John Ghost (Ghent, Belgium) is the sextet led by guitarist/composer Jo De Geest. As a group, they draw influences from jazz, rock, and contemporary classical music. Minimalism, electronics and an overall cinematic quality characterise their instrumental sound. The sound of the ensemble is often described as a symbiosis of Steve Reich, Nils Frahm, and Jaga Jazzist.
After the critically acclaimed “Airships Are Organisms” (4-star reviews in The Guardian and Financial Times, as well as airplay on BBC 6 and Worldwide FM) John Ghost is back with “Thin Air . Mirror Land”, to be released on October 6 via Sdban Ultra, the label of ECHT!, Black Flower, Glass Museum, STUFF. and more.
The Jaga Jazzist mention is no accident as they continue their fruitful collaboration with legendary producer Jørgen Træen, known for his work with Jaga Jazzist, Electric Eye, Kaizers Orchestra, and numerous projects on the Hubro Record Label. The result is an album with a slightly more sombre tone, focussing on a broader range of instruments and an emphasis on percussive elements."Thin Air . Mirror Land" unfolds as an aesthetic refuge in stormy times. It is a musical urge for introspection in a chaotic reality, and a longing to reconnect with a natural environment.
During the creative process, Jo drew inspiration from the music of artists such as Hans Zimmer, György Ligeti, Magma, The Residents, Disasterpeace, James Holden & The Animal Spirits, Do Make Say Think, William Basinski, and Jóhann Jóhannsson. The album title "Thin Air . Mirror Land" and the song titles are driven by a fascination with the artwork of Edvard Munch. Jo found inspiration in Munch's painting "The Storm" (1893) as a catalyst for the writing process, exploring a dystopian backdrop and the intriguing interplay between comfort and unrest.
Members of the band are Jo De Geest (Endlingr), Rob Banken (Rapidman, HAST), Wim Segers (Compro Oro, PAARD.), Karel Ceulenaere (Black Flower), Lieven Van Pée (Echoes of Zoo, De Beren Gieren) and Elias Devoldere (Nordmann, Elias) who went through a thoughtful studio process, with the result being a conceptual and slightly dystopian atmosphere.
"A vacuum in which we can exist. | Mirror . Land | We stare. We crawl in."
John Ghost is ingenious and exploratory, often described as a symbiosis between the sounds of Steve Reich, John Hollenbeck,
Nils Frahm and Jaga Jazzist.
Created around the Ghent guitarist and composer Jo De Geest, the Belgian sextet draw on influences from jazz, rock and post-classical music, where minimalism, electronics and a cinematic atmosphere characterize their instrumental music....more
supported by 21 fans who also own “Thin Air . Mirror Land”
When it comes to Ethio-Jazz (or how you wanna call the genre) there is the good stuff and the wannabe's.
azmari not only delivers, they share the top spot with ATA's Sorcerers. Powerful yet delicate. Very impressive guys. See ya soon in Amsterdam near the docks ;-) PlayItLoud!
supported by 18 fans who also own “Thin Air . Mirror Land”
Adventurous hybrid jazz at its best. I struggle to describe why this stands out above a crowd, but... It all sounds so precise. Every instrument fills its own space so that, as busy as it gets, it never feels crowded. It breathes easy while full of energy. In case I'm not making sense, this, in short, is brilliant. Added bonus that the vocal track doesn't stand out negatively as those too often do on otherwise instrumental albums. Heavy rotation, and the best jazz-related album of 2022. rvss.eel
Trio helmed by director, author, and actor Jean-Paul Delore translates various texts by French and African writers into vibrant jazz fusion. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 7, 2024