanced nicely by the tomato sauce. For drinks, you can’t go wrong with an Italian soda (RM9.90) as it’ll clear your palate after the heavy dishes. Although Michelangelo’s might not serve the most authentic Italian cuisine in town, it still manages to offer a satisfying dining experience at affordable prices.

Address OB3.LG1.7 & OB3.LG1.8, Oasis Boulevard, Sunway Pyramid Mall, 3 Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Train N/A Tel 03-5631 3322 Open 10am – 12am (Sunday – Thursday), 10am – 3am (Friday – Saturday) Cuisine Type Italian (Halal) Price Range RM20 to RM40 Credit Cards Yes Smoking Yes Food 3/5 Service 2.5/5 Order This Triple Combo, Ravioli Cheese Skip This N/A

Text Sarah Chan Photo Didi Ramlan

Flying Chillies

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:27:38 +0800

With a quirky name like Flying Chillies, you’re forgiven if you think this new restaurant at The Gardens MidValley serves spicy food by slinging it to your table. The reality is something less comic: Flying Chillies deals in serious Thai food – authentic and good enough to knock your socks off. After all, this baby is yet another new addition to the SEA Cuisine family, by the same folks who brought us quality Thai dining places like Amarin Heavenly Thai, Good Evening Bangkok and Rain Nudle House. Unlike most Thai restaurants that boast exotic decor, Flying Chillies is almost completely bedecked in white, from the clean lines of white timber strips lining the walls and ceiling to its creamy white seats. Choose to dine inside on bench seats dotted with colourful pillows for cosy gatherings, or enjoy your food al fresco for a spot of people-watching within the mall.

We started dinner with the Flying Chillies Combo, a medley of four appetisers comprising Royal Thai Money Bags, Thai Fishcake, Spring Rolls and Sesame Chicken Toast. The most outstanding of the four has to be the fishcake, accentuated with kaffir lime leaves and chilli. If you’re one who can’t resist a good Thai salad, the Crispy Catfish with Green Mango Salad comes highly recommended. But don’t expect a hunk of deep-fried fish. What appears instead is a crispy square of floss - we found out later that this was a mixture of catfish and other secret ingredients, which paired beautifully with the tangy salad. Next, came a procession of Special Fire Pot Tom Yam, Soft-Shell Crab with Green Peppercorns & Thai Herbs, and Pandan Leaf Chicken, served with bowls of fluffy Thai rice.

The soft-shell crabs were plain on their own, but when eaten together with the fried green peppercorn berries, basil leaves and garlic chilli lime dip, it was a sure winner. The Pandan Leaf Chicken was predictably good and lived up to expectations. We discovered the true meaning of Flying Chillies after sampling the Fire Pot Tom Yam. Served in a heated pot, one spoonful almost sent us flying off our seats as the soup was very spicy. This is definitely for the brave-hearted, so don’t dismiss the two-chilli rating on the menu. At RM25 per pot, however, it was slightly overpriced as it only contained two large river prawns. Dinner ended on a sweet note with Red Rubies Water Chestnuts in Coconut Milk and Mango Sticky Rice. The Red Rubies dessert was heavenly - each tiny cube of water chestnut was evenly encrusted with a chewy red glutinous coating that coloured the coconut milk a pretty pink.

The Sticky Rice came with a sprinkling of tiny Thai nuts which didn’t really impart flavour but gave a nice contrast of textures. Countless of restaurants end up serving this dessert with limpid mango but thankfully at Flying Chillies, the mango slices are juicy, sweet and flavoursome. All in all, this is a place to consider if you’re craving good, authentic Thai grub. Short of jetting up north to the country itself, it doesn’t get better than this!

Address T219 Third Floor The Gardens, MidValley City, Kuala Lumpur Train MidValley (KTM) Tel 03-2287 7708 Open 10am – 10pm Cuisine Type Thai(Halal) Price Range RM30 to RM50 Credit Cards Yes Smoking No Food 4/5 Service 4.5/5 Order This Soft-Shell Crab with Green Peppercorns & Thai herbs Skip This Fire Pot Tom Yum

Text Chin Chern Yen Photo Euhau

The Kite Runner

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:51:09 +0800

Atonement in Afghanistan. If one were to soundbyte Marc Foster’s adaptation of Khalid Hosseini’s acclaimed novel, The Kite Runner, this might suffice. However, this does not do the film justice. It’s a genuine film that tries to and succeeds in lending integrity and sincerity to its representation of an age-old culture, its people and the now-ravaged city of Kabul. Amir (Khalid Abdalla) is a first-generation Afghan American novelist revelling in his new marital bliss and the publication of his first novel, all fine and dandy in the warm Californian sunshine until he receives a phone call from his homeland telling him he must return home.

Foster then skillfully explains why in a flashback to Amir’s childhood. Amir at 12 (Zekeria Ebrahimi) is the son of a wealthy Kabul liberal in pre-Soviet Afghanistan. His life is played out with kites and slingshots in the bazaars, gullys and steppes of the city with his best friend Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada), who is the servant’s son. Their upstairs-downstairs brotherhood continues as Hassan guards Amir with his life and they run kites through the city calling themselves the “Sultans of Kabul.” Then in a moment, Hassan is ravaged by a group of boys and the cowardly Amir does nothing about it. In an effort to relieve himself of his guilt, he sets Hassan up for robbery. Then as the Soviets invade Kabul, Amir and his liberal father escape to Pakistan and then America, leaving everything behind. Flash forward to Amir, now fatherless, returning to Taliban-controlled Afgahnistan in an effort to atone for his betrayal and find redemption. In essence, it’s not unlike Atonement with its portrayal of a destructive childhood mistake becoming the cause for an adult silent suffering and then the search for redemption set against the backdrop of war and family obligation.

Foster’s visceral paintings of what Kabul once was are startlingly beautiful, in total contrast to the grey filth of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The film doesn’t get political and displays a very simplified representation of the country but its politics is not where the story lies. It’s the human story of Amir, and to a lesser extent Hassan, shaped and moulded by Afghani culture, by circumstance and later by war and exile.

Foster shows all this with unfaltering direction, not once being preachy. The film also has beautiful vignettes of American-Afghani culture – both its richness and displacement. The kites are used as metaphors for the story’s trajectory – a little bit cliche, but visually exciting. The music is not strong and often jars in places and seems to lack anything Afghani about it. The actors and the storytelling are believable (as is the subtitled Pashto/Dari that is used in the film) and they lend much tragedy, integrity, hope and poignancy to this important film adaptation of an important book.

