Raja Kirik – Phantasmagoria of Jathilan

· by Laurent Bellemare

If it’s not intuitive to imagine a mix of high-strung EDM, new instrumental sounds and traditional Southeast Asian influences, Indonesian duo Raja Kirik skilfully explores the issue on their latest opus Phantasmagoria of Jathilan. The Javanese experimental music scene is brimming with unsuspected talent. In particular, the city of Yogyakarta has produced many highly original artists over the years. Electronic artist Yennu Ariendra and invented instrument maker Johanes Santoso Pribadi are rising figures in this unique cultural milieu. Together, they create a fast-paced music that blends the oldest connotations with the most recent digital sounds. Against a backdrop almost always lined with a rapid pulse, the strange sounds of Pribadi’s instruments, made from recycled materials, pound and enrich the rhythm. The rather long pieces develop like trance rituals, featuring vocals, various samples and drum-and-bass-style rhythmic explosions.

The esoteric aspect evoked here refers to a conscious Jathilan influence, a Hindu-Buddhist ritual dance once used in Java to protect oneself from oppressors. This theme inspires the very genesis of Raja Kirik. In this new album, this influence is all the more asserted with the bewitching voice of Silir Wangi, whose melodic contour instantly recalls the Indonesian archipelago. The album was also captured on location, during performances with dancer Aria Dwianto, where he embodied a plethora of historical and mythological characters. Although this aspect does not translate well into an album, a highly original musical proposition nevertheless emerges from this recording.

Latest 360 Content

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

LMNL – Rainbow

LMNL – Rainbow

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Galan Trio – Embrace

Galan Trio – Embrace

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Hypercube – The Force for Good

Hypercube – The Force for Good

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

Duo AYA – Cycles

Duo AYA – Cycles

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Samuel Bonnet Trio – Live in Harmony

Samuel Bonnet Trio – Live in Harmony

Marc-André Hamelin; Quatuor Takacs – Dvořák & Price : Piano Quintets

Marc-André Hamelin; Quatuor Takacs – Dvořák & Price : Piano Quintets

Subscribe to our newsletter