audioMER001Jozef Van Wissem again, but this time with a friend and very accomplished musician from the UK, James Blackshaw on 12 string guitar. On All Things Jozef and James create an even more traditional sounding record, by using some intensive and repetitive rhythms they enter a hypnotic, tribal sound. Title track is # 2, All Things are from Him, through Him and in Him is especially tribal in flavour, it’s constant loops and slight variations of the interweaved lute and guitar, along with a danceable tempo give a new meaning to the word Gigue. In reality the Brethren are more intense and quite considerably less varied melodically than traditional theme and variation, but this great intensity comes from the monotony of loop and and the somehow vocal, bassier pulses.
How the Unencumbered Soul advises that One not refuse the Calls of a Good Spirit is the most experimental and a little aggressive and dark in places. It includes some tuned and sculpted feedback and a cat - now I don’t know what that was with the cat (heisst: bunbun), but I really liked the combination of intricate feedback dynamics and discordant, almost out of tune bullets points on the lute that develops very very gradually into more rhythmical passages and then, in turn, harmonics. In Him is no Sin has a more folk feel, and back to a dancier rhythm. The strong alternating up and down strokes of Lute and Guitar really encourage movement. Then in great Jozef style more countermelodies are added, filling my room with layers and textures and taking me away to some kind of stoned (talking of drugs not minerals) medieval court back in England.
All Things is a good cooperation and cumulation of contrasting talents, James being an self taught guitarist who has toured extensively and Jozef, the more traditional musician, who likewise is globally recognised. Together they create complex, uplifting but also relaxing counterpoint and textural/pulse based music.
Brethren Of The Free Spirit/All Things are from Him, through Him and in Him - audioMer/A-Musik
