NEW RELEASE – DE GROOTE – FAES DUO

Flemish eclecticism of the grittiest and soulfullest order.   

Remember the first time you heard Pat Metheny’s Bright Size Life? So fresh, super melodic, so dreamy but edgy. The opening title track of De Groote – Faes Duo’s Time Unfolding has the same sort of effect. Thrilling.

Guitarist Bruno de Groote, cooperating here with ace bassist Ben Faes, who co-wrote tunes, and acclaimed drummer Dré Pallemaerts, has been around for many years on the Belgian and European scene. Somewhat an enigma for y’all on the other hemispheres which needs clarifying, and a big influence on Belgian guitarists in a country that was musically eclectic before the term was coined and became hip. Lowlanders may have seen him jump and rock the blues with Mambo Chillin’ a long time ago and, in the 21st century, heard him swing traditionally in most original fashion with Vindaloo Five.

They may have seen him play a part in the killer indie rock band Deus.

I had the pleasure of seeing the duo without drummer at the little workplace of a guitar builder in a little village in the Dutch Flanders region last November. A very intimate concert of subtle swing, blues, Spanish tinges, Americana and a bit of Bach-inspired stuff to boot. Immaculate, spontaneous interaction between bass and guitar.

They played part of their latest, Time Unfolding. A surprising collection with a loose philosophical leitmotiv of ‘time’. (the discussion of what time actually is besides matter might take a while) The deep pocket of Acte de Présence is embellished by De Groot’s other masterly guitar tale besides the opening gem, which may have something to do with having the guts and skills to, what I, in the slipstream of Monk, like to call ‘ugly beauties’, divided equally between single lines (made up of Brunotes) and chordal patterns.

Another Road is a back porch ditty no doubt appreciated from Salt Pork, West Virginia to Lexington, Kentucky.

The introduction of Leaving The Nest – the explosion of a data center and lightning strike of an oak tree occurring at exactly the same time – segues into a wedding party song, a bit of Zappa-ish wit, only to be followed up by a section of gritty loose and free swing.

Break of Day hints at the modal style of Impressions and the like. Another fine tune of a record and act that shouldn’t be missed. We need Marc Ribot, Will Bernard, Nels Cline in our lives. Please add Bruno de Groote (and his gang) to your roster of favs.

Check out the De Groote – Faes discography and Time Unfolding on Bandcamp here: https://degroote-faesduo.bandcamp.com/