1. Hotel San Vicente, Transs

First released in 1981, Hotel San Vicente failed to make waves and has long been out of print. With its throbbing bass lines, complex synthesizer orchestration by Fariz Rustam Munaf and odd time signature, casual pop fans in the early 1980s had their reasons to skip this record. The past couple of years have seen a revival of anything 80s and Hotel San Vicente benefits from the trend. French label Groovy Record remastered pristine vinyl copies that survived dust and humidity and brought new life to this truly remarkable music.

2. Pemuda, Chaseiro

Chaseiro is a bossa nova-influenced band founded by Candra Darusman, who before taking on the job as an intellectual property rights lawyer, had a successful career as a band leader and a solo artist. In 2018, Candra finally got his due. His solo record Kekagumanku (My Amazement) was reissued on vinyl for the first time after it was first released in 1983. His old music label Musica Studios also reissued all Chasiero's studio albums released in the late 1970s. The crown jewel is Pemuda (Youth), the band's debut album and their masterpiece. Musica Studios did a great remastering job that allows some of the smallest details from the 40-year-old record to shine through.

3. Jurang Pemisah, Yockie Soeryoprayogo and Chrisye

Old records from either multi-instrumentalist Yockie Soeryoprayogo or singing legend Chrisye have been difficult to find and ones that are available fetch at exorbitant price. Jurang Pemisah (Dividing Canyon) is one of the most sought-after records for obvious reasons. Written, composed and recorded in 1977, the album has aged pretty well, and the uninitiated could think that Jurang Pemisah was released this year. The record showcases Yockie at his most baroque stage, flaunting his classically trained chops with abandon and with Chrisye handling most of the singing duties, there was barely a weak moment in this record. Pressed on heavy-duty wax at a Japanese pressing plant, this is a must-have for serious music fans.

4. Behind the Eighth Ball, Rotor

Rotor's founding member Irfan Sembiring is now a born-again Muslim who holds a weekly sermon at a mosque in South Jakarta. In 1991, his band Rotor opened for Metallica when the American band played Lebak Bulus Stadium and ended in a riot that sent shivers down the spine of then president Soeharto. Rotor was a pioneer of thrash metal and opened the floodgates for bands that would make up one of the biggest metal scenes in the world. Behind the Eight Ball was released in 1992 and soon become a sacred text for local bands aspiring to mix some of the hardest elements of the genre with indigenous components. Little-known label Zim Zum Entertainment reissued this album on compact disc late this year with little fanfare, introducing Rotor to a new generation of fans.

5. Sujud, Senyawa

The venerable boutique label Sublime Frequencies is not in the business of releasing new music. The label is well-known for releasing old music from artists known only to cratedigger and DJ communities. The label made an exception for Indonesian duo of Senyawa, instrumentalist Wukir Suryadi and vocalist Rully Shabara. The duo famously turned down an offer from legendary label Sub Pop and it seems that they have found the perfect home in Sublime Frequencies. Sujud (Prostrate) contains new music blending some of the most avant-garde elements in rock that has become Senyawa's signature. Sublime Frequencies has made an exception for Senyawa, so should this list.

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