Guitarists Dewa Budjana and Tohpati meld acoustic guitars with a dash of electric as they team up with a core rhythm section of drummer Demas Narawangsa and bassist Adhitya Pratama and then mix and match with either the Czech Symphon Orchestra or Budapest Scoring Orchestra for some wondrously sweeping and exciting mixes of freedom within form.
The two show their mix of technique and lyricism on a gorgeous acoustic due “Samudera Pasai” while they hit the nylon strings hard on the riffing “Duology” on one version and plug in for a 70s rocking electric read on a different take.
Gentle reeds and strings meld for a dreamy “Rainy Days” and fragrant finger picking is supported by contemplative orchestrations on “Ratu Kanya.” The dramatic and sweeping strings make for brilliant modes on the upbeat “Janapati” with swirling wondrous brass and woodwinds on the fun “Bermain” with dramatic drums pound out like a scene from Braveheart on “D Romance.” The guitars always sound they fit perfectly into the orchestrations, never contrived or forced, and the entire album feels like a gorgeous mosaic of sounds put together. This is not the first album by Budjana that has impressed me; I’ve gotta see these guys in concert!