AARDPEER is the brainchild of drummer Wannes Cornelis and features a lineup of talented musicians, including Jany Van Lul on trumpet, Frank Oliver James on keyboards, Willem Heylen on guitar, and Zjef Van Steenbergen on bass, all of whom are graduates of the conservatories of Ghent and Antwerp. The band came together in 2021 as Wannes Cornelis' graduation project, and now presents debut album 'Waco Jungle'.
AARDPEER's blend of dub, instrumental reggae, jazz, and rock is perhaps more accessible than Kosmo Sound's slightly more experimental sound, but this could also be a matter of personal taste.
Opening track, 'Kroegtijger', starts with a brief free jazz intro but then smoothly transitions into enjoyable jazz-dub. For those seeking something more experimental, '5KM' is likely the best choice from the 'Waco Jungle' track list. However, we found ourselves leaning more towards the traditional dub/instrumental reggae vibes of 'Sterdekker' or the over seven minutes long 'The Beast', opening with a long ambient-trip!
When it comes to instrumental compositions like these, the meaning behind the track titles can be somewhat speculative, but Wannes adds: "They are snapshots from my life. Each track tells, in its own way, something about an event I've experienced or people I've met!".
A band definitely worth discovering, and you can do so right away, as AARDPEER will be presenting 'Waco Jungle' live on May 16th
at Missy Sippy in Genth!
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