Both Bryn and I have dropped in a few classical releases through the course of our (mainly noisy) podcasts. The name Joep Beving is certainly not unfamiliar as the Dutchman has released a steady stream of deeply thoughtful, and widely listened to, compositions over the last 10 years or so. And now, to signify his call to a return to a more natural way of existence, he has released ‘Liminal’ – his eighth album.
I have listened to this a lot this week. It is music that speaks in far greater tongues than simply notes on a piano. In the words of Mr Beving himself…’To compose is not to command but to attune, to let the wild speak through us.’ This is a call to humanity and a plea to return to a more symbiotic relationship with the natural world. This is beautifully crafted in a manner that no machine, no algorithm, no processing chip could achieve. Ever.
We are all in the liminal space – the realm between the uncontrollable, unimaginable kaleidoscope of human activity and the still, peaceful, unerring ways of the natural world. Tracks such as ‘Arcadia’, ‘Wild Renaissance’ and the hauntingly formed ‘Elysium’ are poignant, delicate and positioned on the teetering edges of where our delightful species has chosen to stand.
There is something hugely relieving to hear the emotional depth, as well as the honest thinking, that lies behind this record. Joep Beving can see a time and a place where we reconnect with nature or, as he calls it, ‘a world beyond opposites’. The key word here is ‘beyond’ because, sadly, things have moved far further than ‘without’.
There is also a closing track called ‘Ghostly Chicken’ which is possibly one of the greatest poultry-related song names ever used, and just makes me think of Mikael Åkerfeldt in a bird costume. For some reason.
‘Liminal’ should be listened to by every single person on the planet. Preferably at the same time. There are very few records that breathe in a way that can make change happen…and this is one of them.
Best Paired With: Fire rainbows, the ability to completely ignore people and plenty of time.
Reviewed by Jaff.
Liminal by Joep Beving is out now on Deutsche Grammophon.
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