Bert Cools, Joachim Badenhorst, Ruben Machtelinckx, Toma Gouband

Ruben Machtelinckx has a new quartet. It is not a coincidence that the guitar is central, in particular the steel-string with its typical western sound. 2019 was a fruitful year for Ruben Machtelinckx (BE). This project is the last part of a triptych: in the spring Poor Isa, his duo with Frederik Leroux, released its debut album; in the summer he came out with the cassette Sualme with field recordings, improvisations and compositions; the winter appears to be the proper season for the crystalline music of this quartet.
Joachim Badenhorst (BE) is an old acquaintance, he was already part of Machtelinckx’ first quartet, Machtelinckx / Jensson / Badenhorst / Wouters, in this new project he plays reeds and he sings. Bert Cools (BE) plays steel-string guitar for this occasion - just like Machtelinckx. Toma Gouband (FR) is the percussionist of the band, with his peculiar choices in sounds and materials.
The quartet chooses to play acoustic music. Sparse compositions, fragile improvisations and silence. Not playing is not a lack of sound, but a space filled with tension and possibilities. Yet there is a forward movement in the music. That is how the music came about: at times you hear Joachim Badenhorst and Toma Gouband migrating through the room and by walking they create acoustic dynamics. Both the composed and the improvised pieces appear to be particularly comprehensible for the listener. Partly because of the lyrical qualities of Machtelinckx’ as a composer, partly because of the porous voice of Badenhorst that keeps on popping up.