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simakDialog: Demi Masa
ByThe jazz factor is immaculately fused into the ethnocentric rhythmic constituent and Asian modalities via the musicians' nouveau approach to jazz-based metrics. Tohpati's sustain-drenched single note lines inject an edge yet he also harmonizes with Arshad during various melodic passages. On "Tak Jauh Pertama (Not So Far, Part 1)," the ensemble imparts a jazzy world-beat vibe, teeming with mystical storylines and the guitarist's resonating notes. In other regions of sound, the musicians moderate the pace with an all-acoustic format, where the percussionists often counterbalance Arshad's fluent chord clusters.
The band renders a potpourri of tonal contrasts and matrix-like journeys complete with spacey background treatments and ethereal overtures. They intermittently surface as a gentile unit, yet reverse their stance by acting as deterministic jazz warriors atop budding percussion movements. On that note, they pronounce a distinct muse and scope of attack that is clearly their own. Among other niceties, this component looms as an impressive trait, especially when considering the horde of young and highly-trained artisans who seem content on rehashing many of the paths previously navigated. Contrarily, this unit intimates the antidote to that notion.
Track Listing
Salilana Pertama (Forever, Part 1); Salilana Kedua (Forever, Part 2); Tak Jauh Pertama (Not So Far, Part 1); Tak Jauh Kedua (Not So Far, Part 2); Trah Lor - Laras (Northern People - Voices); Trah Lor -Rupa (Northern People - Faces); Trah Lor - Tapak (Northern People - Prints); Karuhun (To Elders); Disapih (Separate Away).
Personnel
Riza Arshad: Fender Rhodes electric piano, Yamaha acoustic grand piano, Oberheim OBX analog synth; Tohpati: electric and acoustic guitar; Adhithya Pratama: bass guitar; Endang Ramdan: lead Sundanese kendang percussion, tambourine, claps, toys, vocals; Erlan Suwardana: Sundanese kendang percussion, claps, toys, vocals; Emy Tata: Sundanese kendang percussion, claps and vocals (2); Mian Tiara: vocals (7); Dave Lumenta: soundscapes (8).
Album information
Title: Demi Masa | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Moonjune Records
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