Nonesuch Explorer Series / Bali: Golden Rain
Album: Bali: Golden Rain   Collection:World
Artist:Nonesuch Explorer Series   Added:Sep 2003
Label:Nonesuch Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2004-02-02 Pull Date: 2004-04-05 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Apr 4 Mar 28 Feb 22 Feb 8
Airplays: 1 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Nov 13, 2014: The Sunset Life
Ketjak: the Ramayana Monkeyt
4. Feb 27, 2008: Baptism of Solitude
Hudjan Mas
2. Apr 09, 2014: Meow MIA: Catnip After Midnight
Ketjak: the Ramayana Monkey Chant
5. Aug 18, 2005: I once was a world citizen
Ketjak: the Ramayana Monkeyt
3. Feb 27, 2009: Emphysema For Emphasis
Hudjan Mas
6. Apr 03, 2004: "MHz-In Your Ear..." Keep The Music going
Ketjak: the Ramayana Monkeyt

Album Review
Fo
Reviewed 2004-01-30
NONESUCH EXPLORER – Bali: Golden Rain
Nonesuch, 1969

INDONESIA – The first two tracks are examples of kebjar, the dominant style of Balinese gamelan music. The word “kebjar” means to burst into flame, and that’s exactly what these tracks do, settling into little trancelike periods and then EXPLODING into whirlwinds of metallic clangs and crashes! These are recent compositions (1950s/60s), and so have a somewhat modern feel. Track 3 is a long but still truncated recording of the famous Ramayana Monkey Chant.

Audio qulaity is not stellar, but these are 1966 field recordings, so it is what it is.

ALL TRACKS EXCELLENT!

1. 6:05 – furious bursts of gongs & xylophones, shattering like glass. Variable tempo, strong rhythms. Yow!

2. 10:11 – more carefully structured than track 1. Bursts at beginning, middle, and end, with deliberately paced sections in between. Flute in the background adds some depth.

3. 2:11 – 200 men squatting in a circle, chanting and chattering like monkeys! It’s a ceremonial reenactment of a mythological battle between Prince Rama and King Ravana, as recorded in the the Ramayana epic. Used as a form of exorcism.

[ Fo ] - 1/30/04

Track Listing
1. Hudjan Mas   2. Tumililangan
  3. Ketjak: the Ramayana Monkeyt