“And now for something completely different!” This might not be everybody’s cup of tea but then, it is not necessary for everyone to like everything, is it?!
Aceh was in the news for being the worst hit in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. It also happens to be the place where Islam first gained a foothold in South-East Asia. And Aceh remains till this day the strongest bastion of Islam in that region. Much of their culture, probably as a consequence, is closely linked to the Arab world – and this applies to their music as well. It is from this unusual source that I draw inspiration today to post this album.
Kande (Candle) is the band of one of Aceh’s most popular singers, Rafly. Rafly’s music is closely linked to the Sufi tradition of the 16th century and this is evident in his lyrics and music. But he is a rock star first and that persona shines through as well. This album probably fits in very well with a genre of music in the Indian subcontinent which is often referred to as Sufi Rock. The album is called Meukondroe which means If not Us and the songs are mainly of peace, hope and new beginnings, as its release coincided with the end of the decades old separatist movement in Aceh.
Listen with an open mind! Download if you are touched!
(This album is not available outside Indonesia. But if you are in Indonesia please do consider buying the album if you like the songs. Its only Rp. 50,000 on the wartajazz store.)
A video of the title track:
Buy the CD
To download the songs, right-click on the song name and select Save Target As (OR Save Link As). If you need more help, read the 
