Killeur Calculateur wants to kick spelling in the ass

Sometimes, it’s all in a name. In the case of KL-based, post-punk band Killeur Calculateur (KC), it’s one that merges inanity with the lack of ability to spell–so we had to ask what it’s all about. “Well, what's with “Junk” anyway? The name was randomly picked, but it has triggered a massive amount of curiosity. We get asked about it at every turn,” says guitarist Rafique. “That's great, but we hope your curiosity will snowball beyond the name.”

That it certainly has. In the past year or so, the band have independently released a self-titled demo, been on a massively-packed gig track that has taken them as far as Bandung, Indonesia for a short tour, and are often mentioned as one of the main movers and shakers in the growing Malaysian independent scene. All members of the band–including Smek (vocals, guitars), Zamir (bass) and Alijoe (drums)–have previously been serving time in other bands for awhile now, so they’ve gone through the ropes and trappings enough to know that one should not take oneself too seriously if you are to make it in this scene. “Of course, we sometimes misspell things, like ‘Motheur, I need moere butteur.’”

KC describes their music as being “punk rock, short, angry and energetic. Think of Chucky (of Child’s Play), sniffing glue while listening to Daughters”. Not an altogether inaccurate description even when you consider the audacity of it. On a more fundamental note, KC’s music draws heavily from the abrasive sounds of post-punk bands such as Q and Not U, and At the Drive-in, merging catchy but angular guitar lines with syncopated beats, synth bleeps and shouty gang vocals. It’s a formula that has endeared the band to both dance floor terrorists as well as sweaty, tight tee-d hardcore kids–although the band themselves might not be entirely pleased with such dogmatic demographics. “The people in the scene tend to segregate bands based on music and ideology. Malaysia is geographically small, so to differentiate and separate bands to even smaller groups is not helping at all,” adds Alijo. “There's not much tolerance between the different sets of kids, so it’s not really as ‘majmuk’ as we are made to believe. It would be sweet if we can do our bit in changing that mentality.”

Arguments over fundamentals aside, the band continues to win plenty of fans through their incessant gigging ideology and workmanlike approach to music. The fact that the band attacks every show with the ferocity of a wounded animal may have something to do with it, with plenty of swinging guitar attacks and math core poses. So what’s in store for the future of this fearsome foursome? “We don't know about the future, but we like how bands have bloomed so far and how people have reacted to the growth,” says Rafique. “Given the right amount of attention and support, independent bands can kick AF's [popular Malaysian talent show Akademi Fantasia] crying ass anytime.”

Words The Geek Photo MisDeeds
www.myspace.com/killeurcalculateur

*Taken from Junk's January 2009 issue

Killeur Calculateur will be performing at KLue Urbanscapes 2009! Click HERE for more info!