Indonesia tends to be a bit overlooked in the global retrospective vis \u00e0 vis vintage psychedelic rock, pop, and funk. It\u2019s a shame, because there\u2019s some great stuff there from back in the day (a big thumbs-up to Koes Plus and Dara Puspita, for starters). Jakarta\u2019s La Munai Records have done their part, resurrecting the Harry Roesli Gang\u2019s mid-\u201970s discography for its wealth of groovy, gamelan-inflected prog-folk-rock-jazz-funk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The label also showcases a lot of current acts, some psych-rock proper, others of adjacent sounds like dub reggae, surf, or the graveyard doo-wop of Sundancer. Fairytale of Megabiodiversity<\/em>, La Munai\u2019s recent compilation of Indo neo-psych, honours the implications of its title with an impressive variety of imaginative music. Several bands wear their 1960s inspirations openly, others draw on wider ideas.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freedom of Choice\u2019s \u201cMadiba\u201d goes to town on a Saharan guitar riff, metallic percussion, and some opinionated sax. Aksan Sjuman & The Committee of the Fest\u2019s \u201cWorld as Festival\u201d is a strange and wonderful jazz-like something-or-other, and Astrolab\u2019s space-rocker \u201cS.Y\u201d is a solid chunk of cosmic debris hurtling in through the stratosphere. Ray Magus\u2019 \u201cRhymes of Adorer\u201d is the most polished piece of work here, a grandiose wedding cake of glorious \u00fcber-pop \u2013 soon followed by the far less formal final track, Dawai Batu Gajah\u2019s \u201cRamayana Soul\u201d, a ramshackle, acoustic bonfire sing-along with more than a hint of Hindu benediction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n