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Flat Earth Society: Psychoscout
ByCatch an earful of "Clusterthing," featuring a riff ponderous enough to make a stampede of elephants seem fleet of foot by comparison, and traces of such formidable complexity that they should only be listened to whilst grinning maniacally. You might just find your outlook on life is transformed in an entirely positive way. By comparison, "Hilton's Heaven" is an exercise in dark restraint in which deft keyboard touches serve notice of how this band has mastered colour, shedding some light upon the twilit ambience; Roland Vancampennout's vocal sounds like a Belgian J.J. Cale.
When it comes down to it, this is a big band whose music effectively sidesteps the common discussion of the respective merits of sections and soloists. That said, Marc Meeuwissen's trombone on the title track is an embodiment of the bawdy, whilst Bruno Vansina's baritone sax on the oddly named "Lax" blows up the kind of vertiginous storm that's likely to have those of nervous disposition running for cover.
Even greater credit must go to clarinettist Peter Vermeersch and keyboardist Peter Vandenberghe, however, as their compositions make up the programme on Psychoscoutand only rarely in recent times has such coherence between compositional framework and musicianship been acheived. To call it "Ellingtonian" might be both apt and unhelpful, but it doesn't alter the fact that this disc ought to be figuring in those end of year lists, if there's any justice in the world.
Track Listing
Anthem 2004; Clusterthing; Gulls & Buoys; Edward, Why Don't You Play Some Blues; Hilton's Heaven; In Between Rivers; Psychoscout; Lie To Me; Without; Snaggletooth; Lax; Waterman; Ich, Bin, George.
Personnel
Flat Earth Society
band / ensemble / orchestraPeter Vermeersch: composer, clarinet; Tom Wouters: clarinet, vibraphone; Benjamin Boutreur: alto saxophone; Michel Mast: tenor saxophone; Bruno Vansina: baritone saxophone; Luc van Lieshout: trumpet; Bart Maris: trumpet; Marc Meeuwissen: trombone; Stefaan Blancke: trombone; Berlinde Deman: tuba; Peter Vandenberghe: piano, keyboards; Wim Willaert: accordion, keyboards; Kristof Roseeuw: double bass; Teun Verbruggen: drums; Roland Vancampenhout: guitar (4), vocals (5).
Album information
Title: Psychoscout | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Crammed Discs
Comments
About Flat Earth Society
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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