Orkez

Frederik Goosen

It hard to believe how much Afrikaans music has evolved in the last few years.

It seems like supporters of artistic expression in the language is done with "rediscovering" their language and is not quite as content with bands dispassionately running trough predictably compiled medleys of Afrikaans Folk tunes as once was the norm.

Bobbejaan klim die berg se moer man, the verdict in unanimous, WE WANT ORIGINAL.

Appreciation of artistic sophistication has never been a great strength of your average Afrikaans bloke and I must say that I am getting tired of satirical Afrikaner jokes like the ones regularly hammered on at certain popular Gauteng based Radio stations. I can like to rather listen to a proper radio station.

Maybe I am not the only one feeling this way.

I am saying this because I have heard a lot of rumours about a new Afrikaans band doing its rounds in the Rand and I had to check it out for myself. Apparently like nothing I have heard before.

So off I go to Maloney's in the west rand expecting your normal compilation of traditional tunes with a lead vocalist inspired by Koos Dup singing tunes about lives struggle with booze, cigarettes and little "presents" from loose chicks.

What I ended up experiencing that evening was nothing of the sorts. No really, Orkez rocks! And in a very different way from what I am used to.

Their style could be described as folkfunkrockblues but that would not be doing them justice as their tunes have been so magnificently crafted to even house various styles in a single song.

Their lyrics betray themes as experienced by every Afrikaans individual in the country and preaches about money, male macho'ism, idealism, irresponsibility and touches on concepts of current legislation and selective transformation.

Not only judging from my experience but also from the crowd response and the rumours going around these guys are here to stay and will make you come back for more!

The group was originally established in 1998 and has undergone many transformations only to return to their original style of music as shared with South Africa in the late nineties where they performed with most of South Africa's greatest.

The group in its current form was established in January 2005 and has recorded their debut album - In Opsomming - during the same year. Their public performance schedule has been quite impressive and they have performed no less that 20 times since the completion of their album in September 2005.

As an original four piece watching these guys made me think of the good old day in the seventies when band's ruled the stage and musicians were bold enough to show of their talents to the massing hordes at free love festivals and when movies like Apocalypse Now were appreciated for their artistic value.

No Britney Spears here, just the real thing.

Just Orkez and you, and the bare naked truth about living in the new South Africa.

Rock on!

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