Musiques de l'Asie Traditionnelle Vol. 7: Java - L'Art du Gamelan

 

"The learned music of Java - one of the largest islands of Indonesia - is characterized by the use of a large orchestra based on metallophones named gamelan...there are several thousand types, the structure of which varies according to the kind of music they are used for, according to the period when they were built, finally according to the districts.  The oldest gamelan still in use nowadays date back to the hinduist period of Java, i.e. before the fourteenth century, and still have an extremely pure sonority"

Jacques Brunet

In sharp contrast to the often frantic gamelan music of Bali, these strange sounds emanating from Java exude an airless sense of stasis, or maybe the movement is slower than can be perceived, like evolution or galaxies being formed.

Tracklist:

01 Gending Babad, mode Slendro Nem
02 Gendin Tejanata suivi de Ladrang Playon, mode Pelog Lima

Get it HERE.

Marjono & his Boys - Salina VII

Can't find much info about Marjono or his boys, other than Marjono was/possibly is an Indonesian flautist and saxophonist who appeared to be active throughout the '60s and '70s. I think I really like this album, although I haven't quite made up my mind. Marjono's sax playing is like treacle, thick and sweet and sugar-coating all of the other sounds, but when you listen deeper, there are these beautiful keyboard and bass things bubbling away in the background. In my fevered imaginings, I see Marjono and his boys playing underneath the lights and glitterballs of the basement bars of expensive Kuala Lumpur hotels, while disinterested ex-colonels sip cocktails and try to ignore their extravagantly coiffured wives.

Tracklist:

01 Es Lilin
02 Ani - Ani
03 Sapu Tangan
04 Renunganku
05 Midnite Serenade
06 Djali Djali
07 Tidurlah Intan
08 Sapu Lida
09 Djauh Di Mata
10 Selalu Disampingmu
11 Derita Tjinta
12 Selendang Sutra

Get it HERE.