Malay Folk from Coastal Sumatra [LP]

Semakbelukar - Malay Folk from Coastal Sumatra [LP]

Semakbelukar came from Palembang, a port city on Sumatra's east coast, where singer David Hersya had played in a hardcore-punk band. Around 2010 he and a shifting lineup traded guitars and drums for mandolin, accordion and Malay drums, setting lyrics inspired by pantun poetry to melodies drawn from his father's 1960s Malay records. His training as a mosque muezzin gives his vocals remarkable range and feeling. A rushed two-week session in 2013 for a Jakarta label became the heart of their legacy; the band split for good later that year.

This LP collects eight tracks from 2013 with recordings from 2009-2011, including previously unreleased material.

A1. Seloka Beruk (Monkey's Poem)
A2. Celaka (Misfortune)
A3. Kalimat Satu (One Sentence)
A4. Merujuk Damai (Reconciliation)
A5. Berlayar di Daratan (Sailing on Land)
A6. Dendang Lalai (Song of Forgetting)
A7. Pena Tak Bertinta (Inkless Pen)
A8. Perlahan Tapi Pasti (Slowly but Sure)
A9. Be(Re)cana (Plan=Disaster)
A10. Gita Cempala (Song for Cynics)
B1. Malasmarah (Less Angry)
B2. Lebah (Bee)
B3. Sejuknya Matahari (The Warmth of Sun)
B4. Mekar Mewangi (In Bloom)
B5. Baik & Buruk (Good & Evil)
B6. Salam (Greeting)
B7. DetikMenitJamHariBulanTahun (Second Minute Hour Day Month Year)
B8. Awal dan Akhir (Beginning and End)
B9. Kemarin, Hari Ini dan Esok (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow)