WOUTER EN DE DRAAK - WOUTER EN DE DRAAK
Private Label
I’m not sure what this CD has to do with dragons – but the sleeve design displays one in a curiously fetching flight-mode...
This is a compilation of tunes composed by Wouter Kuyper (diatonic accordion) and Joris Alblas (acoustic guitar) assisted by Isaac Muller (wooden flute), Frank van Vliet (flugelhorn) and Roeland Uijtdewilligen (percussion). The band hails from the Netherlands. Regrettably, there were no sleevenotes, but the band can be viewed playing for dancing on various YouTube clips.
If I were to choose three tracks to listen to more than the others it would be Witte Tonny / Witte Danny’(jigs), Dieseldrone / Menage A Trois (a sort of bourree) and Gavotte De Grenoble. This is because I found the rest, apart from the first track, Vliegende Graafmachine, (a sort of pensive waltz) somewhat lacking in aim, with ideas started but not developed. This is a pity because clearly the musicians can play and it would seem that they have rather nice instruments. The accordion bass-work is good and the guitar-work incisive and crystal clear.
I liked the inclusion of flugelhorn, flute and percussion (light) but the uncertainty pervading the musical material seems to dog their contributions. Being a little less critical, this is good mood music and can be danced to (sort of).
An afterthought: I finally listened to the CD through headphones and this did change my appreciation of it – it was as if I was enjoying being amongst the musicians (there is good acoustic stereo separation and presence) leading to a more laid-back experience.
www.soundcloud.com/wouter-en-de-draak
C.John Edwards
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