Valentin Clastrier / Steven Kamperman

FABULOSERIES

Waving drones, unexpected melodies, wild improvisations

fRoots, 5 star Album Choice, december 2016 “Little will prepare you for the range of ideas and settings that two clearly rampant imaginations can let loose, or the quite extraordinary sound palettes they extract out of a pair of instruments, a studio and some remarkable inspiration.” fRoots, Ian Anderson

“Ce duo est un orchestre, par moment acoustique, souvent électrique, rockisant, voire carrément punk, jazz aussi quand on y perçoit un brin de la folie de Roland Kirk, à moins que ce ne soit une touche d’hermétisme contemporain, ou l’emballement d’une fanfare.” Jazz’Halo Jean-Pierre Goffin

“Fabuloseries is an incredibly powerful CD; because of the mastery of the musicians, because of the unheard of sounds, because of the musical togetherness of these two musicians. But most of all because of their courage and ability to continuously find new turns, without ever loosing the special groove of this record. Considering its many influences, it’s kind of ridiculous to label this music with one style. It’s breathtakingly exciting and excellent music, even more remarkable considering the small and unusual instrumentation.” Trouw****, Micha Andriessen

“Breathtaking album” His Voice, Jan Hocek

‘They recorded a magnificent album, in which they proved themselves soulmates, making music you’d almost call ‘divine’. (…) Unique, new, embracing music; the tip of the year!’ Moorsmagazine

“A musical conversation that keeps you on the tips of your toes (…) FABULOSERIES is a terrific example of what the Britsh philosopher Collingwood meant when he explained the difference between entertainment and art: the first is easy to swallow, but leaves one behind with a feeling of emptiness, for the other one you have to exert yourself, but the reward is most gratifying. For me, this is the record of the year!” MixedWorldMusic Ton Maas

‘‘Fabuloseries’ is a sparkling new album in the twilight zone of jazz and folk. (…) These two amazing musicians create music with unprecedented inventiveness. (…) For those with adventurous ears, try this music and you will be amazed of the exciting sounds which will carry you away.’ Musicframes

The French ‘living legend’ Valentin Clastrier is generally regarded as the inventor of the modern hurdy-gurdy: in his hands it has become a virtuose sound machine. Clastrier started an unusual duo with the impassioned Dutch clarinettist Steven Kamperman. With mesmerizing drone tones and compelling rhythms as a base, chromatic melodies intertwine with fabulous sounds and intense improvisations. A spectacular duo that definitely ‘rocks’!

Valentin Clastrier is perhaps best called the godfather of modern hurdy-gurdy. Over the years he transformed the originally medieval instrument into an electro-acoustical musical vehicle of buzzing magnificence: orchestral in scope, with innovative tonal possibilities utilising treated sounds and chromatic melodies which he displays to astounding effect in his collaboration with global-modal-jazz-crossover clarinettist, composer and arch-improviser from the Netherlands, Steven Kamperman.

The duo’s album, Fabuloseries, a set of tone-poems of symphonic sweep, had multiple reviewers thumbing their thesaurus for fresh ways of describing their “extraordinary sound palettes”, “remarkable imagination” and “unprecedented inventiveness”.

Practical information

Exclusive booking in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: Dimiter Panev, www.elenmusic.com

Benelux: contact Steven Kamperman (info / @ / stevenkamperman.nl)

Et la roue de la vielle