Cast Khalid Abdalla, Atossa Leoni, Shaun Toub, Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada, Zekiria Ebrahimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, Homayoun Ershadi Director Marc Foster Runtime 128 mins Opens 17 April

Text Priya Narayanan

Heineken presents Impulse: A Junk Music Project

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:18:22 +0800

The last Impulse was one heck of a show. Zouk’s Terrace Bar didn’t even know what hit it until local band Furniture starting serenading them with their dreamy compositions, followed by the rocking sounds of Singapore’s Great Spy Experiment and ending with hard hits and beats from electro trio B4C.

If you were there, celebrate because Impulse returns this month for another crazy night of music and various shenanigans. If you weren’t there, dude – time to get with the program, and join us for the next one. This time, Impulse will take place at Republic, the hot new place to be from the same people behind Laundry Bar.

The line-up for April has just gotten a lot more eclectic. If you want to be schooled on Singapore’s music scene, there’s no better band to learn from than Astreal. What begun as a college band has now made underground legends of its four members – Ginette Chittick, Muhammad Alkhatib, Reduan Hussin and Jason Ang. They are seasoned performers having performed around the region and across oceans. Playing a blend of shoegaze, electronica and rock, Astreal creates multi-layered soundscapes that’s best enjoyed live and loud.

After you get hot and bothered from Astreal, chill out to Jerome Kugan’s set. The Sabahan is a lot of things at once: poet, writer, editor of prolific magazines (ahem) and now, he’s ready to set the bar higher for himself as a singer-songwriter with the release of his debut album, Songs For A Shadow. His electrocoustic style has hints of Bjork, KD Lang and The Notwist, with lyrics that deliver the barbs. As one of the organizers of KL Sing Song and Troubadours, Jerome’s well-versed in what it means to deliver an entertaining live performance. And how can you forget the Lapsap duo? Pioneers of the nu-rave, trash fashion scene in KL, DJs Blink’s and Xu’s larger than life personalities are reflected in the music they spin. In one set, they can go from The Klaxons, Spice Girls, Datarock and back to Justice. A night out with Lapsap usually means havoc and neon, so come dressed in your craziest.

What’s a gig without complementing visuals to elevate the mood? We have Fairuz Sulaiman, indie film and music director extraordinaire, creating unique multimedia projections to go with the music of each performer. With him, Impulse will truly be a well-rounded gig. So no more excuses; be a part of the experience this 26 April.

Text Sarah Chan Photo Junk

Republic

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:26:01 +0800

Much buzz has been surrounding Republic, the new bar that just opened at the new wing of Sunway Pyramid. The hype is understandable though. Conceptualised by the same people behind the popular Laundry at The Curve, citizens from surrounding areas of Subang Jaya, USJ and Bandar Sunway can only hope that it breathes much-needed life to the township’s rather lacking nightlife scene.

For the all-important first impression, I have to be honest and say that Republic was a tad underwhelming. This is probably due to the fact that the first thing that greets you as you approach it is its outdoor bar. The al fresco dining area itself feels rather messy. Unlike Laundry where they had small barricades erected to separate the bar, Republic’s outdoor area is left to the open, so the floor layout feels very nonchalant, with chairs and tables arranged around the bar and out to Oasis Boulevard. You don’t get the feeling that you’ve “arrived” at the bar; it’s more like you’re just strolling in. The bar, however, is nicely stocked and more than ample. The bartenders are enthusiastic, and when I was there, they were flipping bottles in beat to the music. And right on top of the bar, overlooking the entire boulevard, is the DJ podium.

Leading into the inside of Republic, is something quite unexpected: a lighted runway! Perfect for anyone who believes in dressing up to impress, the runway definitely focuses the crowd’s attention to anyone walking on it (it can get a little slippery, though). Unlike the al fresco area, one can make a definite entrance inside. There’s yet another DJ console inside, albeit a smaller one. Since Republic takes on an Oriental theme, their walls are painted opulent red while colourful Eastern lanterns dangle from its exposed ceiling. The couches are also in red, and there are interesting touches of décor here and there, such as a wooden cabinet made to look antiquated. Still, since the space itself is huge, they can do with more such decorative touches.

Following its Oriental theme, Republic’s cocktails also reflect this creative direction. The Longan Mojito (RM23.90) is, as you would have guessed, the classic mojito with longans. The 107th Concubine (RM25.90) is a blend of dragon fruit, rum, crème de cassis and cranberry while Miss Saigon (RM26.90) is mixes passionfruit and sake on top of its white spirit base. For something more interesting, try their Teapot Shots (RM30), Black Mamba Shots (RM15.90), or Cocktail Tower (RM150), which is a 2-litre tower filled with your choice of South China, Red Yakuza or Margarita Lime.

As for the music, Republic has lined up DJ Daryl on Sundays (funky house), Jason on Mondays (chill-out house), Nicky C on Tuesdays and Saturdays, DJ Low on Wednesdays (drum n’ bass), indie electro on Thursdays (courtesy of Lexxtronik and Xes! Xes!), and hip hop on Fridays with DJ Nesh. Though it still needs time to grow into its own, Republic’s presence at least jazzes up the club scene in Sunway, which was previously dominated by CocoBanana Club (formerly known as Q Bar).

Text Sarah Chan Photo Valene Tan

Be Kind Rewind

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:23:33 +0800

Be Kind Rewind. Pretty ingenious title for Michel Gondry’s latest venture on the big screen. The film is intentionally lo-fi in almost every sense, from performance to production values. And it works wonderfully. Mike and Jerry (Mos Def and Jack Black) are two Passaic, New Jersey losers. Mike is left to look after Mr. Fletcher’s shabby still-in-VHS format videostore with explicit instruction to not let the avant-garde mechanic/tinkerer Jerry into the store.

Of course, Jerry walks into the store but only after he has been magnetized at a power plant. In his now microwaving form, he walks into the video store and wipes every video clean. And so Mike and Jerry decide to reenact their own versions of a whole range of films by "Sweding" them. The Sweded versions of everything from Robocop to Driving Miss Daisy take off and the lines outside their store even see someone from New York City. All goes swimmingly until Sweding is caught for copyright infringement.

The film is a lackdaisacal and unfettered ode to the love of movies, and links the analog/beta with the digital in a most charming way. Great fun, you’ll want to start Sweding too using all the cardboard you can find, and the kitchen sink.

Cast Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow Director Michel Gondry Runtime 101 mins Opens 20 March

Text Priya Narayanan

Mea Culpa

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:47:42 +0800

Mea Culpa is a group exhibition featuring 13 local artistes which are Ahmad Fuad Osman, Hamir Soib, Haslin Ismail, Iham Fadly, Chan Kok Hooi, Ili Farhana, Zaslan Zeeha Zainee, Hasnul Jamal Saidon, Noor Azizan Paiman, Abdul Aziz Tasrif, Khairul Azuwan Ishak, Fadzli Osman and Kamal Sabran. Yes, it’s a long list with many familiar names but perhaps the unwitting star of the exhibition is up-and-coming poet Amirul Fakir. Amirul’s collection of short stories, also entitled Mea Culpa, is the inspiration for the 13 works of art which will adorn the walls of RA Fine Arts this April. Each artwork is an interpretation of the 13 chapters in Amirul’s book.

