Timeline Suarasama SKU: DC850 Barcode: 0781484085010 36.00 £36.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Drag City Released Date: 12th May 2023 Buying Format: 2LP Out of stock Back Order Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info 2023 marks the twenty-eighth year of Suarasama; it is also the first year for this reissue of their 2013 masterpiece, ‘Timeline’. Irwansyah Harahap and Rithaony Hutajulu, Ethnomusicology lecturers at University of Sumatera Utara, founded Suarasama in 1995 after graduating from the University of Washington Ethnomusicology program. Their music, as expressed on both ‘Timeline’ and ‘Fajar Di Atas Awan’ (first issued in 1998, reissued by Drag City in 2008) is hypnotic and joyful, progressing ancient North Sumatran music concepts while referencing the music of adjacent ethnic traditions. ‘Dukkha’, for example, was written combining Mandailing and Eastern European musical inspirations. Playing this song on African jembe, Indian sruti box and a European lute known as the mandolin, Suarasama instigate a musical synesthesia in the listener that may honestly earn and truly deserve the title of ‘world music’. Throughout ‘Timeline’, this is largely due to Irwansyah Harahap’s master playing on a variety of stringed instruments, including acoustic guitars, Malaysian gambus, mandolin, and an invention of his own design, the saz-guitar. Suarasama’s spirit and intention is further elevated by Rithaony Hutajulu’s vocals, as well as the skilled rhythm playing of Muhammad Amin and Horas Panjaitan, with additional percussion and singing from several others. The sound of Suarasama is the sound of people engaged in a deeply spiritual, constantly moving recital in open space. Suarasama’s conception of ‘Timeline’ was a multifaceted one from the start. It grew from the concept of hemiola, a metric rhythmic structure involving the juxtaposition of a 2-beat time signature upon 3-beat time within the same line. The song ‘Timeline’ itself addresses the history of musical lutes around the world as a means of debuting their custom-made lute, the aforementioned saz-guitar. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, a ‘timeline’ charts the passage of time, and therefore references Suarasama’s musical path over the years of their existence. This is especially significant since founder and leader Irwansyah Harahap passed away in 2021 at the age of 60. As difficult as this loss is for his family, friends and fans alike, the reissue of ‘Timeline’ is seen as a celebration of the vitality and importance of his music career and journey. As a professor, he taught his students about the qualities of North Sumatran traditional music and their relationship to other traditional musics of the world; with the music of Suarasama, he demonstrated the same to listeners across the planet. He worked to preserve the music and the instruments as well, such as the traditional Sumatran taganing, a five-piece set of tuned drums, and hasapi, a lute of the Toba Batak people of North Sumatra. After Irwansyah’s passing, Ritha’s daughter Niesya said that he had always wanted their music studio Rumah Musik Suarasama, in Simpang Selayang, Medan Tuntungan, North Sumatra, to be a centre for music preservation. This dedication to the music was acknowledged in his lifetime through several awards and fellowships around the world, including a recognition from the Ministry of Culture and Education of Indonesia as the pioneer of the World Music genre in Indonesia. Suarasama mourn the loss of their leader, Irwansyah Harahap, and grieve his passing. They intend to continue his legacy and spread his music to the world. As shall we – with the eternally resonant music of ‘Timeline’, crossing as many borders as possible, to bring Suarasama’s world music to all the people, everywhere. Artist Suarasama Genre World / Fusion Label Drag City Buying Options 2LP Format 2LP Condition New Country UK Track Listings Untukmu Yang Berperang Dukkha Timeline Sea Fish Awesome Journey Kita Berbagi (We Share) Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from World / Fusion View Product Quick View Various Artists Soul Jazz Records presents Vodou Drums In Haiti 2: The Living Gods Of Haiti World / Fusion | Soul Jazz | 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 17th March 2017 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists Soul Jazz Records presents Vodou Drums In Haiti 2: The Living Gods Of Haiti £24.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Soul Jazz SKU: SJRLP371 Formats: 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 17th March 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Madjafalao World / Fusion | Because Music | 1LP, Includes CD Released 21st October 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Madjafalao £19.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Because Music SKU: 5060421566474 Formats: 1LP, Includes CD Released Date: 21st October 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Fela Kuti Fela With Ginger Baker Live! World / Fusion | Knitting Factory | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 27th August 2014 £15.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Fela Kuti Fela With Ginger Baker Live! £15.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Knitting Factory SKU: KFR2003-1 Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 27th August 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Anoushka Shankar Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn World / Fusion | BMG Rights Management | 12", EP/Mini Album Released 5th April 2024 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Anoushka Shankar Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn £19.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: BMG Rights Management SKU: 4099964023473 Formats: 12", EP/Mini Album Released Date: 5th April 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Mino Cinelu & Nils Petter Molvær SulaMadiana World / Fusion | Modern Recordings | 2LP Released 16th October 2020 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Mino Cinelu & Nils Petter Molvær SulaMadiana £24.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Modern Recordings SKU: 4050538631852 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 16th October 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Beny More Pare… Que Llegó El Bárbaro World / Fusion | Waxtime 500 | 180g, 1LP Released 29th November 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Beny More Pare… Que Llegó El Bárbaro £20.