Wani

Wani showcases an explosive collision between traditional Indonesian forms and Western instrumentation. It’s a daring and highly experimental project glued together by Peni Candra Rini’s feral sense of creativity and virtuosic vocals. It’s certainly rare to hear an album quite this wild and chaotic. But for all its quirkiness, there are several familiar sounds in here. The resonant textures of gamelan pulse through tracks like ‘Pocung’, while grungy overdriven guitars propel the whole album and reach a particularly intense climax on the final track ‘Beringin Kurung’. Layers of flutes, percussion and backing vocals amplify the sonic anarchy. It’s undoubtedly eclectic – but it works. While in the recording studio, the musicians and producers were given significant creative licence to experiment freely, resulting in a uniquely collaborative album packed with personality. Although its intensity may not be for everyone, for those open to its unconventional combination of sounds, Wani is a thrilling sonic rollercoaster.