Julia Kent and Jean DL - The Great Lake Swallows

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 10 / 12 / 2018

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Review

Prior to the release of her new album, which will be unleashed soon on The Leaf Label, cellist Julia Kent lets go off some session recordings made in Wallony back in 2015 with Jean D.L. Charleroi. Drenched in industrial mystique and drizzling in sloping decay, the Four Acts of 'The Great Lake Swallows' prove very elusive. The four acts - rather than the four parts of something originally brought together and planned as something bigger - sound like extremely exquisite rehearsals, whilst the musicianship on display very much makes up a session which befitted the mood of the moment and probably never was ever thought of to line up in the discography of Julia Kent. Very much, therefore, a case of hindsight over insight and initially recorded as the soundtrack to Sandrine Verstrate's video installation, the music has gained a quality of its own. Art gallery muzak never was my cup of tea. And it must be me but I've not visualised anything at all whilst listening to 'The Great Lake Swallows', even although I fully enjoyed hearing this album. The raw cuts found on 'The Great Lake Swallows' have deep and sincere tones. Julia Kent's playing qualities stand predominantly by Jean D.L. on guitar and tape machine, and above Sandrine Verstraete's field recordings. Mystique not just one way of naming the merits of this album, but more likely captures the general tone. 'The Great Lake Swallows' was a rehearsal worthy of a public release.

Track Listing:-

1 Part One
2 Part Two
3 Part Three
4 Part Four

Label Links:-

http://www.gizehrecords.com/
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