{"id":7788,"date":"2021-01-22T11:13:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T10:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/?p=7788"},"modified":"2024-06-16T15:53:42","modified_gmt":"2024-06-16T13:53:42","slug":"henrik-freischlader-band-missing-pieces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/bluesrock\/henrik-freischlader-band-missing-pieces\/","title":{"rendered":"Henrik Freischlader Band – Missing Pieces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Als je deze recensie liever in het Nederlands leest, kun je hier klikken<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sometimes the artwork of a CD is so unique, that I can’t resist mentioning it. That certainly counts for ‘Missing Pieces’, the new CD by the Henrik Freischlader Band. The cover is openwork. There are 13 songs on the album, the lyrics are on 13 different cards. Each card has (apart from the lyrics) a beautiful picture on each side. They can be slid behind the openwork part. In this way, you can make 26 different covers, as it were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first song is called ‘Opening’, which is beautifully small and tenderly played on guitar. Yet it is played intensely and with plenty of emotion. Very subtly, long sustained notes on the organ are added.
The compelling guitar play slowly becomes a little louder, but the tempo is still pleasantly slow. The organ playing remains beautifully subdued. After that, Henrik shows us that even minimalist music can be really beautiful. Almost non-stop follows ‘New Beginning’, also here tempo and volume are low.
The drums go along with this atmosphere, although it could have been a bit softer at some points. Henrik sings his lyrics, almost talking, beautifully soft and subdued. The volume of the whole song increases, while the tempo is still nice and calm. Again, the emotion is conveyed. The softly played part that follows this is very good. This is a pleasantly long song.
Besides blues, there are also some funky songs, where the tempo is higher. Now and then Henrik rips through it with his guitar. But also, the organ is used a lot. Because of the solid basis of the rhythm section, everything may seem simple. But the twists and turns and the details create an interesting build-up. The whole thing has a pleasant vintage atmosphere. Even the quiet songs like ‘I Wanna Thank Yo’ have a detailed structure. The percussion could have been a bit softer in these serene songs. In combination with the repetition, it actually takes too much attention away from the rest. Despite this small flaw, I certainly enjoy all the songs. One is more bluesy, another more funky. But there are also some beautiful, sensitive soul ballads. It was recorded with vintage equipment, which suits the atmosphere perfectly.
The atmosphere in ‘One And One Is One’ is a bit more cheerful because of the keys and the horns, but the tempo is not too high. Because of this, the songs fit together perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘We Used To Be Happy’ is a beautiful minimalistic song. The emotion in the vocals and the music is clearly audible, and even tangible. If the percussion had been a bit less frequent or softer, I would have been even more moved. The balance between guitar and keyboards is phenomenal. The build-up to the end is very good. Finally, ‘Walking In The Shadow Of The Spotlight’, here the tempo in song and music is a lot higher. Yet it fits perfectly with the previous songs. The end is wonderfully unexpected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All 13 tracks are very well constructed, and different from most blues. Of course, you hear a lot of guitar playing, but it’s never too much or too loud. The balance between blues, funk and soul is fine.
The saxophone playing generally blends into the background. There are plenty of differences with
the previous album ‘Hands on the Puzzle’ (2018). But there are also similarities. If you like ‘Hands on the Puzzle’, then ‘Missing Pieces’ is definitely recommended. Because you’ll keep listening to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(80\/100) (Cable Car Records<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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