Donder + Kabas
De Wonderen + Sun Dog
With De Wonderen (The Wonders), Donder once again returns to the trio's essence. The album was recorded on a quiet summer day in 2023 in the old hall of arts centre nona. Besides the living acoustics of the hall, the deliberate choice of a buffet piano also determined the
sound of the record, which is laced with unorthodox playing techniques and the usual imperfections. Unlike the previous album Het Verdriet, which originated as a research project on Flemish (folk) music, this time the aim was to compose new material without any restrictions or delineated concepts.
The result is a mix of abstract and melodic music in solo, duo and trio formats, two covers, a whistled melody and Norwegian singing. De Wonderen is an ode to small, everyday miracles by Harrison Steingueldoir, Stan Callewaert and Casper Van De Velde. As found in the liner notes: "Bustling with percussive ideas and unpredictable contrasts, this album reminds you that beauty moves more when you have to wait for it, or when you find it in unexpected places."
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Kabas will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025! In that time, all the members of Kabas - Thijs Troch, Nils Vermeulen, Elias Devoldere, Jan Daelman (see a.o., take a breath, Nordmann, The Milk Factory, Uma Chine, John Ghost, WIllam Parker, Paul Lytton...- have acquired a distinct status in the Belgian music scene. They are leading musicians in different projects and genres, yet they have managed to sustain the group over the years. This was possible because Kabas is more than just a band. It functions as a collective source of inspiration.
The diversity of work and ideas is also evident in the very different collaborations over the years. Kabas worked with top Belgian producer Jasper Maekelberg (Abel), recorded with trumpeter Luis Vicente at the legendary Namouche Studio in Lisbon (Nine) and even recorded and produced an album at arts centre nona (Eugénie). The new music now presented by Kabas aims to stretch the concept of time. SUN DOG is named after the optical phenomenon caused by the interaction of light with ice crystals. A magical phenomenon that inspires.
