The First Smile: The First Smile (Rattle/digital outlets)

This eight-piece Wellington ensemble has a treasure to play: a set of gamelan instruments gifted to the late ethnomusicologist Allan Thomas in the 1970s when he was in Java and thought to be more than 300 years old.

Brought back to New Zealand, the gift – for which an exchange of goods was made – became the authentic vehicle this gamelan orchestra and composers, many of whom had studied the tradition in Indonesia..

Alongside two traditional pieces here are compositions for the orchestra by Lou Harrison, David Farquhar and Gerard Crewson among others.

Many who have been to Indonesia – notably Bali – will have heard the resonant sound of a gamelan orchestra.

The large ensembles which appeal to tourists are often spectacular if a bit showy.

On a visit a few years ago staying outside Ubud – well away from the fleshpots of Kuta – we went to small villages at night where gamelan orchestras played and rehearsed, mostly for their own benefit and that of locals.

One night however we caught an astonishing ensemble which used huge sheets of hanging metal plates and bowls. The sound was something like an art ensemble out of downtown NYC.

The intimate gamelan sound however is more quietly appealing and The First Smile have such instruments at hand: their sound is gentle, warm and in many pieces – like Chris Francis' African-influenced Nhemamusasa – hypnotic in the way of slo-mo minimalism.

The 12 minute-plus Wetonan Cycle by Alison Isadora is an almost mathematically precise example of repeated five and seven note figures which initially arrives like droplets of rain in a bucket before becoming more expansive, busy and familiar in the second half.

Although the album is another in Rattle Records' expansive and inclusive catalogue – with typically informative liner essay and notes – which may seem to have specific appeal.

But this music is so restful and engaging it deserves a wide audience.

So if you've ever been to Bali or beyond and want a prompt to memory . . .

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here