Curator Nurhanim Khairuddin says that Amirul’s work has always been surrealistic, so the 13 artistes exhibiting were chosen based on the fact that they have previously produced work which has fantastical elements. “I made the artistes do some homework. They had to read the book and truly understand their chapter before interpreting it to art.” Still, she hasn’t restricted the artistes to any particular style, preferring to let them explore their own imaginations. Most of the works will be either acrylics or oil on canvas. During the exhibition, the chapter which inspired the painting will be displayed as well, allowing for better appreciation. You can also purchase Amirul’s book for RM20, too!

Text Sarah Chan Photo Courtesy of RA Fine Arts

Feast Of Love

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:24:53 +0800

Based on Charles Baxter’s critically acclaimed novel, Feast Of Love is a drama that follows the story of three couples and their journey to find love.

Set in the quaint suburbs of Oregon, local professor, Harry Stevenson (Morgan Freeman) witnesses and narrates the three intersecting love stories as they unfold before his eyes. He watches as love devastates, inspires, heals and shapes the lives of each of the ensemble cast members. The cast consists of unlucky in love and die-hard romantic café owner, Bradley (Greg Kinnear) and his wife Kathryn (Selma Blair). The two face marital issues and Bradley has to deal with losing his wife to another woman. Radha Mitchell who plays Diana, a cutthroat and cold real estate agent is caught in a torrid affair with a married man. While star-crossed lovers, Oscar (Toby Hemingway) troubled by a dark past and Chloe (Alexa Davalos) a self-proclaimed wild child, fall madly in love with each other.

Amidst all the cheating and betrayal, their story tells the idealistic side of young love. Harry isn’t without problems. He too is struggling with grief after suffering a loss of a beloved. To tell the truth, despite its voyeuristic nature, the script bordered on cliché and the screenplay totally ignores the character of Kathryn, robbing Selma Blair of some deserved screen time. There are definitely some solid performances; namely from Kinnear and Freeman but newcomer Alexa Davalos’ moving performance stands out the most. Nonetheless, it’s hard to dismiss the slow crawl and frustratingly scattered storyline of the film.

Cast Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Billy Burke, Selma Blair Director Robert Benton Runtime 102 mins Opens 10 April

Text Didi Ramlan

Dessert's Bar

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:26:07 +0800

Nothing beats yummy desserts after a nice meal. Desserts Bar offer a variety of smoothies, sorbet, crepe and finger food to occupy that small bit of space reserved in your tummy.

Their signature dish would be Berry Delicious for only RM10. As the name implies, this dessert comes with vanilla panna cotta blending in with raspberry jam and honey that gives you a burst of sweet sour delight! For those who enjoy strawberries, the Pannatini (RM15) would be the ideal choice. With vanilla panna cotta sandwiched between strawberry chunks, you get the sourness from the strawberry mixed with the sweetness of the panna cotta.

Something else to look out for is the Ice Cream Crêpe (RM8) which comes in a scoop of home-brewed ice cream you can choose from - Rum & Raisins, Chocolate Raspberry, Macha Azuki, Pistachio, Black Sesame with Soy Milk, Coffee and Chocolate Flake - atop either an original or Belgium Chocolate crêpe. Although the desserts are yummy, overload of berries and panna cotta can be too much for the stomach to handle.

Address Lot 1A, LG Floor, Mont’ Kiara Shoplex,15 Jalan Kiara, Mont’ Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur Train N/A Tel 03 6201 3227 Open 11am - 10pm Cuisine Type Desserts (Halal) Price Range RM5 - RM25 Credit Cards Yes Smoking Yes Food 3/5 Service 3/5 Order This Berry Delicious, Ice Cream Crêpe Skip This N/A

Text & Photo Julian Cheong

Evening

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:34:35 +0800

With weepy pianos and sounds of rain, Evening establishes itself from the very beginning as a slow-paced drama, exploring one woman’s memories. The woman under scrutiny is Ann (Vanessa Redgrave) who is on her deathbed. Her two daughters, Nina (Toni Collette) and Constance (Natasha Richardson), are at her bedside as she, in a haze of dreams, calls out to a man named Harris. Then, the flashbacks begin as we are taken to Newport Beach, 50 years earlier, when a young Ann (Claire Danes) is set to be a bridesmaid to her best friend Lila’s wedding.

At Newport, she is introduced to Harris, a charismatic young doctor whom everyone is in love with, including Lila. In that one weekend in Newport, the young Ann experiences love and tragedy; leaving her with memories that haunt her until the present day. Despite the hoo-ha, Evening never really amounts to much of an epiphany. What is supposed to be the greatest love of her life, the romance between Harris and Ann is flat and contrived. Why Ann would obsess over what was essentially a summer fling is anyone’s guess. And the “big secret” hinted at throughout was ultimately a let-down. The only salvo was Hugh Dancy’s portrayal of Buddy, Lila’s erratic brother. With such a solid cast, it’s disappointing that Evening fails to deliver the goods.

Cast Claire Danes, Vanessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Toni Collette, Hugh Dancy Director Lajos Koltal Runtime 120 mins Opens 3 April (GSC International Screens only)

TEXT Sarah Chan

Gatecrasher presents John ‘00’ Fleming & Adam Sheridan

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:43:39 +0800

When it comes to hot parties, one club definitely knows how to throw it: Gatecrasher, the renowned super club credited for elevating the appreciation of trance music around the world. It’s been a while since they last threw a Gatecrasher bash here, so it should come as good news for all that a slice of the Gatecrasher experience can once again be enjoyed at Zouk this April.

The two DJs coming down for the Gatecrasher party are John ‘00’ Fleming and Adam Sheridan, who are definitely not strange names to the clubbing community. Fleming is a regular fixture in the top 100 polls, and was recently voted one of the best DJs in the world by the Trance Addict website. Having suffered from lung cancer when he was only 20, Fleming is one of those DJs who doesn’t hold back from anything, owing to his traumatic past experiences. Constantly pushing genres and experimenting, this label owner, producer and writer (he has a column in Future magazine) is a much respected name in the trance genre with an ultra devoted fan base.

