Review Summary: Smells like coffee, and tastes like winter.
There’s an unspoken bond between a listener and an artist operating on the same wavelength of humility - an “
I get you,” and the esoteric satisfaction of hearing music that seems to be playing for you and you alone. Belgian drone/field recording artist Pieter Dudal uses a modest arrangement of guitar, piano, analog synths, and assorted found sounds to create music of a self-effacing air.
Dudal carries a stumbled-upon beauty similar to a backroom pianist who’s just passing the time, venting emotions and unfazed by passersby. Every stroke, every pluck, is gingerly-placed, as though Dudal is unveiling himself for the first time after months of solitude, and has yet to discover the merit of his simplicity. That’s not to say the newest output from France-based label FoundToys.Creative is vapid or empty; rather, it is filled with sounds that waft in, leaving impressions of day-to-day events that are best described as simple pleasures.
Take opener “Kruimeltjes” (Dutch for “crumbs”), for example: the soft chirps and background hums call to mind a feeling of rebirth when stepping outside in the morning. Despite whatever events occurred the previous day, there’s at least a brief moment where the slate is wiped clean, as you empathize with nature’s indifference. Soothing drones seep in and out, while the lo-fi textures play host to music boxes, chimes, and delicate guitar work. Follow-up “Melk op de Stoep” ("milk on the patio" - GoogleTranslate is our friend here) expands upon “Kruimeltjes” with a more confident aura, as the guitar, while still very spur-of-the-moment, seems more purposeful. The drones are more commanding, and accelerated tape loops in the peripheral give the feeling of mile-a-minute thought patterns that slink out of view as one embraces the calm, if only temporarily. It’s nice to put life on hold. There’s something about a glass of milk that gives the feeling of timelessness and relaxation, whether you're a child or a full-grown adult - the track is aptly-titled.
Dudal could easily have lacked emotional dynamics, turning into a one-dimensional,
kinda-nice ambient piece. Fortunately, “Terug Naar Huis” (“back home”) offers a realistic sidestep. The woeful drones complement the achingly gorgeous guitar lines, bringing them to terms with all-too-real difficulties one might face when returning to a broken home after a long absence. Closer “Op de Koffie” features trembly piano, and the field recordings make the track a direct response to the opener. If the sounds of nature earlier on encouraged aloofness, the closer’s distant chattering provokes feelings of self-awareness. “Kruimeltjes” saw the slate cleaned, whereas “Op de Koffie” calmly watches it gather dirt and debris, anticipating another fresh start. I get you, Pieter.
