Balungan: Kudu Bisa Kudu

Kudu Bisa Kudu is the new live album from Balungan, a collaboration between by French and Javanese musicians that sees no less than 13 musicians fuse Traditional Indonesian Gamelan*, Jazz Fusion, World Music and shades of Prog in the live setting.

I found the 12 track live recording to be a very interesting, challenging, but overall enjoyable listen. In the very best moments on Kudu Bisa Kudu the percussion heavy arrangements evoke Jamie Muir era King Crimson, which is a payoff that kept me engaged throughout the release.

There’s no doubt this music won’t be for everyone, and it’s also true that the album has some ‘peaks and valleys’ in terms of the quality of the work over the duration of the release. But overall I find it quite fascinating; to hear the way the French progressive musicians and the Javanese Gamelan musicians have come together to create some very interesting music is certainly worth a listen. The fact the release is a live recording makes it even more impressive in terms of the creativity and musicianship involved.

Recommended for open minded and inquisitive music listeners.

*“Gamelan-Indonesia’s national music, based on intricately subdivided polyrhythms and played on shining, lavishly decorated bronze metallophones.�

Track Listing:
1. Javanese TGV (Setyanto Prajoko) (5:09)
2. Bruits d'Éclats (Illes) (5:57)
3. Wewarah (Sudaryanto) (7:46)
4. Gameland (Oooki Franck) (4:23)
5. Meet (Fulus) (7:58)
6. Nikiniku (Tri Widiantoro) (3:39)
7. XGY14 (L.Lvci) (8:31)
8. KethéK Saranggon (Setyaji Dewanto) (6:25)
9. Poulet Mort (Iclo Ningué) (4:50)
10. The Guy I am (Guigou Chenevier) (5:31)
11. Beteng (Sutikno) (11:41)
12. Kangen (Sapto Raharjo) (6:44)

Added: May 28th 2022
Reviewer: Chris Reid
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
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Language: english

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