Tohpati Tohpati Ethnomission - Mata Hati Review by Gary Hill
You can always count on Tohpati to deliver some great music. This album, featuring a killer blend of fusion, world music and more is no exception. I really love this set. It has a nice range and is quite effective.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Janger
This powers straight in with some killer prog rock jamming. It work out to more world music and fusion from there. I dig the cool exploratory fusion jam later in the track. There is a full on world music journey later in the piece. When the piece works out from there it gets quite intense.
Tanah Emas I love the staccato progression that begins this. As it moves out it's definitely a merging of fusion and world music. There are some rather bizarre shifts and changes built into this piece. It really works toward Rock In Opposition type territory at times.
Pelog Rock I love the bass work on this cool piece. The tune starts powered up, but drops down allowing that bass to really shine. Then the guitar solos in some great melodic lines. There is a drop back to full on world music mid-track.
Mata Hati The blend of fusion and world music on this number is quite good. At times I'm reminded a bit of Al Di Meola.
Berburu There is some particularly cool fast paced fusion built into this in some great twisting and turning directions. I really like some of the jamming on this better than just about anything else here. In fact, this might well be my favorite piece on the disc.
Rancak A very melodic and almost playful bit of fusion, in a lot of ways this makes me think of Pat Metheny.
Reog This fired up rocker is quite cool. It has great fusion and even some prog rock built into it. This has some of the most purely rock oriented guitar of the whole album. It drops to a world music movement that gives way to some drum soloing. After it comes back out of that we get some almost Zappa-like jamming at times.
Pangkur Although this isn't a huge change, it's another prime example of the kind of stuff we expect here. It has some great melodic passages and instrumental work.
Amarah Screaming in with a real metallic fire, this is a powerhouse cut that just plain screams. There are some weird shifts and changes along this road, but this is really on fire.
