Circle of Madness

Janek van Laak

Released on 15/03/24 by Sonar Kollektiv
Main artists: Janek van Laak
Genre: Jazz

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Born in 1995, Berlin-based drummer, composer and producer Janek van Laak is one of the leading lights of the new German experimental jazz scene. First noticed in early 2020 as a founding member of the Liquid Brain Orchestra, but also as part of the unclassifiable duo Tutu Amuse, which he formed with guitarist, singer and actress Rosa Landers, he is now releasing Circle of Madness, his first proper album under his own name. At the head of a small ensemble whose form changes constantly, centered around an organic rhythm section that revolves around his drums, as well as percussionist Tim Foley, bassist Hal Strewe, and the luxuriant synthesizers of Kaspar Förhes, Janek van Laak expands his palette over the course of each track. The colors and tones of the guitars, saxophones, trumpets, flutes, strings, keyboards, and vocals (Australian artist Madeline Rose on “Here to Slay;” Japanese singer and multi-instrumentalist Shiomi Kawaguchi on “Daiamondo”) create an extravagant sonoric maelstrom, masterfully navigating between atmospheric free jazz, Zappa-esque neo-fusion, psychedelic avant-pop, baroque dub, experimental electro, and reinvented afro-jazz…without ever falling victim to the postmodern trend of copy-and-pasted art that disguises itself as true original composition, Janek van Laak, on the contrary, develops a real musical philosophy, expounded upon through a scientifically precise sense for groove and particularly inventive orchestral hybridization, coming out with a record that is remarkable on all counts. © Stéphane Ollivier/Qobuz

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Circle of Madness

Janek van Laak

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