Wolfert Brederode, Matangi Quartet, Joost Lijbaart, Ruins and Remains, ECM ****

As if a clock is ticking towards ignition the sombre 'Ruins II' is a sobering beginning and on 'Ruins IV' ending to this - Dutch pianist composer Wolfert Brederode's new First World War inspired album. A string quartet and percussion in tow …

Published: 23 Sep 2022. Updated: 18 months.

As if a clock is ticking towards ignition the sombre 'Ruins II' is a sobering beginning and on 'Ruins IV' ending to this - Dutch pianist composer Wolfert Brederode's new First World War inspired album. A string quartet and percussion in tow Brederode is with percussionist Joost Lijbaart and the Matangi Quartet. The Manfred Eicher produced recording was made in Bremen.

There is such a developmental discipline throughout built up from the rustle of Lijbaart's brushes and carried by the hovering of strings. Dazzling pianism framed inside a transcendental dream consciousness, war in Europe whether 20th century global conflict or perilously now in Ukraine is in the mind's eye inevitably as we listen.

The violin soloing on 'Cloudless' against a wizbang bomb-like streak of a sound achieved perhaps something like a bow on a cymbal's edge allied with the detonation of bass drum and colouristic percussion is emblematic of the piece and overall highlight. 'Ka' sounds very unearthly and has massive stealth resource in its descriptive armoury. And 'Duhra' has more a modal sense.

While some tracks are of less relevance to a jazz audience certainly 'Duhra' is highly pertinent and with violin soloing against piano there too is that genre-less quasi classical crossover area navigated expertly.

Away from the main 'Ruins' suite there is plenty of interest so 'Nothing for Granted' while doleful in its martial beat has a luminous quality to it and that lustre is a characteristic so evident throughout. Flickering flames sketch the horror of war and serve as a warning to us all through the humanity of this moving vision as conscience and - to extrapolate further given such unease - soothsayer.

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Centring in on Julie Campiche: dates coming up chime with the release of You Matter - more in the podcast

In today's episode as the exhilarating 'Aquarius' is released and ahead of dates in Cambridge, London and Wales we zone in on the quartet of the Swiss harpist Julie Campiche. 'Aquarius' is drawn from the Enja release You Matter out in …

Published: 23 Sep 2022. Updated: 18 months.

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In today's episode as the exhilarating 'Aquarius' is released and ahead of dates in Cambridge, London and Wales we zone in on the quartet of the Swiss harpist Julie Campiche.

'Aquarius' is drawn from the Enja release You Matter out in early-November,

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Julie Campiche quartet above. Photo: press