While Fleming is more than established, 24-year-old Sheridan is a hot rising name in the UK dance scene. He was just shy of making it into the top 100 polls (coming in at number 102) last year but we have a sneaky feeling that 2008 will see him breaking into the coveted list. And after all, it’s been said that one should never judge a DJ from her/his poll position and that is rightfully so for Sheridan. 2007 was a landmark year for the upstart. He toured America, Germany, Poland, Canada, did the festival rounds and released quite a few trance records that were memorable, like “Another Tomorrow” and “Solus.” He also secured a residency at the infamous Cream at Ibiza, and spun at mega clubs like Godskitchen, Lush, and of course, Gatecrasher. Like his idol Carl Cox, Sheridan mixes trance, techno and dirty house together using three decks. He’s going to be big this year, catch this star ascendant while you can.

Text Sarah Chan Photo Zouk

Rawkstar Fever

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:44:24 +0800

Rawkstar Fever is probably the only kind of fever you want to contract. Andamedia has organized an event of gargantuan proportions. They’ve managed to get some of Klang Valley’s biggest rock bands like Seven Collar T-Shirt, Love Me Butch, Couple, OAG, Bittersweet, and Komplot, with Frasa kick-opening the show. Besides the bevvy of musical acts, Rawkster Fever enthusiasts will be able to shop for new clothes from the many vendors that will be setting up shop. Among the many labels that will be available on the day are Kukiskapkek, Pop Clothing, Poprina, Above Chenta, Conteng and Molek.

Local indie rock outfit Seven Collar T-Shirt has been a permanent fixture in the Malaysian music scene for almost a decade. With their recently-released DVD, rumours are swirling about that they’re working on a new album. Hardcore band Love Me Butch, on the other hand, will be dishing out their trademark big choruses and edgy riffs. Their sophomore album This Is The New Pop received positive reviews for its international feel and quality and earned them commercial success.

Who knew a little ol’ band from Ipoh would make it into one of the world’s most influential music rag? We’re referring to the powerpop indie band, Couple that made waves 2006 when Rolling Stones magazine dubbed them one of the 25 best bands on MySpace. Since then, the band has been diligently making their rounds at gigs as well as trying to put together their next album.

It was back in 1994 when OAG released their first album and captured the hearts of Malaysians with music they described as 60’s crunchy pop fuzz. Even now, the veteran band is still one of the most loved alternative acts in the country and their pull is stronger than ever.

Relative newcomers Bittersweet aren’t slouches in the music scene. The band blew up last year with fellow indie bands Hujan and Meet Uncle Hussain. They’ll be sure to get the crowd moving with their brand of indie Brit-rock and rockstar swagger. Rounding things off are Komplot playing extremely catchy disco punk tunes. For the measly admission fee of RM18, this is a gig not to be missed.

Text Didi Ramlan Photo Shermen Mukhtar

Alexis Bistro Presents Gwyn Jay Allen

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:50:54 +0800

When it comes to timeless music, nothing is as evergreen as Louis Armstrong. The iconic jazz singer and trumpeter is an inspiration to many, like Gwyn Jay Allen. Allen’s love and admiration of Armstrong’s body of work is one that began many years ago. Now, he’s ready to pay tribute to the star in I Love Louis.

Labeled as a “Creole” tribute to Armstrong, I Love Louis will feature original material by Allen as well as renditions of Armstrong’s classics like “It’s A Wonderful World,” “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” We have a feeling that there’ll be plenty of sing-alongs at this show.

I Love Louis is not just Allen’s labour of love as it is actually a collaboration with pianist Alex Wilson, a well-know name in UK’s jazz scene. The music is certainly in good hands. With Allen’s West End chops (he starred as Cab Calloway in The Blues Brothers musical), there’s little doubt that I Love Louis will entertain in many ways. Don’t believe us? Well, the tour has already landed in Melbourne where it was greeted warmly, and will continue to travel in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. That many cities can’t be wrong, right?

Text Sarah Chan Photo Alexis

Passion

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:56:45 +0800

Passion promises to start off April with all the sultriness and expressiveness of dance. A new collaboration between choreographer Judimar Hernandez and director Joe Hasham, this dance production is inspired by Carlos Saura’s highly-acclaimed film Tango.

Venezuala-born dancer Hernandez who has been working with Malaysian artistes for the past 13 years says that while inspiration from Saura’s film made it easier to choreograph, the show is not a rehash of the movie. “We had a story to stick to but during the rehearsal process, new stories came in,” says Hernandez.

It promises to be a re-exploration, perhaps even a re-invention of Saura’s film that was most recognised for its stark visuals and set design, something that will be recreated onstage in Passion. The cast (of which Judimar herself is part) of ten dancers were put through basic Tango techniques so as to immerse themselves in the danceform. However, the tango will not be danced during the performance, only inferred.

“I am more interested in the feeling of the form, its expression, its character as an avenue to convey emotions of jealousy, desire, confrontation, power, control, rivalry, pleasure and love.” This Judimar says are the roots upon which her choreography is based, adding that the endeavour has been a passion of Hasham’s for sometime and after meeting with Judimar, it evolved.

“Joe is very focused on the story and I am more into the dance and movements. I choreographed it based on the scenes from the movie that we both agreed to explore. He gave me the direction to create the dance vocabulary suitable to the characters,” she says. The creation of this dance language was further consolidated by improvisation and movement exploration with the cast, who will not speak any form of dialogue.

As Judimar says, “The story will be told through our dancing sequences and body language.” She hopes that the audience will be able to recognize and connect with these emotions and journey with the dancers, as their movements tell the story. For fans of dance, Passion is definitely something to look forward to.

Text Priya Narayanan Photo U-En Ng & Loo Jia-Wei

Hennessy Artistry featuring DJ Andrew K, DJ Keri & VJ Callen

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:01:27 +0800

Welcome back, Hennessy Artistry! The last event in the series with Kat DeLuna, DJ Sky Nellor and Broken Scar blew off the roof. Come 18 April, Zouk will once again be invaded by a trio performers ready to bring the beats and make you move.

First up is DJ Andrew K. Born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, Andrew got his DJ start early and through the years, has begun building a reputation for his energetic sets. Andrew has produced over 30 releases and has worked with labels like Global Underground and Anjunabeats. Some of his fans include DJs like Sasha, John Digweed and Markus Schulz.

From Greece, we move on to American DJ Keri, whose sets sound as good as she looks. Keri is known for intertwining her own vocals to her sets of progressive house and break beats.

And bringing all this together is veteran nightlife scenester, Callen Tham. He really needs no introduction in the local club scene. As party of Altered Image, Callen’s visuals have appeared in clubs nationwide and festivals as well. Watch how these three people bring their talents together in this month’s Hennessy Artistry – it’ll be fun, at the very least.

