Rob Van De Wouw – Neon

Bugge Wesseltoft is not only a brilliant musician, he also acts as an extremely gifted  labelhead for his Jazzland Recordings imprint when it comes to signing innovative music. Mainly focussing on the norwegian jazz scene, but open to a lot of other stuff, his new signing took the blankTON.stereo in storm.

Rob Van De Wouw is one of the leading musicians of the dutch electro-jazz scene and had been working together with the maybe a little bit more well-known Marc de Clive-Lowe a lot in the past. Being known as a musical innovator in his native dutch homeland, Van De Wouw combines different electronic music styles with improvised jazz. Edgy, but accessible, “Neon” is a fine example of this often done, but very often horribly failed combination. At times operating at quite some considerable speed and remarkable force, other tracks showcase a very contemplative and moody atmosphere.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sStrXxyeBWA&w=560&h=315]

“Neon” is a very versatile album, although it’s got a tightly knitted homogenic structure that boldly holds the pieces together. This for sure is an album that won’t get old too quickly. And by the way, jazz indeed is not dead, it doesn’t even smell funny – it’s very well alive.

 

 

 

 

 

yours sincerely,

mikka