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Dewa Budjana (with Jimmy Johnson & Vinnie Colaiuta): Surya Namaskar
ByThe band's assertive attack rules the roost, other than a few ballads where Budjana displays a soft touch via harmonious balladry atop pulsating rock grooves. When soloing, his climactic buildups are frequently culminated with a torrid aerial assault, tinted with various distortion techniques and sustain mechanisms. Hence, the guitarist doesn't let us keep our guards down, even during many of the softer, textual motifs. Then again, Budjana generates an authoritative command and control persona as the rhythm section generally kicks matters into tenth gear on the stormier opuses. For example, on "Capistrano Road," his soul-searching lines are contrasted with seething upsurges. Elsewhere, Budjana's blistering legato phraseology would seemingly raise anyone's blood pressure.
"Kalinga" is a glaring specimen of Budjana's astute composing skills as he broadcasts his Indonesian roots with tangy notes and fuzz-toned treatments. It's an enchanting piece, brimming with pummeling rock beats, airy thematic forays, and his complex unison lines with Johnson. Thus, a mystical encounter that proposes a beauty and the beast mindset, given the lush storyline, merged with ferocious performances. Other comps are engineered upon somber acoustic-electric choruses, and soundscapes designed with the guitarist's flickering jazz runs and of course, Colaiuta's polyrhythmic flurries and punchy backbeats. In sum, Budjana bridges the gap between hardcore shredding and a meticulous compositional pen. Indeed, a welcome digression from the archetypal fuzoid cutting contests.
Track Listing
Fifty; Duaji & Guruji; Capistrano Road; Lamboya; Kalingga; Campuhan Hill; Surya Namaskar; Dalem Waturenggong.
Personnel
Dewa Budjana
guitar, electricJimmy Johnson
bassVinnie Colaiuta
drumsGary Husband
drumsKang Pupung
violinKang Iya
harpMang Ayi
vocalsMichael Landau
guitarDewa Budjana: electric and acoustic guitars; Jimmy Johnson: bass guitar; Vinnie Colaiuta: drums; Gary Husband: synthesizer (1); Kang Pupung: tarawangsa (Sundanese violin) (5); Kang Iya: Kacapi (Sundanese harp) (5); Mang Ayi: vocals (5); Michael Landau: electric guitar (7).
Album information
Title: Surya Namaskar | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Moonjune Records
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About Dewa Budjana
Instrument: Guitar, electric
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