This record features vocals by Arie Koesmiran, a teenage singer from the island of Java, Indonesia. The standout track is Disco Arab a captivating blend of mystical male chanting, Arie’s sensual voice, and cheap, lo-fi synthesizers. Indonesia is a country where Islam and Buddhism coexist, and perhaps influenced by that cultural fusion, the track adopts an "Arab" theme in a way that feels both surreal and hypnotic.
Interestingly, the jacket is a special bootleg edition: a blown-up reprint of the original cassette tape artwork, resized to fit a 12-inch sleeve. The original release was apparently a promotional 12-inch from Indonesia, without any proper cover.
For a long time, I avoided Indonesian records because there was so little information about the music or the sleeves. But lately, Indonesia feels like it’s been calling to me—I’ve found myself chatting with several people there, buying clothes from Potato Head, and connecting with people who go to Bali to source batik fabric. It’s definitely becoming a country I’m drawn to.
This particular record was played by Yogi from Indonesia during an event series called Hidden Beat. He played an edited version, and when I reached out to ask about the track, he arranged for it to be sold to me directly through a friend of his.