Artist: Alexander Roland
Release: Balungan
Label: Karmarouge Records
Cat. No.: KR33
Format: 12" Vinyl, Digital Audio
Streetdate: 24th March 2008
A. Alexander Roland - Nada Irama 12:02
B. Alexander Roland - Balungan 7:44
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It has been clear since his very first release, in late 2006 with 'Auftrieb' on Karmarouge, that Alexander Roland is an exceptionally talented producer. At 17 years of age and with little more than one year since his first production effort, Alexander Roland releases his second 12" on Karmarouge - Balungan.
The style of 'Balungan' is a kind of ethnic driven minimal electronic music, with many roots and elements coming from gamelan music and a laid back mood which tempts you to follow the sound to another dimension, moving into a deeper, more spiritual space. Finally, 'Balungan' has landed and it doesn't merely justify the hype, it goes beyond. This is not a first class follower. It's a first class 12". 'Balungan' is ripe with a musical intelligence well beyond Alexander's youth.
The A-side track 'Nada Irama' feels like a river cruise through a tropical rain forest accompanied by a delicate minimal melody. The clever use of dubby vocals and hypnotizing liquid sounds rule the intro. The groove and energy of the track develops out of a diversified drumset and an all-out reduction whereby various bassdrum variations conjure a mystical temper that is smoothly tripping you out to now, to this moment, to Nada Irama....
The titel track 'Balungan' on the flip side is related to the Javanese term for the basic melody of gamelan music, sometimes it is called the "core melody" of a gamelan composition. The track lets loose with atmospherical surfaces and a fruity melody that heightens the ethnic vibe. The deep sound structure and organic speaking sounds evoke the very unique atmosphere of 'Balungan' and bring in a breath of psychodelic spirit wich let you take a ride on a melody of the spheres to distant worlds.
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