Hi all,the new cd of Lidlboj, recorded live in 2011, is now out on El Negocito records, and also available on this site. It's the first time I release this type of recording, and it's an enjoyable different type of experience. The concerts we did to accompany this event have been a lot of fun, for sure.
Last week we also played the first concerts in duo with Jim Black, which was super exciting. More is there to come!
Here's the small text I wrote for the Lidlboj-record:
"Archiving the music I play has never been very appealing to me, nor am I of a nostalgic nature in any way. I like to make records as a tool to forge ahead, as a tool to push myself into new territories. So, when Rogé from El Negocito Records asked me to release the Lidlboj-concert that we played almost seven years ago for the Jazz Case cycle in Neerpelt, my first reaction was one of surprise and wonder. Nevertheless I took some time to listen back to that concert and eventually decided to go ahead and accept the offer.Why? Well, for various harmless reasons Lidlboj hasn’t played a whole lot since that very concert. Yet we had new material for at least two cds, so I thought it would be nice to share some of that music with the world. I also liked the idea of having to give up the strict control that I usually like to have when I release an album. There was for sure some letting-go to be done, since most of the tunes we played that night were first-time-ever performances. That’s also why some of the vocal parts didn’t have lyrics yet. It was our first gig since bass player Dries Laheye joined the band; until then Lidlboj had been a bass-less quartet. And I was testing an experimental setup without Fender Rhodes (that didn’t last very long afterwards).
In the end, the whole process of making this record has been as pleasant as it has been enriching. I enjoyed being an almost outside listener, because of the time that went by since we made the music. I was also very happy to listen to everybody else’s playing, and grateful for the love and dedication they put into this band and it’s sound. While we’re busy doing all kinds of stuff in life, we rarely fully realize what a great gift that is. And I was happy to notice that the emotional content and message I always wished this music to have, reached me in a very particular way, myself having changed quite much during this seven years. I hope it may reach you too, somehow."