Discus: 1st (CD, 61:32); MELLOW RECORDS MMP 365 1998/1999 Website: http://www.discusprog.com/
How often do you hear symphonic prog/ jazz rock fusion coming from Indonesia? For this reviewer, this was my first experience. It's hard to confess but this release was so difficult to digest I simply set it aside for a very long time. As a reviewer -- that's my choice. Now, after focusing my energies on pushing unique jazz rock fusion -- it was time to unearth Discus and listen again. This CD-R Iwan Hasan sent me was the most dense and complex collage of genres I had ever heard. Imagine meaty metal, jazz pop, Balinese Gamelan, violin like Ponty, axe like McLaughlin meets MacAlpine, and symphonic prog all assailing you at the same time. Help! But thanx to "delete track" and the advent of excerpts via audio editing software, the irksome jazz pop with vox is a "memory" and you have excellent jazz rock and engaging Indo-Bali-ethnic prog left to listen to.
I quote Hasan and the record label blurb here, "We are a progressive rock band with a lot of influences ranging from jazz, classical, fusion, Gamelan, metal, electronic, impressionism, ambient, experimental, minimalism, jazzy vocal pop, etc. We are influenced by a lot of different music, even contrasting music. I think The Dixie Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Rush, Chick Corea, Gamelan music,
Il Berlione (great Japanese progressive band), Allan Holdsworth, New York Voices, Kansas, King Crimson, Flora Purim, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Philip Glass, John Doan, Toru Takemitsu, Olivier Messiaen . . ." and Mellow says "Discus’ music could be described as progressive rock influenced by traditional Indonesian music (i.e. gamelan), jazz and jazz fusion, contemporary classical, and electronically generated ambient soundscapes. Some metal and some light jazzy pop, too. Their most successful compositions, however, seem to be the complicated gamelan-contemporary classical-prog-fusion epics." Hasan is the mastermind behind most of this release but why is it so diverse? I quote Hasan again, "When we wrote the album we weren't really sure what kind of band we were. Some members thought we were jazz some others thought we were rock some thought we were world music etc. We just did all of the styles we can do as a collective unit with such varied backgrounds."
So after everyone contributed their own ideas as well as Hasan's wide taste in music you are deluged with a "traffic jam" out of a Salvador Dali vision. Some parts are irritating to listen to but others, like "Doc's Tune", are amazingly complex yet a unified impact of fusion excellence! The lengthy tracks like fugues may overwhelm some but those of us who enjoyed lengthy, axe exchanges between McLaughlin and Santana on Love, Devotion, and Surrender, will find a welcome nostalgia rush of fusion. This semi-rare release will confuse, surprise, and ultimately entertain eccentric, eclectic prog and fusion fans. Get ready for one heck of a wild ride! Recommended one-of-a-kind music. ~ John W. Patterson, EER-MUSIC.com Personnel: Iwan Hasan: Guitar, 21-String Harpguitar, Balinese Rindik, Electronic Percussion & Lead Vocals Anto Praboe: Flute, Soprano, Alto & Tenor Saxophones, Clarinet & Bass Clarinet Eko Partitur: Violin & Electronics Fadhil Indra: Keyboards, Background Vocals Hayunaji: Premier Drums & Electronic Percussions Kiko Caloh: 5-string & fretless Bass Krisna Prameswara: Keyboards, MIDI percussion programming Noonie: Lead Vocals Tracks: 1. Lamentation & Fantasia Gamelantronique (8:14) a. Lamentation b. Fantasia Gamelantronique (for J. S.) 2. For This Love (6:18) 3. Doc's Tune (7:47) 4. Condissonance (trio for violin, bass clarinet & 21-string Harpguitar) (5:54) 5. Dua Cermin (5:41) 6. Wujudkan! (4:39) 7. Violin Metaphysics (music for violin & digital delay) (5:40) 8. Anugerah (4:11) 9. Contrasts (incl. the traditional theme "Gambang Suling") (12:57) a. Opening & Meditation b. Gambang Suling c. Q/A & Odd Time Improvisations d. Ostinato (Metal Attack!) e. Lydian Piano Theme & Minor Dance f. Gambang Suling
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