bands

Indonesian progressive rock artists/groups
(in alphabetical order, and not yet complete)

Discus
Considered by many as an Indonesian version of Dixie Dregs, these guys added elements of Indonesian ethnic music into their prog fusion ingredients. Their debut album 1st (1999) was released internationally on Mellow.

                I heard of this group for the first time when one of its members (Iwan Hasan) wrote an e-mail to our local mailing list announcing their first album, 1st. After several attempts, I finally got a copy and now am ready to give my opinions about this album.
                In general, I enjoyed the music on this album. According to several e-mails forwarded to our local mailing list, the style of Discus resembles music from the Dixie Dregs group. However, I have never heard the Dixie Dregs, so I don't know which tracks could be compared to them. To my ears, there were some tracks that reminded me to Indra Lesmana -- one of Indonesia's jazz musicians -- Lee Ritenour and ELP. The opening of the first track, "Lamentation", surprised me because I thought I was hearing to the group Dead Can Dance in their _Spleen and Ideal_ album. The wailing in "Lamentation" was similar to the way Dead Can Dance did to their song "De Profundis (Out of the Depths of Sorrow)".
                That surprise lasted until the start of "Fantasia Gamelantronique." On this track, I can't say anything except gave it two thumbs up. Why? This song showed us how the group utilized their intruments to make improvisations on gamelan music. Anybody who has experience in musical techniques can give more appropriate comments for this one.
                The other songs that attracted me were track 3 "Condissonance", which perhaps can be categorized as classical music; track 7 "Violin Metaphysics", where you can hear some prayer chants and the sound of a sea; and the last track, "Contract", which included elements of Sundane traditional music "Gambang Suling" and some Balinese music elements. I just can't imagine how on earth these two kind of different music styles were played together without any conflict. I think Mike Oldfield should listen to this song.   He have had experiments in combining Balinese music elements with his own compositions, but, as far as I know, he never tried combining two different kind of traditional music into his song.
                The rest of songs had pretty thick jazz influences and were fairly easy to follow without straining my ears.   Their tune were light and flowed nicely. Except for the "Doc's Tune", which needed some careful listening, because of the complexity of the composition.
                Progressive? Yes. Rock? I don't think so. I don't know which genre I should put it in. However, all in all, I tip my hat to this group.
-- ranti

Two long progressive fusion tracks of the 1st album, "Lamentation and Fantasia Gamelantronique" and "Contrasts", stand out among the others as they cleverly incorporate ethnic sounds, including a Balinese percussion called rindik and a theme based on a Javanese folk song "Gambang Suling". These two pieces also feature multiple movements and complex and swiftly-changing time signatures as are commonly found in classic prog pieces.
Three other tracks that might interest prog audience is the classical chamber piece "Condissonance", the experimental ambient violin solo with digital delay "Violin Metaphysics", and the fusion piece "Doc's Tune". The remaining four tracks are either of pop or pop jazz style, which I don't find very interesting.
-- gamantyo

Djaduk Ferianto dan Kua Etnika
These guys are real gamelan musicians, but one would find them having fun with an array of Indonesian and western percussions as well as synthesizers on their 1996's Nang Ning Nong Orkes Sumpeg album. Those who like genre-crossing types of experimental music would certainly enjoy this album. The CD release has been out of print for a while now, but their manager has advised me that a re-issue is currently under consideration. I heard that their later album Ritus Swara, which is still in print, is as good as Orkes Sumpeg yet incorporates an even wider range of musical style.

Gang Pegangsaan
I don't know much about this band although they were quite popular in late 70s and once again in late 80s, except that they were heavily influenced by 70's Genesis. I've only heard their comeback album in the late 80s entitled Palestina, which sounds pretty much like Genesis all over with Indonesian lyrics. They were supposed to have had another reunion recently (i.e. in 1998-1999), but there's not much I heard of it.

