Flairck - Variaties Op Een Dame - 1978 (24/96 Vinyl Rip)

FLAIRCK are a Dutch ensemble formed by Erik Visser, an Indonesian-born acoustic instrumentalist with classical training and a strong interest in many forms of world music. The band released their first studio album 'Variaties Op Een Dame' (Variations on a Lady) in 1978, and has issued more than two dozen studio, live and compilation releases since then.
Visser and the other band members have a strong interest in obscure and exotic acoustic instruments, and have amassed a collection of more than 150 wind, string and percussion instruments, many of which are used in their studio recordings and live performances.



Review:

This review is from: Variaties Op Een Dame (Audio CD)
Why those guys are not more known outside their own country has always been and still is a mystery to me. As the other reviewer stated, their music is surprisingly pleasant. The good thing is that it has many influences in it - I would call it a mix of gypsy, oriental, chamber and celt music .. but they have their own atmosphere, and they are all amazingly gifted musicians. The masterpiece here is track 5, Variaties op een dame, a 22 minutes piece. Despite a few lengths, it can be played over and over again, and I usually appreciate it late at night, when everything's silent all around.

They've tried it live numerous times after that, reducing it to a 11 minutes or so piece, but this 1978 version is definitely the best one.
This record (which is also their first one) is one of my two faves by them - the other one being their 1986 Sleight of hand - an album recorded in London and produced by Mike Batt, and almost unobtainable to this day, which is pretty much a crime in my opinion. Review@progarchives.com


Track List:

1. Aoife
2. Voorspel in Sofia
3. April 3rd
4. Oneven Wals
5. Variaties op een Dame
6. Dubbelspel