Titik Api

Harry Roesli was a political and social activist and prominent member of the tradisi baru (new tradition) Indonesian artists who emerged in the 1970s. Titik Api (Hot Spot) blends traditional Sundanese (West Javanese) gamelan with progressive rock and funky hypnotic grooves and was originally released in 1975.

The album gets off to a flying start with a thrilling mix of gamelan, squiggly synth and fuzzy rock riffs on ‘Sekar Jepun’ (allegedly based on a Balinese gong kebyar piece), which also features angklung (rattles). ‘Merak’ is funky and infectious, with Indonesian vocals. ‘Jangga Wareng’ features an unexpected rebab (Sundanese fiddle) solo. The record is an engaging patchwork of moods and musical styles, often in the same piece, for example the epic journey of ‘Kebo Jiro’ builds from a slow ballad to a full-blown prog wig-out. The energy is not sustained throughout, however, with some slower ballads in the second half. The sonorous chiming of ‘Prolog’ gradually builds before spilling over into a gamelan/synth groove that really cooks. ‘Lembe Lembe’ (an arrangement of a traditional Maluku song) fuses gamelan funk, flute and bells to fantastic effect. One for fans of prog with a gamelan flavour.