In Ngélar-the sextet's sophomore LP-deeper social narratives and more intimate subject matters are more apparent. In which they speak a lot about 'tanah' or 'land/soil,' owing a lot to the fact that their hometown, Jatiwangi's history of being the country's largest producer of clay/terracotta-based products. The people in Jatiwangi's intertwining relationship with 'tanah' is simply unparalleled-even their instruments are mostly made of terracotta.From the reimagining of their hometown's past glories, Lair, along with singer/songwriter Monica Hapsari (who co-wrote and co-composed three songs in the album) and Go Kurosawa (Kikagaku Moyo) helming the project as the producer, sings about the rituals and traditions of harvest, to sending off prayers towards their once-prospering land and the ruins of what was once a dense forest in Jatiwangi, which they are currently trying to reclaim while racing with the massive wave of industrialisation. It is a contextually-sorrowful album as much as it is a candid, cheery commemoration of the band members' everyday life in today's northern shores of Java, Indonesia.Ngélar is one of the words that might be able to describe the essence of Lair as a group. The word itself can be traced back to the locals' culture of 'going around in celebration of something.' In their village, ngélar simply means a traveling performance, in which the performers would play music and go around the village, greeting the people around them as they move from place to place, or simply within their immediate surroundings, indicating that there is something nearby that is being celebrated.Lair is simply in love with 'journey,' 'time,' and all of their interactions. Ngélar, for them, is a representation of their journey. How they go around, interacting and communicating, to celebrating and making sense of everything that is going on within and around them. For Lair, Ngélar is a method, a creative process, and-as an album-a culmination of each of their journeys since the group's founding.
Release date:
May 10, 2024
Label:
Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Yoshio Ojima Club
Wrwtfww Records
December 13, 2024 -
Laurent Garnier Fabric Presents Laurent Garnier [4xLP]
Fabric
November 29, 2024 -
Alva Noto Xerrox, Vol. 5 [2xLP]
Noton
November 29, 2024 -
Blind Ego The Hunting Party
Gentle Art Of Music
November 22, 2024 -
Cabal Everything Rots (Violet Black Marble)
Nuclear Blast
April 11, 2025 -
Stretch Arm Strong The Revealing
Iodine Recordings
January 10, 2025 -
Ela Minus DIA
Domino Record Co
January 17, 2025 -
Vegyn Only Diamonds Cut Diamonds 5 Year Anniversary Repress [2xLP]
Plz Make It Ruins
November 22, 2024 -
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble Tord Gustavsen Trio: Seeing
Ecm
November 22, 2024 -
The Corrs Jupiter Calling (Red) [2xLP]
Warner Bros UK
December 13, 2024 -
Franc Moody Chewing The Fat
Night Time Stories (NTS)
March 7, 2025 -
Mrs. Henry FAith, Fate And Hope In The Land Of Nothing Matters-Act Two Of Keep On
Blind Owl
December 20, 2024 -
Wardruna Birna [2xLP]
By Norse Music
January 24, 2025 -
The Rolling Stones Welcome To Shepherd's Bush [2xLP]
Mercury Studios
December 6, 2024