DISCUS

"[The music is] a veritable patchwork of jazz, fusion, Sundan traditional and Balinese music, contemporary classical and classical chamber, pop, pop jazz, prog rock, heavy metal and dissonant avant-garde. In short, the band tackles just about every imaginable genre that lies between Pink Floyd and Weather Report. The vocals follow a similar pattern, featuring both male and female vocalizations that can be normal one minute and hysterical the next." (Progarchives.com)


This multi-instrumental band has an incredible range of influences such as jazz, prog rock, pop, classical, heavy metal. The songs are all very experimental, but each song itself is a diferent experience. As far I got, there are five male and two female vocals. It's great, but I won't recommend to beginners.

Album :
1.Discus - 1st (1999)
Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Lamentation & Fantasia Gamelantronique (8:14)
a) Lamentation
b) Fantasia Gamelantronique (for J. S.)
2. For This Love (6:18)
3. Doc's Tune (7:47)
4. Condissonance (trio for violin, bass clarinet & 21-string Harpguitar) (5:54)
5. Dua Cermin (5:41)
6. Wujudkan! (4:39)
7. Violin Metaphysics (music for violin & digital delay) (5:40)
8. Anugerah (4:11)
9. Contrasts (incl. the traditional theme "Gambang Suling") (12:57)
a) Opening & Meditation
b) Gambang Suling
c) Q/A & Odd Time Improvisations
d) Ostinato (Metal Attack!)
e) Lydian Piano Theme & Minor Dance
f) Gambang Suling

Total Time: 51:30
Note: This is the international version (for worldwide distribution) as released by Mellow Records in Italy. The Indonesian Version (For Sale in Indonesia Only) has a slightly different order of songs.

Line-up / Musicians

- Iwan Hasan / guitar, 21-string harpguitar, Balinese Rindik, electronic percussion & lead vocals
- Anto Praboe / flute, Soprano, Alto & Tenor saxophones, clarinet & bass clarinet
- Eko Partitur / violin & electronics
- Fadhil Indra / keyboards, background vocals
- Hayunaji / Premier drums & electronic percussions
- Kiko Caloh / 5-string & fretless bass
- Krisna Prameswara / keyboards, MIDI percussion programming
- Noonie / lead vocals

2.Discus - Tot Licht (2002)


Songs / Tracks Listing

1. System Manipulation (9:20)
2. "Breathe" (8:34)
3. P.E.S.A.N. (5:32)
4. Verso Kartini - door duisternis tot licht! (12:18)
5. Music 4.5 Players (7:40)
6. Anne (19:23)
Bonus track for Japan only
7. Misfortune Lunatic (6:09)

Total Time: 68:56

Line-up / Musicians

- Anto Praboe / lead vocals, suling (Bali, Sunda & Toraja), flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, Tenor saxophone
- Eko Partitur / lead vocals, violin
- Fadhil Indra / lead vocals, keyboards, electronic percussion, gongs, rindik, kempli, gender
- Hayunaji / vocals, drums, kempli
- Iwan Hasan / lead vocals, electric & classical guitars, 21 strings harpguitar, keyboards, guitalele & strummer violin
- Kiki Caloh / lead vocals, bass
- Krisna Prameswara / vocals, keyboards
- Nonnie / lead vocals

Additional Musicians:
- Andy Julias / acoustic steel string guitar on "P.E.S.A.N."
- Ombat Nasution of Tengkorak Growls on "Breathe"
- Godfried L. Tobing / Classical choir vocals on "Misfortune Lunatic"

Kompas >Jumat, 29 September 2000 Discus Menggebrak Amerika Serikat Nama kelompok musik Discus nyaris tak terdengar di blantika musik Indonesia. Namun, nama Discus justru cukup sering diulas majalah musik luar negeri seperti Expose, majalah khusus progressive rock terbitan Amerika, serta majalah- majalah Eropa lainnya.Grup yang memakai nama ikan hias ini sebenarnya telah merilis album pertama Discus 1st yang dirilis Mellow Records (Italia) dan diedarkan di Indonesia oleh Aquarius Musikindo. "Mungkin musik kami jauh dari kesan pop. Lebih rumit dan eksperimental. Bayangkan, kami mencoba menyatukan begitu banyak jenis musik, mulai dari musik jalanan, jazz, rock, hingga etnik Jawa," kata Iwan Hasan, sang gitaris yang juga leader Discus. Dalam review-nya, majalah Expose edisi lalu memuji Discus sebagai "...best of the year stuff, this one gets our highest recommendation...". Bahkan sejumlah kritisi musik progressive rock di Eropa sepakat menempatkan album Discus 1st sebagai lima besar album prog-rock terbaik Eropa akhir tahun 1999 lalu. Di mata orang asing, boleh jadi elemen musik etnis Jawa yang terkandung dalam Discus 1st, masih memikat. "Itu tidak kami pungkiri. Discus menjadi titik perhatian karena masih mau membawa nuansa musik tradisional kita," lanjut Iwan. Tidak mengherankan bila kemudian Peter Renfro, penginisiatif acara tahunan "ProgDay" yang menampilkan band-band progressive rock seluruh dunia, mengundang Discus untuk tampil di Amerika setelah mendengar debut album Discus.