Closing Time

Merf

Forgive my relentless and hurting jibes at you. I never meant them; they were all in jest. Maybe its the lack of gumption. Maybe its the lack of sensitivity. Maybe I just didn't understand you enough after all. But disregard everything I'd said for a moment cos here's what I really have to say. You have improved tremendously as a bassist since the day you stepped up as the bassist of MTE. You did lose some of your groove in recent months but that is perfectly understandable. With more time in your hands you will hit peak form again. And you will get better still.

And you are still the best friend I have and can ever ask for, even if I have changed so much over the years to have lost the privilege.

Mudz

I read your entry and agree totally. Trust is something lost too easily and pretty much impossible to regain. And I think I have lost the right to do just that. I'm sorry. I never did have the chance to tell you how much I respect your progress as a drummer in such a short time. Sure we had our artistic arguments here and there, but it's just differences in opinion and perspective. And in hindsight that benefited the band.

Talking at KTM into the wee hours about the present state of the Singaporean youth. I believe in the years to come you would have positioned yourself to make a real, tangible difference. And then some.

Ros

The unwavering rock of MTE. Your fuck-it-just-rock attitude is as infectious as it is inspiring. My fellow brick-layer of the Wall of Sound. You have always been the one with the chops, lying down the riffs while I pussy-strum away comfortably. To be nitpicking you still lack some feel to become a truly good guitarist, but that will come eventually. All in all you are a solid guitarist. Just ask anyone from LT.

The G3 schtick with you and Fairoz might have only been inane fun, but it was special. And it meant a lot. Thanks Satch. And Steve.

You Guys

I didn't mean for things to end this way, but I'm sorry they did. Eventually all that would remain are the good memories. Let's hope this day comes soon enough.

The early, embarrassing days as Aboo. The induction of Merf. The birth of the name Moren Tea Estate at Bishan Coffee Bean. That jittery first gig at Library@Esplanade. The recording at SAE and subsequent disapperance of the said recording. Baybeats 2003. dyl@Substation. Songs without lyrics. "Heartbreak Motel". The gigs we played to nobody. The gigs we rocked the audience. Cherub Rock. My Generation. MD recordings of our jamming sessions. The teh sessions after jamming. Ros's perpetual supply of pen and PNS paper for songlists. Mike Tango Expresso. "I cried in the rain." The MTE cartoon heads drawn by Mudz. Our obsession with At The Edge's climb in the, frankly, inconsequential MP3.com charts. Us hating that song to the core while it's everyone else's favourite. "What will your mother say?" The 'song writing' sessions at my place which always end up becoming tulang-and-live-music-vids-watching sessions. The Wee Lee weirdo uncle and his 'last-song' pinky. The shitty jamming studio Seng Chai. Plugging straight to the PA from GT6 and GNX2. Drummer jokes. That last rockin' show in Meleka which I felt was our best ever. A fitting end.

Thanks for everything.

kc screamed on Monday, August 8, 2005/03:56 a.m.

hey peeps and random strangers! yup... MTE will be having their next gig this wed, 9th Feb 05. Its on e first day of CNY and it's also our bassist birthday! hahaa. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERF! come check us out yea! =D

Event: Live & Loud at Thumper
Date: Wed, 9th Feb 05
Time: 9 pm onwards
Venue: Thumper Bar, Goodwood Park Hotel @ Scotts Rd (its juz off Far East Plaza)
Bands Playing: Moren Tea Estate (duh!) & Fatskunks
Dress Code: Smart Casual

ps: there's no cover charge for the event! =)

ros screamed on Monday, February 7, 2005/02:23 p.m.

Heya people it's the new year and a new start for MTE! We haven't been the most prolific the past few months or so due to various problems, pretty much out of our hands, which persist even till now... But we sure as hell are gonna try making this year a better one for us... and you. Har har.

The songs we have up on Purevolume.com (Songs above) have been around for eons and we're finally working on new material. Stuff that's probably a lil different from the usual MTE stuff but hopefully retaining the good ol MTE flavour. Who knows maybe the venerable Ros will even feature on one of the new songs... on vocals! You have been warned.

All 4 of us being nice happy sunshine people, this dark dready webbie seems a little out of place eh? And you thought we would have thought of that before hah. But we are all too HTML-illiterate to do anything about it so just pretend we're a death-metal band or something. Erm a happy one perhaps?

Last thing thanks to everyone in the past year who have supported us with your presence, your cheers, your jeers, your messages, your encouraging words, your constructive criticism, your pirating of our music into your mp3 players (hah!), etc etc. Much appreciated.

We've got a whole year ahead of us... hop aboard for the ride!