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Waxtime 500 SKU: 408743 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th November 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Penny Penny Yogo Yogo World / Fusion | Awesome Tapes From Africa | 1LP Released 14th August 2020 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Penny Penny Yogo Yogo £20.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Awesome Tapes From Africa SKU: ATFA030LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 14th August 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Fela Kuti Shakara World / Fusion | Knitting Factory | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes 7" Released 13th January 2023 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Fela Kuti Shakara £25.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Knitting Factory SKU: KFR2027-8 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes 7" Released Date: 13th January 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Various The Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends World / Fusion | Rough Guides | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 9th May 2011 £10.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various The Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends £10.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Rough Guides SKU: RGNET1259LP Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 9th May 2011 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Femi Kuti and Made Kuti Legacy + World / Fusion | Partisan Records | 2LP Released 5th February 2021 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Femi Kuti and Made Kuti Legacy + £22.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Partisan Records SKU: PTKF2189-1 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 5th February 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more in World / Fusion Start again
View Product Quick View Various Artists Soul Jazz Records presents Vodou Drums In Haiti 2: The Living Gods Of Haiti World / Fusion | Soul Jazz | 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 17th March 2017 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists Soul Jazz Records presents Vodou Drums In Haiti 2: The Living Gods Of Haiti £24.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Soul Jazz SKU: SJRLP371 Formats: 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 17th March 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Madjafalao World / Fusion | Because Music | 1LP, Includes CD Released 21st October 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Madjafalao £19.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Because Music SKU: 5060421566474 Formats: 1LP, Includes CD Released Date: 21st October 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Fela Kuti Fela With Ginger Baker Live! World / Fusion | Knitting Factory | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 27th August 2014 £15.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Fela Kuti Fela With Ginger Baker Live! £15.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Knitting Factory SKU: KFR2003-1 Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 27th August 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Anoushka Shankar Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn World / Fusion | BMG Rights Management | 12", EP/Mini Album Released 5th April 2024 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Anoushka Shankar Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn £19.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: BMG Rights Management SKU: 4099964023473 Formats: 12", EP/Mini Album Released Date: 5th April 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Mino Cinelu & Nils Petter Molvær SulaMadiana World / Fusion | Modern Recordings | 2LP Released 16th October 2020 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Mino Cinelu & Nils Petter Molvær SulaMadiana £24.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Modern Recordings SKU: 4050538631852 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 16th October 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Beny More Pare… Que Llegó El Bárbaro World / Fusion | Waxtime 500 | 180g, 1LP Released 29th November 2019 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Beny More Pare… Que Llegó El Bárbaro £20.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Waxtime 500 SKU: 408743 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 29th November 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Penny Penny Yogo Yogo World / Fusion | Awesome Tapes From Africa | 1LP Released 14th August 2020 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Penny Penny Yogo Yogo £20.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Awesome Tapes From Africa SKU: ATFA030LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 14th August 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Fela Kuti Shakara World / Fusion | Knitting Factory | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes 7" Released 13th January 2023 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Fela Kuti Shakara £25.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Knitting Factory SKU: KFR2027-8 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes 7" Released Date: 13th January 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Various The Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends World / Fusion | Rough Guides | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 9th May 2011 £10.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various The Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends £10.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Rough Guides SKU: RGNET1259LP Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 9th May 2011 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Femi Kuti and Made Kuti Legacy + World / Fusion | Partisan Records | 2LP Released 5th February 2021 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Femi Kuti and Made Kuti Legacy + £22.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Partisan Records SKU: PTKF2189-1 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 5th February 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders