Nusantara Beat (New LP)

Label: Glitterbeat

The highly anticipated debut album from Amsterdam-based Indonesian psych-folk ensemble Nusantara Beat, has finally arrived. Having built a rapidly rising reputation through captivating live performances and a string of acclaimed 7" singles (Bongo Joe Records), this self-titled album powerfully extends an already potent musical vision. A mesmerizing collection of eleven original tracks, Nusantara Beat delves deep into the group’s Indonesian ancestral roots, and thrillingly weaves together hypnotic folk melodies, vintage Indo-pop, pulsating psychedelic grooves and contemporary sonic textures. That word Nusantara is important. As the group’s vocalist, Megan de Klerk, explains: “Nusantara means all the islands that make up Indonesia. It’s an old word from when the kings wanted to unite the whole archipelago. Today, it still means unity, many cultures coming together as one. So, when we say Nusantara Beat, we mean the rhythm and music from the Indonesian archipelago, mixed into one sound.”