Text Sarah Chan Photo Zouk

RACE

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:09:47 +0800

What happens when you put together two young actor-directors who are frustrated with the dismal show of talent in KL’s theatre scene? For Soefira Jaafar and Kimmy Kiew, whose careers on the stage started out around the same time a few years ago but whose paths only crossed intermittently, it’s resulted in the creation of a new show featuring four new 15-minute plays, featuring the involvement of new and familiar faces.

Presented by KL Performing Arts Centre and Rather Peculiar Theatre, RACE promises to be an irreverent and incisive look at race relations in this country, with Soefira and Kimmy directing a multiracial cast made up of Shanthini Venugopal, Sarah Shahrum, Adrian Seet, Nor Hazlin Nor Salam, Chong Keat Aun and a golden crop of exciting young talents, Ahmad Firdaus Che Yahaya, Shariffah Mariam Syed Abdullah, Lakshman, and Ledil Putra Alaudin.

The quartet of plays that make up RACE include award-winning playwright Ridzwan Othman’s “Angsa” and singer-songwriter Shahnon Shah’s “Once You Pop, You Just Can’t Stop”, both which reveal insidious slices of Malaysian life, in all its dirty glory. The other two plays are “One In A Billion”, a devised play by Kimmy Kiew which uses comic marching movements as a metaphor for race and class struggle, and “Up & Down” by emerging playwright Fauzuly Hamdan Tahir.

According to Soefira and Kimmy, RACE will appeal to theatregoers who are intent on watching interesting new works that touch on issues that are close to home. Inspired by what they refer to as an underbelly of “violence” in Malaysian culture, the play aims to expose some of these elements, but in an irreverent way. Working closely with the playwrights and cast, and using each other as sounding boards, the two directors are adamant about steering clear of political and cultural cliches, made even more interesting by its various collaborators from different disciplines and backgrounds.

TEXT Jerome Kugan

Jin Raps Back

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:11:46 +0800

Stateside mulitlingual rapper Jin-Au Yeung has been a hard working man recently, touring clubs across the Peninsula since February, as part of Chivas Regal’s This Chivas Life programme. The rapper, who is signed to the same label as Eve and DMX, and who has collaborated with Kanye and Wyclef, took some time off from his busy schedule to speak to us.

You’ve been performing all over the Peninsular. How are you enjoying Malaysia?
Malaysia is an awesome place. I love the diversity of the community. It reminds me of back home in the US but with a very unique and distinct culture of its own.

How did your career in music start?
I've been actively pursuing a career in the music industry since about the age of 16. As my high school years were coming to an end, I became more and more involved and adamant about making progress as an artist.

What was it like working with such big names as Kanye West and Wyclef Jean?
It was a wonderful experience. Working with artists that I’m a fan of is probably one of the greatest rewards of doing what I do.

How did you get on the The Chivas Life Tour?
CMG/Absolute Entertainment are the companies responsible for the release of my latest project, which also happens to be my first all-Cantonese album ABC in Malaysia. Chivas is a company that they've partnered with for quite some time now, so naturally when it was time to plan a promo tour, all the pieces of the puzzle just came together.

What inspires you to make your music?
My biggest inspiration is life. Plain and simple. Beyond that, I guess I would say my family. It's a great feeling to be able to take care of and provide for my family doing something I love. More so, it's great to know that there are people out there who truly support what I do with my craft.

Text Lim Ai Leen

Are The Fish Biting?

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:32:49 +0800

Love the idea of having tiny fish nibble away at your feet? Garra Rufa Fish Therapy opened its first Malaysian outlet along Jalan Telawi, Bangsar. A session of fish therapy at Garra Rufa is the ultimate "pamper me" experience. The boutique atmosphere truly adds to the already indulgent activity. Flip-flops are a good idea for when you're done with a session so you can openly admire your new set of rejuvenated feet. Garra Rufa Fish Therapy is open daily from 10am to 10pm. For more information, visit www.garrarufafishtherapy.com

Good news for procrastinators!

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:43:07 +0800

Procrastination is such a hard habit to kick, no? If you've been playing with the idea of sending a film proposal to participate in this year's Freedom Film Festival, then you're in luck. The organizers have just extended their deadline for proposal submissions until 14 April. So you have more than 2 whole weeks to make it work! If you don't already know, 2008's theme is Democratic Space: Making Room for Human Rights. If you're clueless as to what that theme means, check out their Facebook group which has discussions centering on it, as well as many other issues. They'll also be having workshops in conjunction with the fest - check out the Freedom Film Fest website for more details. So go forth and be enlightened!

Here's a YouTube clip from KOMAS to call for entries:

Mallscapes: Made In China

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:45:35 +0800

Seeing that KLue's theme this issue is indulgence, I thought I'd do just that by bringing a little more of myself into my final article for Mallscapes.

After relocating to Shanghai for three months, I think it’s only fair to end my contributions to this little column. While truth be told I could possibly spew minute observations involving mantou (Chinese buns) skins and peach fuzz for another year, it would hardly be relevant to the wonderful mall trawlers of the Klang Valley.

But I digress.

In August last year, I wrote about the attempt to cure potential homesickness with the familiarity of malls. In a bid to come full circle, this month we will get to see the little things we take for granted in Klang Valley's malls becoming an indulgence for me.

While Shanghai is a progressive and fast paced city, there are many aspects of consumer life that needs fine tuning, sheer volume and rock bottom prices often won't do. Progressiveness offers the shopper potentially of great levels of shopping in the future, but what about now? I think the promise of great shopping in five years won't do the serial window shopper any good.

So let me count the staples of Klang Valley shopping that have become a sheer indulgence for me.

Firstly, carefully curated stock in Klang Valley's little boutiques. While I know the fun in shopping is the hunting, Shanghai can often make you do a lot of hunting and very little shopping. It’s possible to have walked two shopping districts in a day to find nothing you really want to buy. And when you do, the prices are phenomenal, or they’re mere designer knock-offs. It really makes you appreciate the hard work boutique owners in the Valley put into scouring the hellish wholesale markets of the region to find great things to stock their stores with.

Secondly, cheap and decent looking flats, as in the shoes, have become almost like a luxury item for me. After scouring the equivalent of two Sungei Wang Plaza worth of boutiques, I have barely been able to find a decent pair of cheap flats. It baffles me how this city where everyone walks for miles sell so few flats. A Shanghainese friend who used to study in Malaysia was tempted to bring back a dozen pairs of Vincci flats on a recent trip to KL. Suddenly, Vincci stores are to us what H&M stores must be to New Yorkers.

Thirdly, interesting clothes that are not grade A designer knock-offs. In Klang Valley, we still have hope that the great cutting on that el cheapo dress came from a student designer in Bangkok and not a grade A knock-off factory. In these parts? Tough luck.

