Pantulan Cita Explained

Pantulan Cita
Type:studio album
Artist:Chrisye
Cover:Chrisye Pantulan Cita.jpg
Genre:Pop/rock
Length:45:43
Label:Musica Studios
Prev Title:Puspa Indah
Prev Year:1980
Next Title:Resesi
Next Year:1983

Pantulan Cita (English: Reflection of Dreams) is a 1981 album by the Indonesian singer Chrisye. Recorded with much input from Jockie Soerjoprajogo, the album had rock influences and a cover design showing Chrisye's face as a puzzle. It was a critical and commercial failure, leading Chrisye to take a two-year sabbatical.

Production

Although Chrisye's previous albums had been pure pop, continuing the success of Badai Pasti Berlalu (The Storm Shall Surely Pass; 1977), with Pantulan Cita Chrisye and his collaborator Jockie Soerjoprajogo began experimenting, mixing rock sounds. Chrisye was uncertain that this would work. The album was recorded with Chrisye on vocals and bass guitar, Jockie on keyboard, Jerry on electric and acoustic guitar, and Yaya M. on drums. Indah Sukotjo provided backing vocals for "Tragedi Badai" ("Tragedy of the Storm"). The arrangement was handled by Jockie, who also wrote most of the lyrics; Harry Sabar wrote the lyrics for three songs, while Jockie did seven.

Ayik Soegeng, who had previously designed the cover for Guruh Gipsy – a collaboration between Guruh Sukarnoputra and Sabda Nada, a band featuring Chrisye – in 1976, was selected to design the cover for Pantulan Cita. The photographers Firman Ichsan and Tara Sastrowardoyo initially intended to have a portrait of Chrisye holding a headshot of himself over his face. However, the photographer later decided that portraying Chrisye's face on a puzzle would be more effective. Soegeng was asked to create the puzzle, taking the photograph initially meant to be held by Chrisye, gluing it to plywood, then cutting out the puzzle with a jigsaw. Chrisye was pleased with the result.

Release and reception

Pantulan Cita was released in 1981 by Musica Studios, with no singles. It was a critical and commercial failure, although the cover was well received. Along with Percik Pesona (Stain of Enchantment; 1979), it was Chrisye's only solo album to not receive any awards. Disappointed with the album's failure, Chrisye decided to go on a sabbatical. He would not record another album until Resesi (Recession), a collaboration with Jockie and Eros Djarot, in 1983. The later album was more successful, but followed then-popular trends in music.

Pantulan Cita has been reissued twice, once as a CD in 2004 and once as part of the Chrisye Masterpiece Trilogy Limited Edition in 2007.

References

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