Kijang Trans Am is an experiment in applying the principles of the three minute rock song to Balinese gamelan. I chose gong kebyar because its ubiquity and explosive energy make it the closest equivalent to the American garage band. Although these five pieces contain moments of sheer bombast and vulgarity, the project was less about bravado and more about the inner colors of rock and kebyar. Beneath the surface they share commonalities in riff, energy, structure and feeling. Though, the question remains: is it possible to concentrate the experiments and idioms of contemporary gamelan into short and accessible nuggets that pack artistic punch without losing their integrity? – Evan O’Donnell