Java & Bali
Indonesia (Java · Bali)
Islands of interlocking bronze gamelan: stately Javanese court gamelan, dazzling Balinese kebyar — and the kroncong and dangdut spread by radio and film.
A rhythm of this region: Gamelan cycle (one gong cycle)
28 recordings, 1928–2025
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1928
Various Artists, Bali 1928, Vol. III: Lotring and the Sources of Gamelan Tradition
The third volume of World Arbiter’s series restoring the recordings Odeon and Beka made in Bali in August 1928. It gathers all the pre-war recordings of composer I Wayan Lotring, whose music Colin McPhee wrote about, along with the lost Gamelan Semar Pagulingan; notes by Edward Herbst.
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1964
Oslan Husein, Oslan Husein
An album by Oslan Husein, a Minangkabau singer and actor who popularised Minang songs in the 1950s, opening with “Stambul Cha Cha,” sung in a playful mix of Indonesian, Betawi and Minang.
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1964
Koes Bersaudara, Kus Bersaudara
Early recordings by Koes Bersaudara, the brothers’ band from Tuban that later became Koes Plus — Indonesian-language pop issued by Irama, including “Dara Manisku,” “Bis Sekolah,” “Angin Laut” and “Senja.”
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1970
Waldjinah, Indonesian Folksongs, Vol. 3: Jawa
A singer from Solo in Central Java, called the queen of langgam Jawa — gamelan melody sung with kroncong instruments.
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1975
Rhoma Irama, Best of Rhoma Irama: Begadang
The “King of Dangdut,” who added rock guitar to Indian film music and Malay song and built Indonesia’s great popular music.
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1980
Elvy Sukaesih, Dang Dang Dut
The “Queen of Dangdut,” central to the rise of a style that mixed Malay song with Indian film music and rock.
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1986
Iwan Fals, Ethiopia
An album by Iwan Fals, known for songs of social satire. Its track “14-4-84” recounts his April 1984 arrest and two weeks of questioning over songs he had sung in concert.
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1989
Gamelan & Kecak, Bali: Gamelan & Kecak
From Nonesuch’s Explorer Series: Balinese bronze gamelan and kecak, the interlocking “chak” chorus of dozens of men.
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1997
Siti Nurhaliza, Cindai
Siti Nurhaliza’s third album and her second of 1997 — her first venture into traditional Malay folk song. The title track was nominated as a best song of the 1990s.
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1999
Chrisye, Badai Pasti Berlalu
Chrisye’s re-recording, with arranger Erwin Gutawa, of the 1977 soundtrack of the same name — recast with orchestral arrangements and new duets, including one with kroncong singer Waldjinah.
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2000
Dewa 19, Bintang Lima
The Surabaya band’s album with “Separuh Nafas” — one of the defining Indonesian rock hits of the 2000s.
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2000
Sheila On 7, Kisah Klasik Untuk Masa Depan
The second album by Indonesian band Sheila on 7. It sold more than 1.7 million copies in Indonesia alone and was widely heard in Malaysia and Singapore too.
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2005
Sore, Centralismo
Jakarta band Sore’s debut, named for Central Jakarta where most members grew up, with vibraphone, Mellotron and horns. Rolling Stone Indonesia ranked it No. 40 among the 150 greatest Indonesian albums.
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2007
Efek Rumah Kaca, Efek Rumah Kaca
The Jakarta band’s debut. Songs such as “Di Udara,” about the assassination of rights activist Munir, made them a voice of the indie scene.
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2010
Didi Kempot, Didi Kempot
From Solo in Java, he sang campursari — gamelan mixed with electric instruments — in Javanese; his songs of heartbreak won over the young as well.
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2014
Krakatau, Krakatau 2 Worlds
Krakatau, formed in Bandung, have long joined Sundanese gamelan and folk instruments to jazz.
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2014
Danilla, Telisik
Singer Danilla’s debut, mostly written and produced by Lafa Pratomo, blending bossa nova and jazz with traditional Indonesian sounds. It earned her Rolling Stone Indonesia’s Best New Act of 2014.
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2015
Senyawa, Menjadi
Recorded in a few days in Berlin by the Indonesian duo Senyawa: Rully Shabara’s voice and Wukir Suryadi’s home-made bamboo zither, the bambuwukir, joining Javanese ritual music with heavy rock. The title means “to become.”
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2015
Barasuara, Taifun
The debut album by Indonesian band Barasuara: with the single “Bahas Bahasa” it drew wide attention, and the band followed it with a tour of six cities in Java.
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2015
Silampukau, Dosa, Kota, Dan Kenangan
The debut of Surabaya duo Silampukau — the title means “Sin, City and Memories” — telling stories of life in their home city, as in “Malam Jatuh di Surabaya,” in rhyming lyrics full of humour.
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2016
Tulus, Monokrom
Tulus’s third album, released on his own label and recorded with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. With “Pamit” and “Ruang Sendiri,” it was Rolling Stone Indonesia’s album of the year for 2016.
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2018
Gabber Modus Operandi, Puxxximaxxx
The Bali duo smash Javanese folk music, dangdut and ritual sounds into high-speed gabber and screams.
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2019
Hindia, Menari dengan Bayangan
Hindia, the solo project of Jakarta’s Baskara Putra, sang a young generation’s anxieties frankly and found a wide following.
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2020
Nadin Amizah, Selamat Ulang Tahun
The debut of Indonesian singer-songwriter Nadin Amizah, admired for its quiet songs and the poetry of her Indonesian lyrics.
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2021
Senyawa, Alkisah
A duo from Yogyakarta: home-made string instruments and a voice rooted in tradition, making a wholly new Indonesian sound.
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2023
Hindia, Lagipula Hidup Akan Berakhir
The second album by Hindia, Baskara Putra’s solo project: a 28-song double album released in two parts in July 2023, produced mainly by Enrico Octaviano. It includes “Forgot Password,” a duet with Nadin Amizah.
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2024
Bernadya, Sialnya, Hidup Harus Tetap Berjalan
Bernadya’s debut: eight songs arranged in three phases — heartbreak, self-doubt and realization. It won Best Album and Best Pop Album at the 2024 Anugerah Musik Indonesia and was Spotify’s top album in Indonesia that year.
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2025
Hindia, Doves, '25 on Blank Canvas
A 16-track mixtape by Hindia, the solo project of Baskara Putra, made in response to events at the end of 2024 and carrying grief and vulnerability on alternative pop and rock. It won Best Album and Best Alternative Album at the 2025 AMI Awards.