Here we have a sonically varied & wonderful presented double CD release focusing on southeast Asia gong culture. Over the two discs, we find thirty-six tracks, with a good selection of different set-ups, with varying mood and intent to the tracks.

Appearing on Belgian’s Sub Rosa- with the two-disc presented in fold eight-panel digipak. On its front and back covers we get a great selection of coloured pictures of those who create the sounds and their instruments. Inside we find maps detailing the areas where the recordings were captured, and a three-panel introduction by David Toop -but most impressive a balky & glossy fifty-one-page inlay booklet. This is full of more pictures, diary write-ups about the recordings, and in-depth detail about each of the thirty-six tracks. So, a really, really classy, colourful and informative bit of packaging.

All the thirty-six tracks featured over the set were captured by field recordist  Yasuhiro Morinaga, between the years 2016 and 2018. With track runtimes between just over a minute and nearing seven minutes. As you expect/ hope each recording is well captured and clear/ crisp in its recording, with at times the recording background ambience been heard- though this primally a gong/ vocal focused collection of works.

The first disc is entitled Mainland- and features twenty-one tracks in total. We go from locking in/ almost trancing inducing thick pulsing focus of “Funeral Music” by Krug + Punong, which features ten gongs- with a mixture of flat and knobbed gongs. We have earthy 'n' even tap meets buzzing almost wow-wow intent of “Duet Gongs” by Coho- which features two flat gongs and one drum.  There’s the almost horn-baying groove meets lightly chugg and jangling metallic hits of  “Cutting the bamboo” by M’nong Prang- which is created by six flat gongs.  There’s the detailing ringing, pulsing, clunking and lightly harmonic rhythms of “Buffalo Sacrifice” by Jaral which features fifteen gongs and one drum. And towards the end of the first disc, we have the swirling slight pitch hazing hover of “Threshing” by Ebe-din, which is for five flutes.

The second disc is entitled Maritime, and takes in sixteen tracks. Here we move from the chopping and slightly serrated gallop of “Roster Dance” by Isneg Grop, which features two flat gongs and a drum. Onto fast and at time baying ritual chant meets slow- yet urgent percussive smarting of “Manang Sirang Ritual” by Iban- this features one gong, one drum, the chanter, and great elements of village ambience. There’s the tight ringing ‘n’ chiming warmth of “Eagle Dance” by Kankanaey, which features four flat gongs. And finishing off the disc we have the layered swaying chant  meets lightly chopping rhythm of “Ambience: Rambu So” which sort of stops 'n' starts for village ambience- this is by Toraja.

Exploring Gong Culture In Southeast Asia: Massif And Archipelago truly is a splendid celebration of the southeastern Asia gong culture. The collection highlights both the scope and depth of sound use, as well as the different themes and moods of the compositions. To find out more about this, and the labels other genre varied catalogue here.