A Vancouver, B.C.-based Javanese gamelan orchestra might sound like a beast out of water, but it's not about the location, it's about the music the ensemble produces. And while all five of the performers here are very familiar with the way the gamelan tradition works, they're not limited to it, drawing on their experiences in everything from Western classical to Vietnamese music to make a unique picture. That said, it's not exactly casual listening. It demands a great deal, and certainly can't be taken in over the course of a single hearing, and the basic music is foreign enough to be startling and disorienting. Meditative, often surprising, it's never less than interesting, and often deeply absorbing for the intrepid souls willing to keep their ears open to new experiences and listen.
© TiVo