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Ariesta Birawa Group
Released in 1973, this is the first CD version of this psychedelic pop album. Much of the inventive melodies, delicate harmonies, and breezy guitars are rooted in the '60s Western tradition but contain enough twists on the genre to give the tunes a subtly unique flavor. While not terribly groundbreaking, this album does hold the distinction of being the first available psychedelic album from Indonesia.
Even though the group plays electric guitars, many of their songs conjure peaceful bucolic scenes rather than smoky, drug-fueled sessions, yet that certainly doesn't make them any less pleasing. They turn the volume up on several tracks, like "Si Ompong," "Minggu Pagi," or "Terimalah Cintaku," but it's generally the other songs that carry more of the band’s personality. “Masa Depanmu” has an oddly appealing drone over the top of the melody, while the organ and flute punctuated by the bass on "Kr. Bunga Nusa Indah" brings their sound closer to home. There's only one song in English, but, if anything, not understanding the lyrics makes the album more enjoyable. This is especially the case since the lyrics to "Will Never Die" are fairly typical, if good-intentioned, free love fare that seems dated by today’s standards.
The most frustrating part of this disc is that there are no liner notes to provide any biographical information or historical context for this group. The insert includes a before and after demonstration of the cover restoration, which is interesting enough but trivial considering what's left out. For a hallowed lost recording, the details are surprisingly lacking. Regardless, the music holds up on its own, no matter the context. Many of these tracks grew on me pretty quickly. They’re well-crafted songs, polished but not overly so, with enough hooks and memorable bits to keep me coming back for more.
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