Komodo Kolektif - Sundada (LP) (Invisible Inc)

At long last Komodo Kolektif have brought us the long-awaited follow-up to their outstanding 2017 EP “Sumantras”.

With “Sundada” we see the group delve even deeper into hypnotic territory with an even stronger focus on their Indonesian gamelan instruments, wall-shaking basslines and trance-inducing percussion. A dual focus on tribal primitivism in parallel with a futuristic vision of the possibilities provided by their vast arsenal of electronic gear and processors, the overall outcome has produced something beyond 'world music' that is positively ritualistic.

Again aided by veteran Seattle-born multi-instrumentalist Jon Keliehor (James Brown, The Doors, Peter Murphy/Bauhaus, The Daily Flash, Emotional Response, Optimo Music) on suling (Indonesian flute) and percussion, Komodo Kolektif seem to have explored even more meditative and profoundly esoteric avenues than they did with “Sumantras”.

Much of the material is a refinement and distillation of what has been featured in their live shows for almost a year and a half and which has been met with rapturous applause at the likes of Convenanza festival in France to Sonic Cathedral & Ulrich Schnauss' Ambience Chasers in London.

Other pieces are the result of improvisations; experimenting with the Indonesian sarons, gendèrs and kempul at their disposal (courtesy of Gamelan Naga Mas of which two of the group are long term members) to create new patterns that resonate to both eastern and western ears.

Komodo Kolektif have received praise and plays from Hardy Fox (The Residents), JD Twitch (Optimo), Andrew Weatherall, Peter Power (Multi Culti / Voodoohop) and many more.