Drips is the latest release by Indonesian dream gaze band Strange Fruit who are from Jakarta on Java, apologies that my Indonesian references are almost all Sumatran. Strange Fruit is Baldi Calvianca, Irza Aryadiaz, John Tampubolon, Nabil Favian and Dino Kristianto. The ep was produced by Bernardus Fritz, Mixed by Nabil Favian at Studio Maja and Studio SAE 1 Institute in Jakarta, Mastered by Sam at The Wall Studios in France. Remixes by The Hardaway Brothers, Tom Furse and Johnathan Kusuma.
The album opens with Pouvoir Moteur giving them a medium sized Motorik Power to build a sonic synth cathedral or two, this is spaced out at the beginning of a journey into outer Space with Drips.
Iridescent feels like you've had the sort of mushroom omelette they serve for breakfast by Lake Toba on Sumatra, everything has become floaty and gauzy, shimmering water, soft focus laid back feelings for gazing into the distance across the lake, you just want to slowly float across the lake while dreaming of diving to the bottom deep below surrounded by strange fauna.
Monopolar takes a mutation of the cicada's endless calls, waterfalls and supple percussion for the soft whispered vocals tripping us out, meditating on why this is such a Monopolar world they want to expand beyond the spectrum we perceive floating through space endlessly.
Drips closes the ep in a haze of guava juice, dripping down from above from a coconut shell, the animals are playing above, treated guitars reverberate through the jungle, a waterfall appearing by the side of Berastagi in the reverie this tune gives me.
The bonus remixes opens with Iridescent (Johnathan Kusuma Hypnodubmix) perfect for a full moon party by Lake Maninjau, bang lassi's getting everyone into the same trance like state, watching the full moon make the lakes surface glisten, further tripping you out.
Monopolar (Tom Furze remix) adds colossal stomach wobbling bass drums, to the fuzzy guitars, buzzing cicada like in the wilderness, fading away in this Monopolar world you're flying though, a spatial journey.
Monopolar (The Hardaway Brothers Mix) brings the keyboards more central to the pulsing, cleaner vocals helping them to fade away once more. Monopolar (Hardaway brothers Live At The SSL Vocal Dub) has a laid back dubby club feel, vocals are like cushions floating across the jungle sky at a huge outdoor party, sending messages to all who hear the laid-back sounds, almost slipping into the minimal background.
The remixes conclude with Monopolar (The Hardaway Brothers Live At SSL Dub) this brings the drums back up the percussive beat working round the neo gamelan chiming sounds, while another trance like dance is evolving in the only chilled out space in Medan, the madness outside disappears, the vibes and connectedness of that Monopolar trance like state the room is in.
Find Out More at https://strangefruit.bandcamp.com/album/drips https://www.facebook.com/strangefruitofficial
