Gamelan Of Central Java 7: Edge Of Tradition

Reviewed by Sadie O., 8/23/06
Gamelan music and singing, with some slight twists. Mostly very low levels, and subdued music. Definitely trance stuff, or dreamy experimental, not the hard hitting energetic gamelan that’s we’re more familiar with in the US.
No FCCs, no particular favorites.
1. quiet and dreamy, starts with solo female vocalist, then subdued gamelan and voices in unison. Adds flute and violin. Often slows down. Ends in ¾ time. A few seconds silence at end of track.
2. Very slow and subdued. Starts with solo bowed instrument, then gamelan orchestra comes in, soprano and contralto vocalists.
3. A few bells. In fact, the whole song is bells, seemingly only slightly more structured than wind chimes. Gets much faster and more assertive in last 2 minutes, then kinda dribbles away.
4. Slow and mostly fairly subdued, starts mostly violin, solo female vocalist and male chorus. Vocals are interesting.
5. Apparently a version of the above track in a different chord structure. Slow, starts with solo female vocals, then dreamy gamelon and flute with chorus.