With Tohpati’s 3rd release (2nd as a trio) on MoonJune, recorded in Los Angeles
in September 2013, we see the Beckian progressive metal riffing of 2012’s
Tohpati Bertiga 'Riot' supplanted by a pairing of compositional dexterity along
with the unique guitar voice that is the essence of Tohpati, one of Indonesia's
most famous guitar players.
Though there is no shortage of acrobatic
axe-wielding on 'Tribal Dance', Tohpati’s democratic interplay with the
formidable world class rhythm section of Jimmy Haslip and Chad Wackerman is the
real star here – creating a powerful synergy that gives voice to the whole of
the music over its parts and delivering a richly rewarding listening
experience.
Power chords, distorted spare note leads, chugging rhythmic grooves
and nuanced jazz phrasings are all summoned up by Tohpati, as he locks in with
Haslip’s dubmaster basslines and the rubber-limbed kitwork of Wackerman,
creating tracks of infectious syncopation and of sufficient complexity to
warrant a player recount. Aside from a few ambient vocal samples, 'Tribal
Dance' is an instrumental album, though many of Tohpati’s melodic guitar lead
lines feel “sung” in both song context and in the expressive way in which they
are played. This diversity of guitar voicings and textures, along with the
enthusiasm and chemistry between the players, will keep this disc in heavy
rotation. Fans of Jeff Beck, Wayne Krantz, Allan Holdsworth, Scott Henderson,
Oz Noy, and, of course, the Indonesian guitar icon Dewa Budjana, will surely
want to pick this up.
Video
clip of the opening track 'Rahwana': youtu.be/gKNCEQCp8EE
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