Emil de Waal - Handmade in Denmark (2022 Remastered Version) (2022) Hi Res

This album was first released as a limited edition CD in 2015 by Emil de Waal himself, with unique handmade covers. Emil de Waal's 2021 release Vente re-introduced the world to a free-spirited Danish group with a nostalgic sensibility and a style which runs from trad jazz, to guitar-led country music and bubbling organ-led grooves. But in much the same way that their music rewards patience and attention, so too does their back-catalogue. Having joined forces with happening Danish label April Records during covid, they are set to re-release their 2015 offering Handmade In Denmark for an international audience - and with a first-time vinyl edition. That's not to say it slipped the net completely last time around; renowned jazz writer Dave Sumner certainly caught it, describing the magical bond between the musicians and music which hits "that dreamy sweet-spot between wakefulness and a night of peaceful sleep." But for those new to the party, it gives a chance to map the early iteration of a group whose playing expertly mixes a certain timeless quality with a seemingly unending stream of fresh ideas. The fascinating line-up sees 80-year old clarinet legend Elith "Nulle" Nykj?r with jazzrock-pop drummer Emil de Waal, pensive Swedish multi-instrumentalist Gustaf Ljunggren and original group keyboardist S?ren Kj?rgaard. The nine-tracks are unclassifiable. From "part 1970s tv theme song, part new cool collective jam, and 100% catchy" (Bird Is The Worm) to intricate and rhythmically gifted melodies, there's something for everyone to discover. And finally, as Danish newspaper critic Henrik Palle points out, the album answers that burning question of what Simon & Garfunkel's iconic The Sound of Silence would sound like without vocals, played on a tin can music box..!