Javanesse Progressive Rock

Album entitled Sekar Mayang by singer and composer Gombloh and Lemontrees band (published by Golden record, 1977) is the one and only Javanesse progressive rock ever released in Indonesia. This album consists of 12 songs, some translated from Indonesianesse version such as Sekar Mayang (alias Hong Wilaheng in Indonesianesse version), some others are composed in Javanesse language.

Gombloh is truly Indonesian composer who mastered a progressive rock style and can play that music with his own style. And his works are mostly melodious. This album still reflects Gombloh idealism in music. All songs are Gombloh progressive rock version. *

Gombloh on Radio

Gombloh is cited as one of 25 bigest Indonesian singers all the time according to Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine in it’s new edition this year. For foreigners, may be Gombloh’s name is still strange. But actually foriegners can try to taste musical works of Gombloh thru this album On Radio (GL record). Gombloh translated his song Di Radio, into english version. This album is such compilation of various singers such as Memory of Bangkok (Made in Thailand, Made in USA), Boy Goerge (Everything I Own), and so on.

But don’t make any conclusion about Gombloh musical works thru this very-pop-even-poor-pop song. On Radio is an other face of musical works by Gombloh. This song is his poor-pop version, because as composer and singer, Gombloh also need to fulfill his basic economy, so that he composed a commercial works. Gombloh actually was a composer par exellence. His music could be categorized as folk-rock-progressive. *

Timor Timur Songs

Unce upon time in history, Timor Timur is part of indonesian territory. But after referendum in 1999, Timor Timur separated from Indonesia and declared as a new nation. That is Timor Leste.

Unce upon time in Indonesia, some Timor Timur musicians made and released pop-ethnic music album, such as album entitled Duni Ami: Lagu-lagu Timor Timur (Volume 3), composed by Pedro Vas, with vocalists Ros S. and Pedro Vas (produced by Atika record, 1988).

This album contains 12 songs, which categorized as ethnic-pop with Timor Timur language. The music sounded like traditional music from Spanish, or Indonesian keroncong, or OPM (Original Philippine Music). The question is after separated from Indonesia, who belongs to this culture? *

Old Indonesian OST’s

Some original soundtrakcs (OST) are memorable as well as collectable. Check this album entitled OST from the film Cinta Pertama (published by Nirwana record). All music composed and arranged by violinist Idris Sardi, and interpretated by Anna Mantovani and Broery Pesolima. This album is truly superb, because may be this if the first debut of Idris Sardi as movie music composer.

Because it’s memorability, there is an album which compiled the most popular Indonesian OST’s. That album is Serenada, Lagu-lagu Film Indonesia Terpopuler (Ceepee record, 2001). The songs are Cinta Pertama, Romi & Yuli, Si Doel Anak Betawi, Dengan Puisi, Mimpi Sedih, Semalam di Malaya, Panggung Sandiwara, Tante Sun, Timang-timang, Dunia Belum Kiamat, Cinta, and Udang di Balik Batu. *

Discography:

1. Serenada, Lagu-lagu Film Indonesia Terpopuler (Ceepee record, 2001)

2. OST from the film Cinta Pertama (published by Nirwana record).

3. OST Akhir Sebuah Impian (Remaco record).

4. OST Jangan Biarkan Mereka Lapar (?).

The Reborn of Jogjaness Composer

Ambar Polah is a Jogjaness composer, popular in that city in early 1980. He has ever contributed three songs for album Ya Robbi by Gita Sahara Musik Muslim Universitas Islam Indonesia (Perwira record, 1983). In 1982/1983, his song entitled Yogyakarta became one of 10 best songs compiled under the title 10 lagu Terbaik Hasil Lomba Cipta Senandung Yogyakarta. (Irama Mas record, 1982-1983). These two albums are likely to be collected, because those are crafted seriously although not succes commercially.

