Spilar is a new band inspired by their shared passion for songs rooted in their home area. Songs that were discovered and collected, revived and reinterpreted in Flanders, the north region of Belgium. Short-chain-music in a way. Formed around the voices of sister and brother Eva and Maarten Decombel (MANdolinMAN) and sustained by the strings and keyboards of Ward Dhoore (Trio Dhoore) and Jeroen Geerinck (Snaarmaarwaar). They are completed by drummer Louis Favre who paints warm pastel colours on their musical palette.
With Stormweere, their debut album, the band sculpts a highly personal universe - a vibrant confrontation of pearls from centuries-old manuscripts, contemporary and self-written songs. There’s room for classics like Roosendaal and Myn Herte but also for Willem Vermandere’s polder blues and the Antwerp fado of Wannes Van de Velde and a high point of their pitch black version of Jacques Brel’s Pourquoi les hommes s’ennuient”.
The album was produced by renowned folk producer Jeroen Geerinck. The sound of Spilar is purified and detailed - crystal clear guitars and mandolins dialogue with the urban vibes of keyboards and drums. They’ve polished and stripped the songs to the bone. Spilar is a band with a mission and with Stormweere, they deliver a compelling, radical statement. Exciting and essential new listening.
MEMBERS: Maarten Decombel: vocals, mandola, guitar Eva Decombel: vocals Jeroen Geerinck: guitar, keys, synths Ward Dhoore: mandolin, synths Louis Favre: drums
Spilar "Stormweere" (Trad Records, 2020)
Tracklist: 01 Klacht 02 Myn Herte 03 Pertank 04 Voor Marie-Louise 05 Suver Maecht 06 Roosendaal 07 Sterre 08 Germaine 09 Komt Er Een End 10 Verdronken Land 11 De Derde Man
Photo Credits:
(1)-(2) Spilar,
(3) Snaarmaarwaar,
(4) Trio Dhoore,
(5) MANdolinMAN
(unknown/website).
