Razen
Postcards From Hereafter
Important Records
/
2023
Includes Instant Download
CD
14.99
IMPREC506CD
Incl. VAT plus shipping / Orders from outside the EU are exempt from VAT
Tracklist
1A postcard from Peter 1:12
2A postcard from Carl 5:26
3A postcard from Ursula 1:39
4A postcard from Jehan 7:25
5A postcard from Hilma 4:49
6A postcard from Olivier 7:46
7Another postcard from Peter 3:26
8A postcard from Gabrielle 3:25
9A postcard from Christiaan 4:20
10A postcard from Mark 7:48

Razen's Postcards From Hereafter was recorded using a 17th century organ tuned at 398 Hz (meantone) in a Belgian cathedral erected in 1305. The ensemble explored, with rich results, the organ's strict and limiting tuning with an arrangement that included hurdy gurdy, recorders, chalumeau, violone and nyckelharpa.

The pieces on Postcards From Hereafter explore the crossover between this world and the next with improvised spiritual, religious music.

Brussels-based ensemble Razen use the unique timbral and drone characteristics of their chosen string and wind instruments in improvised, instinctive music that mixes pre-industrial, spectral and ethnic dreamtones with trance and medieval mysticism. The group includes Brecht Ameel and Kim Delcour as well as Pieter Lenaerts on 5-string double bass and sarangi, Paul Garriau on hurdy-gurdy, David Poltrock on ondes-Marthenot, Berlinde Deman on serpent and Jean-Philippe Poncin on chalumeau and bass clarinet.

“an intoxicating sauce of stark and tripped out ritual music... which conspires to keep listeners in a semi-permanent trance state” Julian Cope / Head Heritage

“a heady brew of deep listening music that is almost medieval in mood and wholly reverential in technique” Edwin Pouncey / Wire Magazine

“Razen push the drone potential of medieval instruments like hurdy gurdy as well as shawm and recorders... into realms of total sensory overload” David Keenan / Volcanic Tongue