Finally, Ambar Polah comes back in front of Jogjaness audience. On October 4, 2008, he played music with his band Pressiden Band in the park of JogjaTV, for celebrating Jogja anniversary. “This is my first appearance after 10 years disbanding,” Ambar Polah said in the television. He said also that he will release an album entitled Satu Bendera this coming January 2009. I appreciate Ambar Polah as some one who has ever give a creative atmosphere in Jogja city, my birth place. *

The Rebel Musicians from University

The dangdut music group PSP (Pancaran Sinar Petromak) may be more popular among 80-ies Indonesian generation rather than Jaran Goyang, an other dangdut group which their members are students. In this album entitled Orkes Mahasiswa Jaran Goyang (published by DD, 1975), there are 14 songs. Some of them are Anak Jalanan (Guruh Sukarno Putra), Transmigran (Oni-Didik-Sigit), Bukannya (Didit), and Malioboro (Aki, Bono).

PSP members are students of Universitas Indonesia Jakarta, meanwhile Jaran Goyang members are students of Universitas Gajah Mada Yogyakarta, initially The Faculty of Architecture. Based on this different setting, these two group have their character. Jaran Goyang has more descriptive lyric and it’s theme is such advocation for grassroots and dangdut music. This mission can be read thru the song Bukannya (We are Not?): “Ini musik mereka, musik rakyat jelata, musik kita juga”. Dangdut is traditional music among grassroot people, so when students sing dangdut, it means the students who are usually from rich family, recognized dangdut as their music.

Meanwhile PSP’s lyric is humorous, satiric, parody, and social portrait. Their dangdut was actually not intended to enhance the quality of dangdut music. It was closed to parody and cynism, although their rejected this claim as can be heard from the dialogs between songs in album entitled Trio Kodok (PSP, published by DD record). “Mereka bilang kami mengkomersialisasi dangdut, memperkosa dangdut”, somebody said to oppose that opinion.

The character of their music is also little bit different. PSP is more experimental which combine several genres from classic, jazz, western with dangdut. It sounded more relax and playful. Meanwhile Jaran Goyang is closed to classic dangdut and monotonous. Whatever, at last PSP is more popular than Jaran Goyang, even PSP got a best appreciation from Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine (December, 2007) that one of PSP album entitled PSP Warung Kopi Prambors (published by DD record, 1979) became among 150 Indonesian Best Albums. *

Gambang Kromong Songs of Lilis Suryani

Lilis Suryani was popular as pop singer with some hits like songs Gang Kelintji, Genjer-genjer, Cing Tulungan, and so on. In pop scene, she was everything. But why she sang gambang kromong songs? I don’t know the reason. But what must be noticed that her gambang kromong songs were not published in an album, as you can check in this album by Benyamin and Inneke Kusumawati (produced by Mutiara, with no date releasing) with no title. For Lilis admirer and lover, sure this is album is rare. And may be this album is not yet recognized as her list of discography. *

Social Portraits from Benyamin

Finally, I know that the theme song of Yuk Ngelenong, a comedian program aired by Transtv every morning is entitled Hudjan Gerimis (The Rainy ). This song is one of 24 songs from album Steambath (Indah record, no date of releasing) by singer and composer Benyamin S. This song is truly the most cathiest song from this album and has simple and poetic lyric.

Benyamin is legend singer from Jakarta, who was also comedian, actor, composer. His songs are mostly gambrang kromong songs, a traditional Batavian song. This music is truly traditional and casual, so it is flexible to used as social critic as well as social portrait. Some songs could be used as thematic songs, such as Pengantin Sunat, Barongsay (a chinesse traditional puppets), Si Djagur and so on.

An other album entitled Nenamu by Benyamin S and singer Inneke Kusumawati (published by Radio P2SC Siliwangi, Jakarta) also full social portrait songs, such as Pengantin Baru, Nonton Misbar, Pulang Mudik, and so on. The song Pulang Mudik is proper to sung in this Lebaran season, since there are million people in Jakarta come back for while (mudik) to their village (kampong). *