It?s always a pleasure to see the blue and white of the Forced Exposure press sheet peeking out of a CD, but especially so when it is accompanying a release on the wonderful Shadoks label out of Germany. Responsible for re-issuing amazing psychedelic gems from around the world, this first Indonesian reissue does not disappoint. The only album recorded by the Indonesian trio, this album is pretty heavy psych that occasionally veers into prog with a few traditional Indonesian influences. For fans of Turkish psych that uses a lot of traditional elements, this record might just not be heavy enough, as it takes a lot from British and American psychedelia. Four songs into the record, ?Senyumlag Sayang? quiets things down with a nice flute accompaniment, but ends too abruptly, as the record moves into slightly poppier guitar & organ territory. There are even moments that sound slightly like ?70s country-fried West Coast vibes. The only song with English lyrics, ?Will Never Die?, starts with wistful, yet world-weary lyrics about the universe, sunsets on the beach, and love beginning before the lovers have even met, and then the flute pipes in. Perfect for driving down a sun-drenched highway with nothing but the afternoon on your mind. The singer?s vocals, elsewhere disaffected, conjure innocence and melancholia when delivered in accented English. The mystique of this record probably has as much to do with the very aesthetically pleasing cover as it does the music and ?lost gem? status that reissues so often have. Featuring three young men in early ?70s regalia (the album was recorded in 1973), the pop of the colours is instantly appealing. Look closely though, and the re-issuer?s reconstruction efforts are rather obvious!

Of late, all anyone seems to say about psych reissues is that they are numerous and the records not often worthy of reissue. While not groundbreaking or essential, it is an interesting document in the larger importance of psych, as it hails from Indonesia. With plenty of Japanese, Brazilian, and Turkish psych reissues (wonderful though they might be) out on the market for collectors to sink their rarity-hungry teeth into, it is refreshing to come across something from a country that hasn?t thus far received much attention in this arena of cultural export. Considered a prime find in collector?s circles, this record is included in Hans Pokora?s 4001 record book, and is referred to as one of the rarest records from Asia. Recommended for fans of the ?Cambodian Rocks? compilation or even the Japanese edition of the ?Love, Peace and Poetry? compilations. This is an enjoyable listen that should be pulled off the shelf again once summer hits. 7/10 -- Sara Saljoughi (23 October, 2006)