Private
Ballroomquartet : Surfing Sufi (B,2004)***°
This quartet is very hard to place in any genre, but has one of its fundaments in folk. With ‘ballroom’ in their name (-ballroom nowadays still is associated with folk, and not with all the other traditions from older popularity-) and while playing some folkinstruments (accordion, violin,..) and with several folk themes, they already attracted the folk interest. With strange electronica sounds mixed in on the first track, “Thera Mina” (a track with Middle Eastern rhythms, accordion and wave-electric melodies), and more new mixes further on, like on “A Night in Venice” (hip beats and jazz bass, modern mixes) they also should attract the modern new hip seekers in pop. Also 10th track, “Exit” (with Tom Theuns on sitar droning) is a highly attractive rather emotional modern pop mix of styles with a complex modern beat, with use of some radio voices (with news fragments on some suicide attacks), some mandolin spheres, trance-like vocals, and lush orchestrations. In total the group does not belong anywhere specifically, but they are capable of attracting interest of all potentional listeners long enough, with the folk lovers being in the front row. “(B)eat this!” with some string arrangements shows also the classical chamber music interest. The few folkelements on “Doppelganger” become adapted into something more modern, complex and more arranged. “The Return of the gyronef” shows an almost classical composition with guitar and beautiful vocals by Inne Spelmans, who's vocal arrangements sound like an ethereal complete choir on her own. “Lydic Train” and later on "Mighty Mouse” are livetracks with well played public teaser instrumentals not only enjoyable for the folkboom lovers related public, but more than perfect for them (the public almost goes berserk on the second track, with handclaps and screams). "Escape from Perk" is another composition which starts from folk (accordions, bass, drums) but moves with some countryblues electric guitar, and with some manic American narration. “Jan mijne Man” is a Flemish folk traditional, which here in a “ballroom remix” redefines the ballroom again to a hip chill-out electro territory, with an entry door for the folk traditionalists: well done (even when the original tune is almost entirely hidden). The titletrack places the group once more in a more difficult to define area, mixing many of the previously mentioned elements, with additional slide guitar, freaking out a bit with emotional electric guitar, drums and accordion near the end, added with a few inventive mixing effect touches. An interesting album, strong enough for a world public interest.
PrivateBallroomquartet : The Thin Line -EP- (B,2006)****
These 4 very promising instrumental tracks, that hang together as one piece with differen sections, predate the next full release of Ballroomquartet. They start with an accordeon with violin lead, an instrument combination that has an inevitable folk flavour, while the band plays with a rock drive (bass & drums), and a bit of electronica (vocoder & theremin), with one great organic sound of a group. The second part is calmer (moody bass, guitars, drumming, accordeon) , and evolves to a more progressive evolution, with intelligent changes (rhythm and melodic evolution), more lead by the rock band and keyboards. The third track continues in this vein, giving the group a rather progressive rock core, while voice harmonies, and a bit of mandolin and accordeon with double bass give it a much richer folkrock flavour, while electric guitar (and a bit of theremin) keeps the (progressive rock) core in evolution. Last track with poprock rhythm (percussion, bass, guitar) gives back the lead to the moody accordeon and some violin.
