Kaster is Javanese busking music from a fading era when musicians would circle the villages of Banyumas, Central Java bringing their uniquely Banyumasan music door to door with a zither (siter) and the percussively played soapbox zither, or kas, with big strings made out of motorbike inner tubes. Pak Sumarto is one of the last kas virtuosos in this corner of Java - with selective plucks and taps to his box, he perfectly mimics the rubbery, polyrhythmic patterns of the Javanese kendang drum. Seasoned musicians Pakel, Tarmono, and Yusmanto join in with a joyous choir that really exemplifies the raw beauty of Banyumasan folk.

Somehow I never uploaded this one, so here it is seven years later, straight from the archives! Check out the classic post at the link below:

https://www.auralarchipelago.com/aura...