Label: Aspen Edities

ベルギーのバンジョー及びギター奏者、レーベルSill andersの運営者であるFrederik Leroux、同国にてジャズギタリストとして活動し現在まで7、8枚のアルバムを残すRuben Machtelinckx、この2者による浮遊系即興グループPoor Isaの2ndアルバム。遊び心のある作曲と即興で構成された1stとは対照的に、本作では2つの作曲された長編を披露しており、制限と限られた数のアイデアで緻密に構築。古典的な形式、また楽器をフィールドレコーディングや儀式の様な形態で鳴らしたサウンドスケープ的様相。



3 pannel CD with artwork by Philippe Vandenberg.

Banjo and woodblocks are the scarce ingredients of Poor Isa's second album, ‘dissolution of the other’. The instruments can be used not only in their usual form, but in alternative tunings, with preparations and additional attributes. This creates an otherworldly vacuum, rich in silence and shadow, with sounds that seem equally familiar as mystical. The music is broken up from its classical form and sounds like an instrumental field recording or a musical ceremony.

In contrast to the first album - which consists of nine short, playful compositions and improvisations - the duo now opts for two composed, long works.
Both are the elaboration of restrictions and a limited number of musical ideas.
‘Figures’ is reminiscent of early music, with modal harmony and a free tempo. It’s a piece that ripples on and sounds are blended while both players face each other as if they look in a mirror.
‘Drifter’ focuses on rhythmic develop- ment with a ABAB structure. While the A part has dripping unpredictability, the B part has an ongoing, pulsing sound. Making the whole sound like a insistent ritual.

Poor Isa is the duo of Ruben Machtelinckx and Frederik Leroux. Two brotherly guitar players that have found each other in improvisation and sound exploration.
They first joined forces in the project Linus + Skarbø/Leroux in 2015.
In 2017 the split album ‘when the shade is stretched’ (Aspen 003) was a conversation between two solo banjo performances. Finally, in 2019, Poor Isa released its first album ‘let's drink the sea and dance’ (Aspen 007). In this project Leroux’ and Machtelinckx’ interest in banjos and woodblocks are explored.