Bands come together in all kinds of places, be it some kid’s basement or the favorite neighborhood bar. In the case of this trio, the name comes from where they used to hang out in their favorite park off campus in Yogyakarta - thus the name “park bench,” or BANGKUTAMAN. Though hailing from Jakarta originally, the band came together in 1999, when they were all at the same university in central Java. The members shared a similar love for Donovan, the Associations and the Byrds and called their first band the Garage Flower. The band later changed its name but still maintained its preference for batik over paisley on stage. While frontman and Trax Magazine editor Acum describes their retro pop sound more as folk rock or acid dance, the 60s influence is clearly there, calling out to all flower children of the new millennia. Perhaps 2007, when their 13-track cd is released exclusively on iTunes, will usher in a new, desperately needed summer of love.