Showing posts with label WAAN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WAAN. Show all posts

Friday, 20 October 2023

If you'd mention Utrecht to me a couple of weeks ago I'd immediately associated it with the forthcoming 'Biggest Record Fair in the World' but now, I'll correct that with the knowledge that producer/drummer Joris Feiertag is from the Dutch city.

It also happens that the Record Fair is 30 miles from Utrecht but that's a mere detail as 'Roots' is his second album on Sonar Kollektiv and a change from his first as he's got a hoard of vocalist to help out to produce this 14 track album of soulful electronica with loads of different influences from world, to BRUK to jazz to ... anything Jazzanova would be into.

The single, 'Feel Me' featuring Nego True with 'Law Of Attraction' featuring OSHUN (see review HERE) is a good introduction; Nego True's clever lyrics are also a feature of the other track he's on, the jazzer 'Love Hills' that has a bit of a TY (RIP) vibe to it.  So totally different to the opener 'Nostalgia' (that features label mates WAAN, they of 'Echo Echo' - see review HERE) that's got the addition of some spiritual harp - also check 'Waiting For Tomorrow' featuring Leonard Luka

The most radio friendly track in the funkee soul of 'Keep Your Head Up' (featuring the vocals of Noah Slee) and 'Don't Know Why (You Lost Your Soul)' along with the Afro-bass of 'Ballon Sogni' featuring Falle Nioke, the trip-hoppy 'Re:soloution' and the housey 'Come Back' you get the idea how varied this album is.

For fans of Rhi (Tru-thoughts) she makes an appearance on 'Queen & King' in the mode of 'The Pale Queen' (although this would have made a great single too) and by concidence, there's a track of the same name as Rhi's debut album, 'Reverie' here (but unconnected) featuring Robin Kester.

The flute squad are covered by 'Violet (You & Me)' featuring Oli Hannaford and the 14 track set ends on a soulful high note of Pete Josef 'Give A Little'.

Well, it's more than a little you need to give this labour of love as there's so much to take in but if you're a fan of Jazzanova (and who isn't) you've got a head start and your all set to find a new favourite album and producer in Feiertag's (many), 'Roots'.

And just in case your in the area: The 57th Mega Record & CD Fair
November 11 & 12, 2023 Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch

Title: Feiertag
Title: Roots
Release date: 20th October, 2023
Label : Sonar Kolletiv
Catalog Number : SK460D Digital / Bandcamp 

Friday, 24 February 2023

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , ,

WAAN's debut album is out this month as Bart Wirtz (sax) and Emiel van Rijthoven (keys) realize their dream that's been 5 years in the making.

You'll recall 'KinK' and 'Open' from late last year, (see YATM review HERE) and now we've got the other eight tracks to make up the album 'Echo Echo' (so good, they named it twice - Ed. you can say that again).

Strongly recommend checking the bandcamp link below as there's also a video of 'Omi' recorded live in the Eminent Studios.

You may have heard this tracks as tastemakers like DJ Gilles Peterson, Mr. Scruff and our very own Will Sumsuch  have taken these guys to their hearts/DJ booths as it's very modern jazz-funk, like Floating Points, a mellow BadBadNotGood, or a slim Weather Report as yet can bet both Bart and Emiel are big fans of Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter; particularly on a track like 'Chivat' even with its a bit of bruk in it (a track that apparently evolved out of a band jam!) 

And the more you listen to this album, the more you hear (is that 'spray can' percussion on the alt. version of 'Chivat'?) and the better it gets.  Like the jazzy 'Lost', the "out-there" '1974' which they've made sound a bit big band electronic (ohhh, don't you just love the 70s - definitely could be TV theme music with that racing synth) and the funkier 'The Cricketer' that's more Death Wish Herbie in Swinton (where 'The Cricketer' Public House is!) with Jason Swinscoe serving pints.

Talking TV/FIlm themes, 'Frequence' is where they trail the suspect in the mean back streets, at night and it's raining whilst 'Hard Cane Bone' is like a confluence of all that's gone before.

Mixed by Oscar de Jong (he of Kraak & Smack) at Kraak & Smack's studios, its nothing like Kraak & Smaak as there are more likely to be comparisions with other recent albums like Urbs' 'Geheimland' or Conic Rose's 'Heller Tag' [Austria vs Holland vs Germany on three different German labels] but you'll want to get all.  

Sonar Kollectiv's founders, Jazzanova, have recently been on "holiday" with BBE's latest release, review HERE), WAAN, the Dutch for "delusion" fly the flag for modern nu-jazzness that is anything but delusional.

Live Dates:
23.02. – NL, Nijmegen, Brebl
24.02. – NL, Amsterdam, Bimhuis
10.04. – NL, Oosterhout, Theater De Bussel
27.05. – NL, s'Hertogenbosch, Jazz in Duketown 2023


Artist: WAAN

Title: Echo Echo

Release date: 24th February, 2023

Label : Sonar Kolletiv

Catalog Number : SK450D Digital / Bandcamp

Tuesday, 29 November 2022

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , ,
As jazz becomes more and more influenced with electronic instrumentals, there is an industry search for a new catchy post nu-jazz named genre.

Well, whatever the boffin's come up with, WAAN can safely be in it as Dutch duo Bart Wirtz (sax) and Emiel van Rijthoven (keyboard/electronics) meet up on this new release on the ever future forward German label, Sonar Kollektiv. 

The single is the start of the build up to the release of an album called 'Echo Echo'.  Joinded by Kasper Kalf (double bass), Jimmi Hueting (drums), Oscar de Jong and Lucas Meijers (both percussion), 'KinK' sounds familiar as Bart weaves his sax with the others.

'Open' has more 'jazz' in it as the Jazzanova thirst for 'The Space In Between' continues, this track being the opener on the new compilation, 'Sonar Kollektiv presents Neujazz Vol. 2' (did you see what they did there?)

It's an area that harks back to Eddie Harris' electrified sax to ENO to WeJazz to fee jazz experimentalists that is overseen here by co-producer de Jong (half of Kraak & Smaak) for a dance "jazztronica" [Ed. not sure about that one].


Artist: WAAN

Title: KinK / Open EP

Release date: 6th December, 2022

Label : Sonar Kolletiv

Catalog Number : SK447D Digital / Bandcamp