SimakDialog – Demi Masa (2009)
Artist : simakDialog
Album : Demi Masa
Released Date : March 31, 2009
Label : MoonJune Records
The beauty of ethno-contemporary progressive jazz is captured and shared with the world perfectly. And it’s a genuine Indonesian one. Demi Masa (For the sake of Time) is the 5th Album of Riza Arshad’s simakDialog with amazing installment, following the success of the previous 4th album, “Patahan”.
Just as life, music has a really wide space for exploring ideas, freedom of expression and everything comes out of our progressive mind. It can be wild or calm, depends on the journey of the mind itself. Many new experiences from the previous encounter with many things and people are achieved by this interesting group who always dare to explore even the wildest side of thoughts, idea and mind, and still survive, even still evolving since it was first formed 16 years ago. That’s remarkable.
Here’s a little story about simakDialog. In English it means “to listen to dialogues carefully”. This prominent group was formed in 1993 by Riza Arshad (pianist & synthesizer) and Arie Ayunir (drummer). The group started with two other members, Tohpati (guitarist) and Indro Hardjodikoro (bassist). Right from the start they based themselves on challenging progressive jazz-rock fusion with organic Indonesian ethnical music elements, in a fully integrated way. As a rich land of culture, Indonesia treasures multi variety of art forms, including music. And that fact has become an important subject for simakDialog from the beginning. simakDialog emerged as a band that constantly carries out dialogues between the players with a delightful freedom of expression through their instruments. It’s the east meets the west, modern meets traditional, it’s a whole new world. This creative concept has finally grabbed the interest of Leonardo Pavkovic and his MoonJune Records on their fourth album, “Patahan”. (read our interview with Leonardo). This album then spread worldwide to reach international market, distributed by MoonJune Records. This go-international attempt subsequently gained enthusiastic reviews in over 25 countries worldwide. And now MoonJune continues the support for SimakDialog’s new released album, Demi Masa.
An Ethnical, experimental, progressive, and out of the world compositions that will surely bring you to a whole new dimension of music, an odyssey through a full exploration of sound in another world where eastern (in this case Sundanese ethnical sound) and western pattern are blended harmoniously in a magical marriage. The use of kendang (the double headed drums) replacing drums is a brave step taken by Riza Arshad and friends. It sounds more mystical and magical which give them many new possibilities to give a try. As how they started from the previous Patahan album, they continued even wilder in Demi Masa. Demi Masa enters the phase of establishment in system, playing and exploring the wildness of kendang and other traditional values in general. “Even though we think there are still so many possibilities that we can or should work on, at least we finally start getting the ground base.” Riza Arshad said. Riza is best at this, no doubt about it. Along with his recent partner in the new SimakDialog formation, the group emerged as a think thank and laboratory for creativity. And the result is one magical album that ready to take you into a journey of sound you have never been to before. There’s Tohpati, one of the best and phenomenal guitarist in Indonesia today, using his electric and acoustic guitar to utilize his progressive play. It’s really a pleasant surprise to see Tohpati showing his true ability this time. Adhithya Pratama on bass plays effectively. Then the two kendang players, Endang Ramdan and Erlan Suwardana represent the eastern mystical world in an aggressive way of play. Some additional guest stars are just as stunning.
The door of a magical journey into the new world opens up right from the start by “Salilana Pertama (Forever, Part 1)”, and goes on till the end. For more than an hour, SimakDialog provides a rollercoaster ride for an amazing musical odyssey, aggressive, wild, and fast-packed at times, and goes calm and soothing at others. A new “character” was found in each composition adding more stories on the journey. It’s a set of songs that shouldn’t be separated from the start to finish. It’s an excellent ride through each song.
Demi Masa (For the sake of time), SimakDialog always commits to choose the best things in life, the environment and the universe in general, as their life choice that will continues on until there’s no SimakDialog left anymore. “Musically, that’s our personality choice and existence as a group and the music we make.” Riza said. Furthermore, he added, “that’s how we grow up and learn to share with each other, just like how we are inspired by many great talents in history and also people around us.” And yes, musically speaking, this is a breakthrough album with wide space of free exploration and improvisation all over. The harmonious marriage between the modern western musical culture and the traditional Sundanese (West Javanese culture), the mix between electric and acoustic instruments, even claps, toys and voices, modern and traditional components resulting in an unforgettable magical and mystical ride. Absorbing all the best things in the music life and their own personal experiences, combining them, and still holding tight to their true identity as genius musician from Indonesia, this stunning album with full of out-of-the-world compositions is ready to enjoy. The simakDialog involves a unique combination of both spheres, without making the commercially tempting mistake of cultural dilution. If you think you’ve known all kind of music, wait until you listen to this. Brilliant!
Personnels:
Riza Arshad (Fender Rhodes electric piano, Yamaha acoustic grand piano, Oberheim OBX analog synth)
Tohpati (electric & acoustic guitar)
Adhithya Pratama (bass guitar)
Endang Ramdan (lead Sundanese kendang percussion, tambourine, claps, toys, vocals)
Erlan Suwardana (Sundanese kendang percussion, claps, toys, vocals)
Guest Stars:
Emy Tata (Sundanese kendang percussion, claps, toys, vocals on track 2)
Mian Tiara (vocals on track 7)
Dave Lumenta (synthesizer, soundscapes on track 8 )
Track listings:
1. Salilana Pertama (Forever, Part 1) 14:01
2. Salilana Kedua (Forever, Part 2) 6:46
3. Tak Jauh Pertama (Not So Far, Part 1) 7:42
4. Tak Jauh Kedua (Not So Far, Part 2) 9:11
5. Trah Lor – Laras (Northern People – Voices) 2:28
6. Trah Lor – Rupa (Northern People – Faces) 3:41
7. Trah Lor – Tapak (Northern People – Prints) 3:46
8. Karuhun (To Elders) 9:06
9. Disapih (Separate Away) 13:16
See the art cover, back, front and inlay plus pictures here:
Log on to simakDialog’s official myspace and watch simakDialog’s performance on youtube
Buy the album online at MoonJune records online store
Don’t forget to see Riza Arshad and Indra Aziz Project, “Beatbop” , at GoetheHaus on June 11, 2009. (click to read the complete info about the concert)
pictures taken from MoonJune records and Riza Arshad’s collection.
Reviewed by: Riandy Kurniawan
Special thanks to :
Alhenri Wijaya
Popularity: 27% [?]
Loading ...
Wow! here it is the one ive been waiting after reading your interview with Leonardo PAvkovic (MoonJune Records).
I’ve tried to listen to kind of progressive jazz lately. It was hard..really. however, after a while you can obtain the essence of this genre. it is incredible to listen such mixing from Rock, Ethnic, Jazz in one song.
Thanx for the great review!