Etc profile picture

Etc

Unscene, unherd & under the radar

About Me


Etc plays bittersweet psychopop with an alt-tuned instinct for doing it off-the-cuff as they vary their volume, songs & line-up depending on the occasion.
The late John Peel is primary influence and he credited Ben Etc's guitar-playing as 'spankingly good' and 'noisy... but not too noisy'. Meanwhile Singapore’s national daily touts Etc as the most literate band playing in the region.
Despite their relatively small recorded output, Etc gained a place on the BBC Global Top 10 and garner praise from around the world, including positive words from members of American Music Club, Blur, Flaming Lips, Fugazi, Galaxie 500, Nirvana, Shonen Knife, Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo. They were also heartily toasted by Singapore's Miss Universe 2006 contender.
They've played numerous live shows in Malaysia and Singapore but have spent barely any time recording. Nobody's offered them money to do an album yet, but they have enough material for a few.
They prefer it pronounced 'et cetera'. They like it when you dance. And they love it when you sing along.
* More free downloads at Etc's ReverbNation page.
* See a selection of Etc photos here .
* Email Etc here .
Ben Etc used to play guitar for the Joe Ng-fronted Padres, and currently plays guitar for Malaysian band, Deserters.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/28/2005
Band Website: myspace.com/abcdetc
Influences: Bo Diddley
Sounds Like: "Noisy, but not too noisy... spanking good tunes." John Peel

"Music that's catchy enough for dancing, injected with smart lyrics with a dark streak." Junk

"Fairly bratty guitar stuff that knows no boundaries... extends the power-pop limit suggesting shades of Sonic Youth on a Britpop trip to the local underground." 8 Days

"I must be like your music with way bad singing, also lazily and loudly sound a lot." Chako Japan

"Singapore's indie-rock stealth-weaponry, blessed with the sharp wordsmithery." Carburettor Dung

"Extends the power-pop limit suggesting shades of Sonic Youth on a Britpop trip to the local underground." 8 Days

"Articulated witty songs (but) don't put too much stock in that 'cerebral' moniker, Ben is a rocker!" S-ROCK Bands for 2008

"A transcendental moment in Singapore pop history has taken place as Etc unleashes onto the unsuspecting modern rock world. Be not fooled, as it is the kind of 21st century pop that deserves as much attention as it can get. Sixties-inclined (with) Sonic Youth-wacked out guitar solo(s). From the insistent backbeat to Ben Harrison's ambivalent vocals... an infectious stab at the heart of mediocre, cookie-cutter 'indie-pop'. The revolution starts here." Power of Pop

"Hinting at the Velvet Underground in ways no one would care to imagine... Etc extends the power-pop limit suggesting shades of Sonic Youth on a Britpop trip to the local underground." 8 Days

"Young and earnest, playful and yearning. Unpolished yet catchy pop hungry, energetic and promising." IS

"Ben is a great writer. See this band live to believe how good they are." Ili Aditi Chandra

"A garage pop treat... recalls Big Star." Straits Times Top Singles of the Year.

"Alternative... most eclectic and interesting. With bizarre wah-wah effects added to Ben's cheeky lyrics... great fun. Ben's varied taste for pop is found in his version of Zircon Lounge's Guide These Hands which segues into Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone and Iggy Pops (sic) I Wanna Be Your Dog." BigO

"I liked it till the guy started singing. Nice wall of sound guitar though." RIP Magazine (USA)

Type of Label: None

My Blog

Etc goes POW :: 2 Hour Warning Gig Alert

Fresh off the press: Etc was enjoying prolonging their winter hibernation until a few minutes ago. Then a call came in that woke them up to the heat and dust of the day: a request that Etc plays tonig...
Posted by Etc on Fri, 02 May 2008 04:05:00 PST

Sound words then :: Etc reviews etc

Etc's not sussed what kind words and letters about them translate into in greater beyonds, but it's sometimes interesting to know what some folk think - or chose to write. It's also amusing/bemusing w...
Posted by Etc on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:58:00 PST

Etc in S-Rock :: One for 2008

Etc is honored get a mention in the S-ROCK blog round-up of Singapore-based bands for 2008. The alphabetical list puts Etc between B-Quartet ("technically, the best band in Singapore now... modern pro...
Posted by Etc on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:28:00 PST

Deserter Action (13 Dec 07) :: Rain no issue

"Malaysia's Deserters return to Singapore. This time they're going acoustic with a full-band line-up - which was the original plan anyway (and nothing to do with Ben's prized pedals disappearing backs...
Posted by Etc on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:19:00 PST

Etc :: ZoukOut Deserter :: 3am ... Eternally

br>Etc's unplanned 2007-collaboration-craziness continues with Ben finding himself in the line-up of Malaysian-based friends The Deserters. Practice and gig-action in K.L. has meant quite a commute so...
Posted by Etc on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:02:00 PST

Etc & Pinholes :: Handphones on the Dancefloor :: Free Download

In recent months Etc has had the pleasure of joining good friends The Pinholes for some lively performances of Etc's "Handphones on the Dancefloor". So far this has happened at favourite Singapore ven...
Posted by Etc on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:39:00 PST

Etc :: Dancing to The Smiths :: the lyrics

Recent live performances of "Dancing to The Smiths" by Etc have included lines extracted from the following: She cut out the lyrics from Smash Hits back in 1986. 'RSVP' interests listed tea, toast, bi...
Posted by Etc on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:45:00 PST

September songs :: Etc-related activity with friends & strangers

Sat: gig w/ Etc-friends galore:Sun: gig w/ Etc-friends, while Etc is to share stage with people he's never met. That will be imrpov then. or, if you prefer (sametime/sameplace): ...
Posted by Etc on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:59:00 PST

september songs - update

Don't say I didn't warn you, even if you didn't hear me warn you -- but no alarms and no surprises here: finally got (long-expected) confirmation that aforementioned potential busy day for Etc isn't t...
Posted by Etc on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:14:00 PST

september songs - update

Don't say I didn't warn you, even if you didn't hear me warn you -- but no alarms and no surprises here: finally got (long-expected) confirmation that aforementioned potential busy day for Etc isn't t...
Posted by Etc on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:14:00 PST