MJR035 Save The Planet
Produced by Tohpati
Released on August 17, 2010
no chart information
Find it at GEMM
MJR035 cover
[high resolution scan]

K ronomyth 4.0: ACCOMPLISHED ETHNOMISSION. Here the assumptive ideologue once sat, listening to west eclipse east on simakDialog’s Demi Masa and marveling at Moonjune’s penetrating rays. This, the same intellect that lingered over expensive shampoos and imagined what the stalwart, topmost strands might aspire to if wrapped in robes of scented grape leaves (have I ever smelled a grape leaf?) or admitted the word “volumizer” into its parlor of possibilities with an obsequious bow. Which is to say that, where things are concerned, I know no thing so well as it knows me. This, in order to defuse the bombshell that Save The Planet is the most inspired guitar/fusion album I’ve heard in ages. Tohpati had impressed me on Demi Masa with his fluency and digital dialects, yet I entered this Ethnomission with few expectations. Different than simakDialog despite a similar lineup (the Rhodes is replaced by flute), Tohpati Ethnomission is even more friendly to Western ears; at various times you’ll catch a scent of Santana, Camel, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny and even Jethro Tull (on “Biarkan Burung Bernyanyi”). The lineup includes a complete drum kit (Demas Narawangsa) plus percussionist Endang Ramdang (the lone holdover from simakDialog), bassist Indro Hardjodikoro and flautist Diki Suwarjiki. Not household names over here, but they can hold their own with any fusion band in the world. Yet the real talent is Tohpati. His playing shifts gracefully and breathlessly between complex structure and soloing, prog and fusion, damask beauty and rock detritus. My estimation of the man’s ability grew by leaps and bounds after listening to this album. The articulate opening track, the sentimental “Sacred Dance” and the ferocious soloing on “Ethno Funk” establish early that Tohpati is both a top-shelf fusion guitarist and a gifted songwriter (no six minutes of mindless jamming here). I have to believe this would make a lot of critic’s top ten fusion list for 2010 if given broader exposure, and that a line of willing collaborators would form here in the West. In fact, this may be the best Moonjune release I’ve heard yet; could it be a new flagship for the label has arrived?

TRACK LISTING

  1. SELAMATKAN BUMI (SAVE THE PLANET)    9:07
  2. BEDHAYA KETAWANG (SECRED DANCE)    8:31
  3. DRAMA    1:47
  4. ETHNO FUNK    8:38
  5. GEGUNUNGAN (GATEWAY OF LIFE)    2:56
  6. HUTAN HUJAN (RAIN FOREST)    8:42
  7. BIARKAN BURUNG BERNYANYI (LET THE BIRDS SING)    7:27
  8. INSPIRASI BARU (NEW INSPIRATION)    4:13
  9. PERANG TANDING (BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD & BEAST)    8:16
  10. PESTA RAKYAT (FESTIVE PEOPLE)    5:10
  11. AMARAH (ANGER)    2:34

    All compositions and arrangements by Tohpati

CREDITS

TOHPATI -- electric guitar, midi synth guitar
INDRO HARDJODIKIRO -- bass guitar
DEMAS NARAWANGSA -- drums & Indonesian percussion (rebana, kempluk)
ENDANG RAMDAN -- Indonesian percussion (kendang, gong, kenong)
DIKI SUWARJIKI -- suling (Sundanese flute), soundscapes
Lestari -- lead vocals (2)
Irwan -- engineer
Eko Sulistyo -- miex
Risang Yuwono -- cover design and photos

REGION RELEASE DATE LABEL MEDIA ID NUMBER FEATURES
US August 17, 2010 Moonjune CD MJR035  

 

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