Demi Masa

by simakDialog

Overview

If you can imagine a hybrid of Canterbury jazz-rock fusion, Sundanese drumming, and static gamelan rhythms from Indonesia, you still might not be able to conceive the group sound of simakDialog until you actually hear them. While all of these elements are present and accounted for, there's a symmetry, balance, and near telepathic element in their collective playing that cannot be described. Electric guitar and Fender Rhodes piano with wonderful hand percussion and no trap drumming cement the general sound of the group, while an imaginative sense of wild abandon in combination might come close to identifying the persona of this fascinating five-piece ensemble. This recording, their fifth, is comprised of three epic suites and two stand-alone compositions, all with extended development in the way the music unfolds or merges into solos. Extreme rhythms from the kendang-style hand percussionists in eighth-note excursions identify "Salilana Pertama" (Forever, Pt. 1) and "Salilana Kedua" (Forever, Pt. 2) as the hyperbolic electric guitar of Tohpati Ario Hutomo and keyboardist Riza Arshad coil like snakes in a basket, then calm with vocal chanting in one-note, low-key moods plus a modicum of swirling electronics over some 20 minutes. There's an unmistakable road song feel during "Tak Jauh Pertama" (Not So Far, Pt. 1), slowed to a stop, then continued, softened by Hutomo and Arshad, sped up by the drums and tambourine, and then entering the mysterious territory of a more peaceful late night. Where "Trah Lor -- Laras" (Northern People -- Voices), "Trah Lor -- Rupa" (Northern People -- Faces), and "Trah Lor -- Tapak" (Northern People -- Prints) evoke a semi-traditional dance feeling at the outset, spontaneous quirky steps prevail, and the traditional metallophone gamelan sound echoes from electronic keyboards into eerie space and active handclaps. Dave Lumenta adds soundscapes during "Karuhun" (To Elders) as darker elements on acoustic piano and guitar contrast the deliberate electric bass guitar of Adhitya Pratama in distinct jazz-rock tones. The shape shifting at will and rhythmic aspects of "Disapih" (Separate Away) take you to a distant time and place while still consciously being in this mortal coil. Arshad is simply a wizard with his various keyboard sounds, while Hutomo definitely has heard his share of Gary Boyle, Phil Miller, Terje Rypdal, and Allan Holdsworth. This is elusive, challenging music, constantly changing and evolving, a totally commanding and fascinating ethnic fusion that requires you to listen closely, turn the volume up a few notches, and let the music envelop you. SimakDialog's home base is Jakarta, Indonesia, but their spirit and soul live in all corners of our Earth. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Product Details

Release Date:	06/16/2009
Label:	MOONJUNE RECORDS
UPC:	0692287902421

Tracks

1. Salilana Pertama [Forever, Pt. 1]
2. Salilana Kedua [Forever, Pt. 2]
3. Tak Jauh Pertama [Not So Far, Pt. 1]
4. Tak Jauh Kedua [Not So Far, Pt. 2]
5. Trah Lor-Laras [Northern People-Voices]
6. Trah Lor-Rupa [Northern People-Faces]
7. Trah Lor-Tapak [Northern People-Prints]
8. Karuhun [to Elders]
9. Disapih [Being Away]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

simakDialog   Primary Artist
Adhitya Pratama   Guitar (Bass)
Tohpati Ario Hutomo   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Riza Arshad   Fender Rhodes,Oberheim Obxa,Piano (Grand),Oberheim Synthesizer
Dave Lumenta   Guest Artist,Sound Effects
Erlan Suwardana   Vocals,Percussion,Handclapping
Mian Tiara   Vocals,Guest Artist
Emy Tata   Vocals,Clapping,Percussion,Guest Artist
Endang Ramdan   Vocals,Clapping,Percussion,Tambourine,Handclapping,Toy Instruments

Technical Credits

Riza Arshad   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Mastering
Erlan Suwardana   Composer
Mian Tiara   Engineer
Aliwulan Dono   Engineer
Ary Sandy   Photography
Danny Ardiono   Engineer
Sari Julia   Photography
Emy Tata   Composer
Leonardo Pavkovic   Cover Design,Art Direction,Executive Producer
Endang Ramdan   Composer
Indra Lesmana   Engineer
Tohpati Ario Hutomo   Composer