Finally, plain tank tops and T-shirts. On some days, living in the increasingly trend driven neighbourhood of Xujiahui leaves me feeling like I've stumbled into a poor version of a Gackt music video. It isn't so much that the youth here think only of dressing up like their counterparts in Shibuya, Japan, and Apgujong, Korea but there really aren't many alternatives.

Most clothes sold to anyone below 60, and sometimes even above, contain a staggering amount of embellishments. There has to be more lace, rhinestones, glitter and sequins in these shops here than the factories that make them. A plain T-shirt or tank top in these parts can be a bit of a luxury. And I used to wonder why Uniqlo is such a hit in these parts just for putting out the plainest clothes in 10 colours and not so cheap prices. Now I'm hounding Uniqlo outlets twice a week.

So it seems that in months past, what constitutes indulgences for me have evolved to be nothing more than plain T-shirts and cheap flats. So that makes me wonder, what really is indulgence?

Text Kathia Sya

Focus Focus: C-C-C-Changes

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:51:27 +0800

By the time you read this, it would have been a month after the 12th Malaysian General Elections. Who would have thought, huh? All the hoping, all the dreaming, and all the wishing for some kind of change has come true, plonking us right here: five West Malaysian states are now governed by the PAS-PKR-DAP coalition; the Barisan Nasional component parties reduced to tatters with some reviled giants felled; the new BN government now rules with a simple majority.

What does this mean? Political analysts here and around the world are launching lucrative careers theories trying to explain this monumental seachange - the Barisan has not conceded this kind of defeat since 1969, and even then not by this much. The Opposition that captured Penang at the time (meaning Gerakan) were quickly absorbed into the ruling coalition.

On one level, we saw that the maturing Malaysian electorate (meaning those of you who voted; if you haven't registered, why not do it now - better safe than sorry!) was not loathe to embrace a post-racial, issues-based political sensibility. Of course, it helped that PAS dropped all calls for the setting up of an Islamic State (and they continue to refute any intentions of doing so in Kedah), and that DAP actively shared their ceramah stages with PKR's more populist (read moderate Malaysian) political figures and in doing so perpetuated a united front. In other words, Malaysians were thrilled watching the birth of a new coalition: a more centrist and moderate Barisan Rakyat that sought to be the antithesis of the Barisan Nasional.

Intricacies aside, the rejection of the BN (its popular vote was reduced to about 51%, an historical low) says that the voting majority longed for a Malaysia that was not governed nor populated by ethnocentric political parties. We are ready to face the basic issues of the day without being clouded by ethnic sentiments: rising oil and goods prices; high crime rates; political and judicial corruption; erosion of the Malaysian Constitution affect us all. How will the new face of Malaysian politics deal with these banal yet fundamental concerns?

In Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has already called for the running of local council elections again (and more state governments will follow suit); in this fashion, the everyday grievances of the people, such as clogged drains, poor infrastructural maintenance ad nauseam, can be directly looked after by the people who, by right, should be the ones looking after them (that's you, DBKL, MBPJ ad nauseam)! The councillors remain the people's custodians, working to ensure that the municipal councils are run effectively and are free from corruption (Selangor billboards should be the first to go!).

The issue of transparency will prove a delightful spectator sport. The PAS-DAP-PKR coalition would be wise to make public all government accounts, showing us how the taxpayers’ money is spent and to what end. The remaining states governed by BN should follow suit, if it wants to at least learn from its past (read rasuah-riddled) mistakes.

More than anything else, the 12th General Elections disclosed a new superpower in Malaysian politics: ordinary Malaysians themselves! I can't remember reading so many SMSes urging and pleading me to not waste my vote, to sideline race-based politics, to think of the greater Malaysian good. And let's not forget 'Makkal Sakthi' (People Power); if it were not for the Bersih and HINDRAF rallies, we would not see this V for Vendetta-like tide of change.

Actually, that was it. The image of a wave of Guy Fawkes marching near the end of that movie is simply what we're seeing today. One Malaysian alone cannot hope to break the monopoly of the status quo; it took the combined force of some five (out of 10.9) million voters: who gave Teresa Kok her 36,000 majority; who ousted Shahrizat from Lembah Pantai; who said an equivocal “No” to Samy Vellu, Koh Tsu Koon, and Zainuddin Mydin. The elections showed Malaysians that they above all have power to give and to take back.

It will take some time, but BN will either reform and learn from its errors or stay the course and be relegated to political oblivion. In the mean time, PAS-DAP-PKR will have to learn to work together more closely, more meaningfully, and more professionally, if it is to keep the Rakyat's hearts and votes in years to come.

We have four years, five at best. Let's prove to each other, to our forefathers (who were stopped in their nation building tracks in 1969), and to our future that this Malaysia is worth fighting for.

TEXT Fahmi Fadzil

Chope: Contrasting Cities

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:53:36 +0800

The day after the unbelievable results for the 12th General Election was announced, I took off and ran to Singapore. No, it wasn't the fear of a new dawn for Malaysia that drove me to the comfortable predictability of Orchard Road, but rather the prospect of seeing Broken Social Scene at the Mosaic Music Festival.

After two weeks of grueling campaign work, it was a nice change of scenery that included a lot of the things I've missed—namely beer, sleep and eating non-mamak food at regular dining hours. Needless to say, it was also nice not having to smile all the time.

Though social and political issues are not KLue's area of coverage, it would be hard to ignore the changes that took place on March 8. They are changes that will affect the lives of all Klang Valley residents, and will indirectly alter a lot of the landscape of arts and entertainment.

So it was undoubtedly an interesting time to be in Singapore, not only because fugitive Mas Selamat was on the run. After two weeks of meeting and talking with Klang Valley residents from a variety of backgrounds, it was hard not to notice the monochromatic nature of life in Singapore.

After seeing firsthand the spirit of Malaysians crossing the racial barrier to take back their country, in Singapore it was business as usual. After seeing Makkal Sakti adopted by all as a rallying cry for change, Singapore felt overwhelmingly sterile, mono-ethnic and dull, its politics uninspiring.

With the historic results of the general elections still barely registered at that point, I actually felt sorry for Singapore—it will surely be awhile before the city-state undergoes its own political awakening, if at all. Then I got my smug head out of my rear. After all, it was also in Singapore that I was reminded of how long the road ahead will be for the Klang Valley. The incompetence of our past governments have left our city in a terrible shape, even if it isn't always obvious to everyone.

After witnessing the appalling living conditions of so many in the Bukit Lanjan constituency where I was campaigning in, it was also unbelievable to see how decades-old flats and apartments looked far better maintained than those less than five years old here. While Singaporean flats and apartments receive a fresh coat of paint every few years, the apartments here had barely functioning elevators, burnt-out light bulbs and leaky ceilings. Most of these low-cost apartments were ideal locations for a horror movie.

