Lucas, Gary/Jozef van Wissem - The Universe of Absence
SKU
05-BVHAAST0105
"The second album to feature the mysterious medieval lute stylings of Dutch master Jozef Van Wissem in concert with Gary Lucas' dark burnished National steel guitar and hypnotic electronic soundscapes...a voyage into uncharted sonic realms, a dizzying vertiginous head-trip and a sensuous float downstream, sure to soothe and succor both mind and body, including a haunting cover of Nico's "These Days" and The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" -- the soundtrack to your favorite foreign movie, "strings in the earth and air"...as above so below.."
"Some of the pieces on The Universe of Absence are truly hypnotizing, like "Screw Your Courage to the Sticking Place". The duo of Jozef van Wissem on Lute and Gary Lucas, former Guitarist with Captain Beefheart and Jeff Buckley on steel guitar, create a psychedelic universe of electronic soundscapes and strumming on medieval lute strings. They produce a delirium of sound. However, the sound does not get on the nerves, the duo know too much what to do. They don't lose control for a moment. Even the ecstacy is controlled. Lucas is a virtuoso, Van Wissem a modest and intelligent lute player. And both are open to experiment. Van Wissem is a master of structure, beautiful patterns are eloping from his lute, Lucas rules in free space, setting out heavy lines. Together they build musical castles in the air, where one, once entered through the door, can freely fantasize."-Het Parool