Giant Steps
One of legendary Indonesian progressive rock acts of the 70's, their music showed influences of the greats of prog rock, but still managed to deliver originality. They started in early 70's, went through a series of line-up changes with the "keepers of the flame" being Benny Soebardja and Albert Warnerin, and managed to release several albums before finally breaking up in 1986. Their best prog albums (as recommended by Denny Sakrie of M97FM) are Giant On The Move (produced by Nova Record Bandung), Kukuh Nan Teguh (Nova Record Bandung), and Persada Tercinta (Irama Tara Record).

Gigi
A new and presently active pop rock band who sometimes incorporate progressive element in their music, musically led by the guitarist, Dewa Budjana. Some sound clips can be downloaded and their cd ordered from Indonesianmusic.com, including their three albums: Kilas Balik, Dunia and Baik.

God Bless
Possibly the most popular rock group in Indonesia, they played progressive music during their 1980's Cermin album line-up. Some consider their music as a straight rip-off from famous prog groups, though. An earlier album, Huma di Atas Bukit, is available on CD from Indonesianmusic.com.

Guruh Gypsy
Probably the most successful Indonesian progressive act of the 70's, they combined Balinese music (including gamelan and choir) and orchestral elements with their own views of progressive music. Influenced by the greats of prog rock, such as Yes, Genesis, and ELP. Quite well-known within the international circle of underground progressive music movement. Their self-titled album was released in 1977. Guruh Soekarnoputra was obviously the band's main creative force (and yes, he's the youngest brother of the present Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri), but the rest of the band line-up contained talented and well-known musicians.

Harry Roesli and His Gang
Another successful attempt of the 70's prog scene at mixing Indonesian ethnic music, i.e. Sundanese calung, with progressive elements. Some Gentle Giant influences appeared here and there. They released Titik Api in 1976. Harry Roesli was famous for his musical experimentation.

In Memoriam
Practically unheard before the Indonesia Progressive Festival 2001, they became an overnight success, co-headlining the festival with relatively more well-known Discus, Pendulum and Smesta. Reports from witnesses said that these guys combine a lot of contrasting genres, much like what Mr. Bungle have done.

Makara
Very good original prog music, especially from their 1986's album Laron-Laron, coupled with meaningful lyrics that talk about social issues. Influenced by a broad range of the greats such as Saga and PFM.

Pendulum
A prog fusion with metal-ish sound, led by Turi. They became one of the co-headliners of the first Indonesia Progfest in 2001.

Rajawali
Probably better described as a neo-classical speed metal band. Presently active.

Smesta
Another co-headliner of the 2001 Indonesia Progfest. Their music is pretty much in the neo-progressive style, complete with theatrical stage act by the frontman.

Tejo, Sujiwo
A new artist, Sujiwo Tejo's work mainly spins around Javanese ethnic music and lyrics, but he does more than that. In his 1999 debut album Pada Suatu Ketika, he cleverly and playfully incorporates as many musical genres as one can think of in his compositions. The end result is amazing; in one song he will sing a Javanese lyric (with a very good vocal) to a traditional ethnic music, in another he will play blues complete with a bluesy guitar line and growling vocals, yet in another the lyrics are sung by a 3- or 4-piece choir in a canon, and so on, but you get the idea. It's probably not progressive in the sense of the genre, but what he does certainly qualifies for bearing the adjective. Indonesianmusic.com carries the Pada Suatu Ketika album. His second album Pada Sebuah Ranjang is also good.

Wow
An 80's outfit with Yes and Genesis influences. Their Produk Hijau (meaning "The Green Product") album was released in 1983.

Last update: Nov 07, 2001

A note from the page author:
I'm in the middle of compiling a list of Indonesian prog rock groups, with big helps from a bunch of amazing reviewers in the prog-rock@egroups.com mailing list.
Except for the newer groups such as Discus and Gigi, I don't know how a copy of these groups' albums can be obtained. AFAIK, they were released only on cassette as it has been the most popular recording medium in Indonesia in the past three decades. My guess is that albums released in the 70's and the 80's have long been out of print.