Needless to say, safety was a luxury many of the residents in the low cost flats didn't have, let alone facilities that functioned. Even in wealthier areas like Bandar Utama, safety remains an issue. Private security is almost standard in the neighbourhood. At several ceramah we organised, the audience was asked if they have been or known a victim of crime. An overwhelming majority of residents raised their hands in acknowledgement. It's a very, very disturbing trend I'm sure many are aware of. While Singaporeans might live in fear of the PAP, they probably don't worry about being dragged along the pavement by snatch thieves on bikes as much as we do.

But this is what the newly elected Selangor state government—along with the overwhelmingly Opposition MPs elected in Kuala Lumpur—will now have to address. Alleviating the symptoms of haphazard overdevelopment will be a task few would envy, but it is undoubtedly one of the root causes of problems facing the Klang Valley, including traffic jams, a general decline in the quality of life, not to mention the escalating crime rate.

So while March 8 possibly marked the beginning of Malaysia as a functioning democracy, progress is rarely made by politics alone. There is a lot that needs to be done before the Klang Valley can transform itself into a modern, developed city—the one we like to believe it is. As I returned from Singapore days later, I still felt great pride over Malaysia's political awakening, excited about the many possibilities the future would bring.

But on the most basic level, all I wish for is the new Selangor government to be an efficient and competent one. My wish list is really quite simple: better living conditions for all, a decline in crime and corruption, and vague as this might sound, a wish for things to work the way they’re supposed to. And while we're at it, an end to double parking would be nice.

Brian Yap cannot deal with another "Correct, correct, correct!" joke. Don't send him any at brian@freeform.com.my

Borak: The Boredom Will Be Televised

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:57:57 +0800

Television is hardly a comfort these days. As I type, I'm watching a series roundup of Grey's Anatomy, and it proves my point that many of the so-called “hit shows” are absolute drivel—there's only so much needless info about who slept with who in a hospital one can take before one slips into a coma. At a time when we need our comfort TV the most—life’s mental ice-cream that sedates us from the ever increasing pressures of daily life—I'm sad to report that there's an alarming rise of airtime devoted to absolutely nothing to watch.

Television in the early days was uncomplicated. The family would gather around it, and have dinner while having laugh at Lucille and Desi—readers who don’t know I Love Lucy, think of it as the Dharma & Greg of your parents’ generation. Simple. Well, that's how it worked in my family anyway and we turned out all right. Not necessarily the most functional tool for family bonding, but it did the job.

Not so now, however. With an almost infinite amount of splintered programming choices—let's not even include web-based channels like YouTube and Joost—there's hardly a moment when everyone would agree to watching one thing at the same time. Television in the 21st century is very much an individualistic indulgence these days.

TV is all about you. You want to be singularly drawn in and tuned out from the rest of the world, particularly annoying people who keep commenting on how they've never met any doctor who looks like Katherine Heigl (hmm...). My point, and I do have one, is that TV has, now more than ever, a greater responsibility to cater to our individual entertainment needs. And it's spectacularly failing at it.

This struck me a few weeks back when I completed the final season of The OC—a series that is arguably the last great guilty indulgence of current television. Caught up in a wave of melodrama, the ending scene of the finale brought to a close a genre that I scarcely believed could exist: the Soapedy. It brought together the best elements of comfort TV—soap opera and comedy—and not to mention helped popularise the indie-rock genre to the masses. On paper, it looked like a mess; it was as if creator Josh Schwartz hammered together a concept in which Steve Carrell played Dynasty's Blake Carrington, with The Postal Service doing the theme song. It was night-time drama at its inventive best.

The '80s too was filled with guilty indulgences that many of us still remember with a glint in our eyes. And with good reason. The kitschy, predictable and softball entertainment of Knight Rider, Airwolf, and MacGyver encompassed all that was needed to comfort us. There's little of that good-natured fun now.

Not that the 21st century failed to produce anything fun. Far from it. But they just turned stale over the years. American Idol 7, America's Next Top Model Cycle 8, and Desperate Housewives Season 4—they all started with the same bright spark of ingenuity, but dwindled into undifferentiated blobs of interchangeable scripts and characters. OK, so I'll give an awesome thumbs up to ANTM's Benny Ninja, the hilarious real-life Derek Zoolander, but I've got little hope for anything else.

When Steven Johnson wrote about the rising complexity of television shows in Everything Bad Is Good For You, I've no doubt that he got it spot on. TV shows are as smart as they have ever been, and reality TV is a revolutionary concept that was wrongly underestimated. What he didn't expect, however, was how long the producers deigned to stretch a song and dance show. After eight friggin' seasons, it’s just not cute anymore.

Give me a break. It's a hard lesson to take, but the fact is that guilty indulgences have short lifespans—four or five seasons the most. Inasmuch as we crave comfort TV as we do our comfort foods, you have to admit that even eating Haagen Dazs' Belgian Chocolate ice-cream for eight years is bound to cause overwhelming nausea.

The OC learned this lesson early on. It went through a rough patch in its third season, losing its way as many hit shows do after making a big first impression. Thankfully, however, it found the grace to bow out on a high and nearly had me reaching for the tissues. I doubt that many TV networks will understand this limited lifespan of comfort TV series, which doesn't bode well for the future. From the way things are looking, it's not all good. American Idol and ANTM have not signaled any intentions of ending, and the hottest show to arrive, a remake of Knight Rider, is just riding on little else but a rehashed script and '80s nostalgia. Expect that to turbo-boost its way to oblivion.

Or at least that's what I hope will happen. Heavens help us if that goes on for seven seasons.

TEXT JOHN LIM

Bio:
On this low note, John Lim is himself gracefully bowing out from this column. He thanks all for reading his random rants.

This is not an April Fools joke.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:21:00 +0800

Welcome to the new KLue, offline and online. We've been waiting in anticipation for 1 April to come just so we can show off our glossy new sheen!

But there's still much work to be done and this website is pretty much still developing. We'll be adding new things here and there, so please bear with us while we try to make things work even better than before.

There are a few changes that you may have noticed. One, we've disabled user logins for the time being. We know this affects the posting of KLassifieds, but we need some time to figure out a better way of moderating that section since there's ALWAYS somebody stealing someone else's identity to post sex ads .... so desperate, ke?! Apparently so. But rest assured, you will be able to post KLassifieds again.

Of course, with no user logins, that means you won't be able to submit your own event. No worries - just send us details of your event to events@klue.com.my and we'll put it up for you. Be sure to include crucial details like venue (with an address), time & date of the event, admission charges (if any) and details like e-mail address or website, flyers/images would be useful.

We're also starting anew with our venues by updating them with information and deleting all the stores which have closed over the years. You will find that our database is a little limited at the moment, but we are updating it every day. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve (in any way), drop us a line at feedback@klue.com.my.

