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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