Berisik 3: A Sonic Assault from Jogja’s Underground Scene
If you’re into music that punches your eardrums and makes your brain go "what just happened?" then Berisik 3 by Various is the album for you. Released in 2017 under Indonesia's own Jogja Noise Bombing label, this record dives headfirst into the chaotic worlds of noise and experimental electronic sounds. It’s raw, unfiltered, and feels like it was born out of late-night jam sessions fueled by way too much coffee—or maybe something stronger.
The album kicks off with a bang, but two tracks really stuck with me after multiple listens: "Cat Warriors of Ulthar" and "Suryakanta." Let’s break ‘em down.
First up, "Cat Warriors of Ulthar"—a wild ride if there ever was one. The track starts with what sounds like an army of cats plotting world domination (or at least my living room). Layers of distorted synths clash against jagged beats, creating this sense of urgency without ever settling into anything predictable. By the time it ends, you're left wondering if those cat warriors won their battle or just got distracted chasing laser pointers. Either way, it’s memorable as hell.
Then there’s "Suryakanta," which takes things in a completely different direction. This track feels more meditative compared to the rest of the album, though “meditative” here still means listening to feedback loops and glitchy textures that sound like they were ripped straight out of a malfunctioning robot’s brain. But somehow, it works. There’s a hypnotic quality to it, almost like staring at static on an old TV screen—it shouldn’t be interesting, yet you can’t look away.
Credit where it’s due: Krisna Widiathama nailed the cover art, giving us visuals as chaotic as the music inside. And mastering engineer Uya Cipriano deserves props for keeping all these wild experiments sounding clear enough not to explode your speakers. Hats off to Jogja Noise Bombing too—they’ve been championing this kind of stuff for years, proving that Indonesia has some seriously untapped talent when it comes to pushing musical boundaries.
What struck me most about Berisik 3 isn’t just its creativity; it’s how fearless it feels. These artists aren’t worried about making hits or pleasing crowds—they’re making exactly the kind of music they want to make, consequences be damned. Sure, some parts might feel abrasive or downright weird, but isn’t that the point? Sometimes, art needs to challenge you instead of coddling you.
So yeah, Berisik 3 probably won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you prefer polished pop tunes over sonic chaos, steer clear. But if you’re ready to embrace the messy, unpredictable beauty of noise and experimentation, give this album a spin. Just don’t blame me if your neighbors start banging on the walls.
And honestly? Listening to Berisik 3 made me realize something kinda funny—we spend so much time trying to block out noise in our daily lives, yet here I am seeking it out willingly. Maybe we could all use a little more intentional chaos now and then.
