Indonesian instrumental jazz outfit BABON's album is fantastic atmospheric and cinematic instrumental that going to be a big, there's life in that 'Tropical Desert'!
To follow up previous singles, 'Wolter Waltz’ is "BABON's interpretation and tribute to one of Indonesia’s revolutionary heroes, Wolter Monginsidi. While many in Jakarta may recognize his name BABON peels back the layers of familiarity and reveals a more human and complex narrative. The waltz—a dance marked by elegance and tension - mirrors the struggle, luck, and resilience required to resist oppression and fight for independence. As the music builds in intensity, the track ends with three gunshots, symbolizing the tragic end of his life and the ultimate sacrifice he made for freedom".
Now that's cinematic and somewhat unexpected after their single 'Deset Rose' / 'TNT' on Batov Records last year (see review HERE) but as the press says, they're inspired by "legendary Spaghetti Western composers like Piero Umiliani and Henry Mancini, Latin grooves reminiscent of Trio Los Panchos, Afro-funk, Middle Eastern influences from Elias Rahbani, and the soul-funk vibrations of Menahan Street Band."
The rest of this 10 track debut albumis just as good as the three singles. The album starts like an upbeat desert 'Openness Trio' (by Nate Mercereau, Josh Johnson & Carlos Niño -see review HERE) with 'Bubuka' before getting into their-Batov-style with the previous single, 'Cacti Traveller'.
'Heat', 'Big Cat, Small Jungle' and 'Sawduzt' are brilliant as the band add elements of The Doors organ sound, 60s surf and Pulp Fiction OST; Oh! why not Herb Alpert too! Get you're Marlboro's out for 'Tabacco Country' and ya 60s dancin' shoes on for 'The Chase' a la Randal & Hopkirk vs. The Prisoner.
There's nine instrument tracks plus 'Pesan dari Gurun' that features Frau, a "well known voice on the Indonesian indie-folk scene" which is a perfect role in this setting, you could say, it's very much in the band's dramatic Wheel House (Ed. shouldn't that be, 'Wonderwheel House'?)
The album ends on the other single, 'Mirage' as a Morricone meets guitar twang which, at 6 mins kind of encapsulates the album's character, as at the same time, I'm thinking at some stage, this LP is going to be supptorting 'Album of the Year' stickers on it as it's pushes world-folk-jazz-funk-psych in all departments.
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BUY LINK : https://ffm.to/tropical-desert.HGW
Artist: BABON
Title: Tropical Desert
Release date: 26th September, 2022
Label : Wonderwheel Recordings
Catalog Number : WONDERLP72
Format: Digital / Bandcamp
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