Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ruben Machtelinckx/Frederik Leroux: when the shade is stretched
Ruben Machtelinckx/Frederik Leroux: when the shade is stretched
ByMachtelinckx leads off the album (and his part of the program) with "Turdus." The first sound is a drone (perhaps from the "vibration speaker" listed in the credits) with overdubbed banjos playing a repetitive, minimalist pattern; later guitar chords are addeda gentle, minimalist sound world with banjo the unlikely instrument at center stage. The next track, "Open" is the first of two brief guitar solos, which serve as intermissions between banjo-oriented tracks. "One Morning, Ten Years Later" features chord-melody style banjo (a switch from the usual finger picking approach), while "Mirror Men" employs two banjo parts in dialog playing a minimal chord sequence, heavy on the reverb. "Spuds" is also a banjo duet, while Machtelinckx's closer "Short Sentence" features contemplative banjo chords answered by the mellow baritone guitar (another instrument that he has used often).
Leroux begins his segment ("Dawn") playing banjo with a slide (blues guitar style) over synthesized white noise that sounds like the wind, establishing a sound world of his own, which he revisits on the closer "Dusk." "The Faerie Queens" employs a bird whistle playing a melodic fragment over banjo chords with reverbLeroux has a predilection for nature soundswhistling sounds appear again on "Arum Lily," along with harmonium chords and an insistent banjo ostinato. "Lock My Door Upon Myself" runs the banjo through tape delay, while also adding percussion to the mix. "Woman On A Rocking Horse" finally does feature almost traditional solo finger-picked banjo, but with the twist of a stereo doubler.
At its heart this album revolves around five-string banjo played with finger picks, just like a bluegrass record. But both players subvert the banjo's usual role in different ways, beginning with the generally minimalist, repetitive sound. In fact the banjo fingerpicking style is well suited to that kind of pattern playingit could be argued that it is more natural than it is when done on the guitar. Both players find guitar techniques like slide playing and tape delay irresistible as well, and so will the open-minded listener. Especially recommended to banjo fans looking for something different, but there's plenty of minimalist atmosphere for people who didn't even know they liked the banjo.
Track Listing
Turdus; Open; One Morning, Ten Years Later; Mirror Men; Harm; Spuds; Short Sentence; Dawn; The Faerie Queene; Arum Lily; Lock My Door Upon Myself; Woman On A Rocking Horse; Dusk
Personnel
Ruben Machtelinckx
guitarRuben Machtelinckx: banjo, long scale banjo, guitars, vibration speaker, objects; Frederik Leroux: banjo, tape delay, voice, recorder, bird whistle, harmonium, percussion, piano and synth.
Album information
Title: when the shade is stretched | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Aspen Edities
Comments
About Ruben Machtelinckx
Instrument: Guitar
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To