Phew ... we've babbled for quite a bit. We'll shut up now and let you enjoy the new site.

The Daily Grind

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:35:42 +0800

For too long, burgers were deemed junk food here. There’s truth in that belief—after all, burgers were always associated with McDonald’s and Ramly, both of which aren’t exactly known for the use of farm-fresh ingredients. Like everything else, upmarket options have emerged, initially from the international chains like Chili’s, Hard Rock Cafe and TGI Friday’s.

More recently, the likes or Relish have made burgers worthy of a night out. The Daily Grind takes it even further. With burgers averaging around RM30 each, only a tycoon would deem it junk food. So what does the premium price get you? Mainly, quality ingredients. From the homemade ketchup and chilli sauce to the freshly ground beef, buffalo mozzarella to portobello mushrooms, the gourmet ingredients reveal themselves on first bite.

Even on their own, the burger patties have a satisfying, robust flavour. Together with the melted buffalo mozarella and pesto sauce on the Italian buffalo burger (RM34), it’s a smoky treat between two buns. Not that The Daily Grind only does well with meat. The portobello mozzarella stack (RM28) is a mushroom lover’s dream, with thick portobello mushrooms so flavourful it’s enough to dismiss the absence of beef. Additionally, the thick cut french fries that come with the burgers are served hot and fresh, and excellent with the chunky sauces. There’s also more than burgers on the menu. The stuffed jalapeno poppers (RM14) is a bold appetiser—fiery hot, mouth-puckeringly sour and also creamy, thanks to the cream cheese within. The fried meat loaf (RM28) is a decent dish, though it’s hard to understand the decision to fry it instead of baking it in the oven as is done traditionally.

The smoked salmon salad (RM22) is also tasty, with capers, salmon-stuffed olives and a nice yoghurt mustard dressing. The pickles on top of the salad (and some burgers) are also evidence of The Daily Grind’s premium approach—instead of being overwhelmingly sour as store-bought pickles can be, the ones served here are pleasantly balanced.

The quality ingredients used, however, sometimes make the shortcomings even more obvious. It would be nice if the presentation was a little more interesting. The branded dinnerware is nice. The fact that the burgers are boringly placed in the centre of each plate not so. The overtoasted buns were also slightly disappointing. Service, while friendly, was also a little disorganised. All of these minor complaints wouldn’t matter as much if the price point was slightly lower. If price wasn’t an issue, however, then there are few places in the city to have a foie gras burger washed down with thick and rich milkshakes like the chocolate hazelnut or peanut butter and malt (both RM14). Made with homemade ice cream, of course.

Text & Photo Brian Yap

Pasta Zanmai

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:50:40 +0800

The origins of pasta be damned. It really doesn't matter much anymore whether Marco Polo brought pasta from China. Today, young children the world over have a taste of spaghetti bolognese before they even learned how to pronounce it.

When something becomes as globalised as pasta, then authenticity becomes a little harder to figure out. Not that it matters too much. The Japanese have a way of appropriating elements of foreign culture and making it uniquely their own. Whether it’s cheese cake, curry or coffee, the Japanese completely reinvent it.

At Pasta Zanmai, the chefs behind the glass wall of the kitchen look like they could be making bowls of udon or frying up tempura—which they are—but they're mainly making pasta dishes. A thinner version of spaghetti, specifically, to be eaten with chopsticks and enjoyed with miso soup.

Not surprisingly, it works. Whether in sauces based on cream, tomato or meat, the flavours are often clean and fresh—much like Japanese cuisine in general. And pasta can't possibly get more Japanese than the salmon sashimi with pasta (RM22). An exercise in Zen-like simplicity, it's as the name describes—thick slices of salmon and spaghetti in a wafu-based sauce (the broth commonly found in many Japanese noodles). Also available are spaghettis topped with cod or salmon roe.

Cream sauces are usually popular in the Klang Valley, so the Japanese mushrooms in cream sauce with hot spring egg (RM18) will definitely appeal to many. Combining Japanese mushrooms like shiitake and shimeji with cream sauce is delicious. The hot spring egg (basically a perfectly prepared soft-boiled egg also available on its own) added a richer dimension to the sauce. For a more Japanese twist, there are also spaghettis in sesame cream sauce.

Pasta Zanmai also serves its pasta in good old tomato sauce, of course. The eggplant and avocado in tomato sauce pasta was more than Japanese—it was like a Italian and Japanese with a hint of a California roll. The Asian side of the restaurant truly reveals itself with the pastas that are stir-fried and in soups. The clam pasta (RM25) comes in a very sweet and tasty broth.

Compared to some more dubious combinations of cuisine, this Japanese-Italian hybrid does work very well. The flavours are all familiar—pasta, miso, sesame and seaweed, for instance—but it’s been a while since eating the ubiquitous spaghetti been such fun.

Address G210B, Ground Flood Promenade, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Train N/A Tel 03-7728 1210 Open 10am-10pm (Sun-Thurs), 10am-10.30pm (Fri-Sat) Cuisine Type Japanese/Italian (Halal) Price Range RM15-RM40 Credit Cards Master, Visa Smoking Yes Food 4/5 Service 4/5 Order this Japanese mushrooms in cream sauce, salmon sashimi with pasta Skip this N/A

Text Brian Yap

Athena

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:59:39 +0800

Pavilion’s Connection wing offers many dining options and an interesting one is Athena, which serves contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. The décor of the restaurant reflects this theme, though with blue as the main colour and a Grecian pillar at the corner, the result is a little tacky.

Appearances aside, the menu at Athena offers appetisers like the Athena Ocean Platter (deep-friend calamari, prawn and fish in garlic and lemon butter sauce) and simpler items like their special omelette and potato wedges. The Nacho ala Athena (RM15) was below par. The dish arrived lukewarm and the melted cheese on it had already hardened. There was also no spice to it even though it was supposed to be served with sour cream and salsa sauce.

The Rack of Lamb (RM34) did better – the meat was tender and the sauce complemented it well. The Snapper Fish Delight (RM36) was decent too, if a tad dry. The tiramisu (RM11) was not much to shout about, as it tasted rather bland. Service was friendly but slightly disorganised. However, since the restaurant’s fairly new, we’re hoping the restaurant’s shortcomings will be improved.

Address Lot C3.05, Connection 3, Pavilion, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang Train Bukit Bintang (Monorail) Tel 03-2141 5131 Open 8am – 1.30am Cuisine Type Mediterranean (Halal) Price Range RM30 and above Credit Cards Yes Smoking Yes Food 2.5/5 Service 3/5 Order This Rack of lamb Skip This Nacho ala Athena

Text Sarah Chan