Zwerver

An absolutely fascinating project from Belgium, Toasaves brings together musicians of diverse backgrounds to combine their individual expertise with leader Tristan Driessens’ knowledge of traditional Flemish song. The name Toasaves means ‘Home Ports’ in the dialect of Antwerp, home of iconic singer Wannes van de Velde from whom Driessens takes much inspiration. There's a strong early music influence here, made manifest with bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy and medieval flutes; as well as elements from the Afghan, Corsican, Greek, Turkish and Sephardic traditions.

Frame drum, lute and microtonal violin open the first track ‘Als Ik Zou Sterven’ and the sound is pretty straightforwardly Middle Eastern in essence, until a man bursts somehow seamlessly into medieval Flemish song. Bizarre though this may seem, the effect is intoxicating and one can’t help listening deeper and deeper to the driving rhythms, shifting melodies and virtuosic performances in order to figure out just what the hell is going on. The musicianship of everyone on this recording makes for an exciting and beautiful journey into a perhaps not entirely fictional lost world. If you’ve ever wondered what an Afghan rabab player and a Sephardic fiddler might have got up to in 15th-century Antwerp… well, here's your answer.