16/01/2026
Out yesterday, Book of Moderation is Kmonrafiq at their most focused, playful, and self-aware. The altnerative pop duo of Kmonvish Lawan and Rafiq Ridzwan turn artistic anxiety into something surprisingly light on its feet, crafting an album that reflects on pressure, doubt, and identity without turning self awareness and growth into emotional heavy lifting.
Opening with Printer, the album immediately taps into the feeling of having to produce, keep up, and perform. The beats are tight, almost mechanical, but there’s bounce in them too. Anxiety is present, but it’s observed, not dramatized.
That tone carries into Shade in the Sunshine and Up and Down, where bright melodies coexist with unease. Musically, these tracks lean into art-pop and electronic pop, but with playful details and off-kilter textures that prevent them from sinking into melodramatic seriousness. The push and pull between mood and movement makes reflection feel active and present rather then heavy.
As the album moves into All In and Ugly Love, the emotional narrative deepens. These tracks explore commitment and vulnerability, not as bold declarations, but as complicated, sometimes uncomfortable states. Musically, KMONRAFIQ avoid clean resolutions. Beats build and then pull back. The production reflects the feeling of wanting certainty but never quite reaching it. This tension makes the songs feel human rather than polished for effect.
Disappointed follows naturally, not as a dramatic low point, but as quiet recognition. The song’s restrained arrangement allows space for reflection, suggesting that disappointment doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes it just settles in.
This is where KMONRAFIQ’s really shows their emotional maturity as storytellers. They don’t dwell. They sketch emotions quickly through well chosen vocal hooks and interesting sonic textures, provide a little dancey dance, then move on. The album trusts listeners to recognize themselves without being guided through every feeling step by step.
Face Off, brings clarity rather than chaos, followed by Intermission, a perfectly timed pause that shows the duo’s confidence in pacing. One of my favourites on the album, the lyrics use the metapphor of song writing to really define the albums central thesis.
From there, Inner Child and Tired but Moving lean into exhaustion and endurance and the need to celebrate your little victories and remind us not to get so hung up on the big picture - but it keep things buoyant. Reflection here feels gentle, not draining.
Best Friend, released earlier, finds new emotional weight in this placement. Its meditative repetition feels less like a self-help mantra and more of a friendly hug that can keep you going. It’s reassurance without instruction, comfort without intensity.
Then comes Ego Dance, one of the album’s most revealing moments. The title alone signals KMONRAFIQ’s approach. Self-awareness doesn’t have to be solemn. It can be rhythmic, slightly ironic, and even joyful. This track makes it clear that reflection can be playful, and that understanding yourself doesn’t require suffering.
The album closes with Reincarnate, a fitting final chapter. Musically more propulsive, it suggests renewal without pretending that transformation erases the past. Also released as an early single, here it brings the album back to its opening themes with new perspective.
Book of Moderation is thoughtful without being precious, playful without being flippant. Sonic decisions are thought out carefully, the editing shows the pairs flair for knowing when to dive into excess and went to keep things simple - reflecting the 'Moderation' of the title. It’s a record that rewards attention and patience, but is also just fun to dance to. Kmonrafiq have opened the book - and it's well worth reading cover to cover.
Come join the launch party tonight at JAM where KMONRAFIQ will be playing with the ever-fun Coconut Sunday and Tawanisokay.
Book of Moderation is available for streaming and downloading here:
https://li.sten.to/8fozpeq3
