Winterstille – Puin Van Dromen (Album – Wool-E Discs)
Genre/Influences: Chanson, Folk, Poetry.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Winterstille is a Belgian duo driven by Xavier KruthandGerry Croon. They both know each other from their involvement with the Belgian magazine Dark Entries. They both also compose music and are involved with other projects. “Puin Van Dromen” is Winterstille’s debut album featuring ten songs.
Content: This album is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most surprising works I’ve been invited to listen to in quite a long time. The songs sound like pure Chanson, kind of ballads you can hear in pubs while accomplished with wind orchestrations. Xavier Kruth seems to be the main composer, playing most of the songs on acoustic guitar while singing in different languages (most songs in Dutch, but also French, German and English). Gerry Croon took care of the Fanfare arrangements by wind instruments. The lyrics clearly are another essential part of this composition; mixing poetry and engaged lyrics.
+ + + : This is music to listen and dream to, but also to spread an ear about the lyrical content. Winterstille sounds a little less dark and melancholic and yet it gives you a feel-good sensation. It’s a very personal approach of Folk and Chanson with these surprising Fanfare arrangements on top. Some will call it weird; I think it’s an original and creative work defying the borders of established music genres and narrow-minded ‘artists’. I like the pure Folk-driven “The Shores Of Normandy”, the somewhat Goethes Erben reminding “Und Sie Tanzten” and the Fanfare-inspired “Vrij Zinnig Lied”.
– – – : This work is a true challenge and that’s always difficult to grasp the attention of music lovers.
Conclusion: I was positively surprised by this intimate and dreamy-like “Puin Van Dromen”.
Best songs: “The Shores Of Normandy”, “Und Sie Tanzten”, “Vrij Zinnig Lied”, “Drink Nog Een Glas”, “Boze Wolven”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.winterstille.be / www.facebook.com/Winterstille-101127277967529
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