THEE MARLOES - Di Hotel Malibu

The origins of Thee Marloes are, in some ways, misleading. The fact that the trio hails from Surabaya, Indonesia, sets the stage for a critical assessment that risks celebrating the three musicians' background rather than the remarkable quality of their music. The Indonesian group was born from an idea by guitarist Sinatrya "Raka" Dharaka who, after taking his first steps as a hip-hop musician, met drummer Tommy Satwick, who introduced him to the graces of soul music. A partnership that was further sealed with the arrival of singer Natassya Sianturi.

"Di Hotel Malibu" is the trio's second album, a project with elegant echoes of the smooth sounds of groups like Stylistics and Delfonics. It's a formula Thee Marloes honed over four long years before finding a home with Big Crown for their debut album, 2024's "Perak", a record that revealed the existence of a genuine local soul movement.
With "Di Hotel Malibu" the trio sharpens its weapons: from the very first notes of "Under The Silver Moon" the band flaunts a command of soul, funk, hip-hop and r&b, wrapping it all in an elegant psychedelic haze. The interplay between bass and drums holds up the solid, refined interlocking parts of "Under The Silver Moon", while the guitar riffs and the fluid retro-soul groove of "6 Years" add a rhythmic hook full of swing.

An analog instrumental setup – electric guitar, piano, wind instruments, organ and tambourine – reinforces the solidity of an album conceived not as a collection of singles (as the previous "Perak" was), but as a single body of work, rich in multicolored details and stylistic nuances. The songs alternate between sensual uptempo numbers ("I'd Be Lost") and refined grooves halfway between soul and rumba ("Through The Changes"); the ballads, while never giving up their more introspective nature, are clear and pleasantly romantic ("What's On Your Mind") and at times become the ground for a heartfelt, poetic tribute to the band's homeland ("Rahasia").
"Di Hotel Malibu" is not a record to listen to in the background: it's a work capable of revealing psych-soul nuances within the solid funk of "I'm Just The Girl", and which, in the most exotic track of the bunch, "Harap Dan Ragu", offers an impeccable mix of r&b, cheeky guitar riffs and a jazzy verve that further highlights the band's technical caliber.
What remains to be unpacked is even bolder. The cosmic soul of "Selatan" is powerful: the throbbing touch of the bass interlocking with a handful of organ notes frames deep social reflections, while the intricate "Buru" embraces northern soul sounds and makes room for rolling drums and the charm of the flute, a grace further sealed in the crepuscular "Di Dalam".

With "Di Hotel Malibu" Indonesia's Thee Marloes claim a place of the first order in the contemporary soul scene; their music is rich in elegant retro imagery as well as knowing references: a wealth of artistic craft that promises further, valuable chapters to come.

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10/08/2026