Gamelan Textures

Gamelan Textures explores the rich sonic world of the Balinese gamelan through a collection of extended performance techniques and contemporary sound design. Featuring jegog, gender, barangan, reyong, and gongs, these instruments were performed by Andy Channing, Benoît Parmentier, members of Sekar Lukes and the UK’s leading Balinese gamelan ensemble, Lila Cita. Recorded using bows, prepared techniques, unconventional beaters, and expressive gestures, the sessions reveal new textures while preserving the instruments’ unmistakable acoustic character. At the heart of the collection is the shimmering phenomenon of ombak, the natural beating created by pairs of instruments tuned just a few hertz apart. Alongside beautifully detailed acoustic recordings, you’ll find carefully crafted processed layers created using modular synthesis, tape saturation, and warm analogue distortion, expanding the palette while remaining rooted in the instrument’s unique voice. Perfect for cinematic scoring, ambient composition, experimental electronics, and modern sound design, Gamelan Textures offers a fresh perspective on one of the world’s most captivating musical traditions.