To my knowledge one of the first double disc sets on the MoonJune Records label, and recorded live in 2013, during a string of concerts in the USA. As you may remember from my previous post on the band, simakDialog is centered round the keyboard playing of Riza Arshad and the guitars of maestro Tohpati, with Rudy Zalkarnaen on bass and Endang Ramdan, Erlan Suwardana and Cucu Kurnia on (Sundanese kendang) percussion.
Anyone familiar with the names, the band and or the label will have a fairly good clue as to what to expect from this release. Fusion, progressive jazz, call it what you like. This is instrumental music where Fender Rhodes and guitar take centre stage, leading or following each other, and playing on the solid foundation provided by percussion and bass. Giving it a bit of old Santana feel at times.
Not music that is light on the ears, but again, people into the label and their roster of artists already know and expect that. The musicianshop is as always of the highest calibre and I find it pleasant that at least for some part these songs have recognisable themes and melodies.
Maybe not for everyone, but certainly very musical and technically impressive.
