Still Life

It’s been a hell of journey tagging along with NY-based experimental pop duo Young Magic as vocalist Melati Malay rediscovers her Indonesian roots through sound on their album Still Life. We’ve heard “Lucien,” “Sleep Now,” and “Default Memory,” all of them either sonically or lyrically were beautiful invitations to explore with Malay. The gamelan — an ensemble music of Java and Bali in Indonesia made up mostly percussive instruments mixing metallophones played by mallets and hand-played drums called kendhang — is largely featured on the album, and it makes for exquisite textures and layers. Malay’s delicate vocals glide over the beautifully unorthodox and inventive aesthetics for a gorgeous experience. - Pitchfork