Unexplained Sounds surveys contemporary Indonesia music

Italy's Unexplained Sounds Group led by Raffaele Pezzella offers a guided tour of the contemporary experimental music of Indonesia. Hear a track below. 

Here's the scoop...
For many centuries Indonesia, from the Malay Peninsula throughout the vast archipelago, has been subjected to successive foreign cultural invasions which have left their deep imprint on the indigenous way of life. Among the first was the Mongolian intrusion from central Asia. A later cultural wave came from India when Hindu merchants and immigrants introduced Hinduism and Buddhism into the islands. Subsequently, about the 13th century A.D. Islamic influences penetrated the archipelago. Finally in the 16th century, Western culture and Christianity came into the picture.

Although, after four centuries, Western civilization has by no means superseded the Islamic hold on Indonesia (90% of the population are Muslims), it has already reshaped the outward appearance of Indonesia life to a considerably extent. The cultural diversity is naturally reflected in the music.
In the current globalized and digital communications-dominated era, influences from the Western world become more and more evident, in everyday life , as well in popular art and music from Indonesia.

But listening to the tracks included in this compilation presented by Unexplained Sounds Group, you’ll discover how traditional Indonesian music, even in its more 'primitive' forms, as well in the very elaborate and developed ones from Javanese and Balinese tradition, are still very much recognizable. The current mix of influences in the experimental and avant-garde music from this region has resulted in an extremely fascinating kaleidoscope of sounds.

The Anthology Of Experimental Music From Indonesia curated by Raffaele Pezzella for the Unexplained Sounds Group is available right here. Have a listen to Senyawa's recording of "Sujud" from the collection followed by a performance clip of Java's Senyawa (feat. vocalist Rully Shabara and Wukir Suryadi playing a homemade string instrument) on stage in Copenhagen below.




LINKS
Side-Line Interview with Raffaele Pezzella