Various
In The Heart Of Sumedang
This limited cassette release of 'In The Heart Of Sumedang - Field Recordings From West Java' feature field recordings from Sumedang Province, West Java, ande showcases two distinct sides of Sundanese musical and spiritual culture, blending Islamic and pre-Islamic animist traditions. Over 50 minutes, they feature two trance music styles essential to the region's spiritual life: 'Tarawangsa Trance Music': A serene ceremonial genre performed with the tarawangsa (two-stringed fiddle) and jentreng (seven-stringed zither). Its droning, minimalist melodies are used in sacred rituals and agricultural celebrations to honor ancestors and local deities, inducing meditative, trance-like states. 'Sundanese Reak Music': A dynamic, anarchic style with powerful drum rhythms, buzzing tarompet (double-reed wind instrument), and gamelan gongs. Popular with rural youth, Reak performances are wild, featuring masked dancers, costumes, and spirit possession, reflecting a punk-like energy. It was recorded by Xenia At in January 2024, the tarawangsa sessions took place in Rancakalong, while the Panca Buana Reak Group was captured rehearsing in Cinunuk. This limited edition of 100 copies captures the spirit of these unique traditions.