by Thus far, the otherworldly psych-folk sounds of Indonesia-rooted, Netherlands-based outfit Nusantara Beat have existed solely on sporadic seven-inch releases, but as the release of their debut album draws ever closer, their sound continues to take on entrancing new forms.
Building upon the retro-styled pop-psych earworm of ‘Tamat’, the first single to be taken from that eponymous debut album due out in November, the band have now unleashed ‘Ke Masa Lalu’, an equally compelling effort which nevertheless adopts a vastly different sound. While that previously released single prioritised upbeat energy and a pop-centric approach, this newfound gem opts instead for a more relaxed, atmospheric sound, which flows beautifully through moments of incredible psychedelic expression.
Although there are those moments when the instrumentation breaks free, culminating in some particularly captivating psych-come-surf riffs courtesy of Jordy Sanger, the focus of the song is invariably on the spellbinding vocals of Megan de Klerk. Ushering in the song with her a cappella choir, the singer beautifully exemplifies the power and diversity of her talents, gliding effortlessly from moments of understated vulnerability to expansive moments of ethereal puissance.
There is a kind of hypnotic quality to ‘Ke Masa Lalu’, befitting of its translated title ‘To The Past’, which comes from those captivating moments when the composition seems to break free. Upon repeated listens, it feels as though vocalist de Klerk and her intimate delivery are guiding the listener on a cosmic journey through space and time, somewhere between a desert peyote trip and an ancient voyage across golden oceans.
A core part of that sonic hypnosis comes from the band’s deep roots in the sounds and traditions of Indonesia. Despite currently being based in the Netherlands, virtually every aspect of the group’s performance and output is tied closely to Indonesia, down to their use of the Malay language, which is rarely – if ever – heard in Western music circles.
Nusantara Beat are building upon those age-old influences, blending them together with an accessible sound which draws both from contemporary pop and retro-infused psychedelic rock. It should go without saying, therefore, that nobody else sounds quite like them.
Typically, when it comes to discussing a new release taken from an upcoming debut album, a route-one choice as a journalist is to discuss some of the band’s influences, in the hopes of forging some through-lines for fellow fans of those influences. However, that isn’t such an easy task when it comes to Nusantara Beat.
Sure, you can highlight some old-school surf rock guitarists, maybe a few early Anatolian psychedelic artists, or a selection of traditional Indonesian folk musicians (provided you are particularly well-educated on that topic) but, for the most part, the band don’t have many obvious contemporaries.
That originality in their sound, therefore, is incredibly exciting. If you played ‘Ke Masa Lalu’ to somebody without any prior context, it wouldn’t be easy to identify it as being from a debut album. Its polish, expansive quality, and the sheer individuality of its sound are evocative of a much more established, experienced outfit. So, if this is only the second single taken from the band’s upcoming album, lord knows what we’re in store for next.
