Half of the Vanderschrick duo, recently responsible for an inaugural 12″ on Ziggy Devriendt’s imprint, STROOM, Victor de Roo steps up on Amsterdam’s ever polymorphic Knekelhuis with his debut solo EP ‘Nachtdichter (Poëzie door Alex Deforce)‘, due out in the shops 14th January.
If you’ve been a close follower of the Dutch label over the last couple years, you certainly know each release bears its own signification in their catalogue, and that there’s little chances you’ll find two records of theirs sounding much like the other. It’s the exact case with de Roo’s first instalment: a mercurial and highly special slice of downtempo electronics on an ambient tip that defies easy classification. Is it folk? Spoken word? Ambient? Synth pop? Or isn’t it all of this and much more; subsequently making ‘Nachtdichter‘ a lot bigger than the sum of its parts?
Streaming through our channels today, the dirge-esque opener ‘Gewoon‘ is draped in one of these hazy, enveloping atmospheres specific to the Belgian capital city’s nights, “where poets, authors and musicians dwell, in an attempt to leave everyday reality behind in favor of a universal nowhere in particular“, as the press release justly notices. Putting ‘Gewoon‘ first is quite a gut-wrenching way to open a record, but it’s also a wise way to set up a context, which in the case of this release is essential. Brussels’ heart beats through it, and it’s one fine pulse to tune yourself to.
Nachtdichter (Poëzie door Alex Deforce) is released via Knekelhuis on 14th January, pre-order a copy from Bandcamp.
TRACKLIST
A1. Gewoon
A2. Voorbenachte Rade
B1. Beland In Bed
B2. Nachtdichter
Discover more about Victor de Roo and Knekelhuis on Inverted Audio.