This was special. In the magnificently restored former St Peter’s Church, the Dutch improvising trio Under the Surface presented a multi-media event of extraordinary power and beauty. Their music is inspired by folk, jazz, classical music and the musical traditions of the many countries they have visited.
Joost Lijbaart (percussion), Bram Stadhouders (guitar & electronics) and Sanne Rambags (voice, harmonium, percussion) formed Under the Surface nine years ago and have since performed improvised concerts all over the world. This event in this Suffolk market town was a little different, however.
During the past three years, the trio’s visits to the UK and Ireland have been documented by photographer/artist Mark Wilkinson and film makers David Lam and Hannah Thompson. Friday marked the UK launch of both Wilkinson’s book and Lam & Wilkinson’s short documentary on the band. Both are beautifully presented and give a deep insight into the trio’s approach to their creativity and musical relationships.
The performance opened with the documentary, which was beautifully shot on the River Stour, on the Essex-Suffolk border and in the west of Ireland. All captured in atmospheric soft focus, the film is a fitting tribute to a wonderfully creative ensemble.
As it ended, Lijbaart and Stadhouders appeared on stage, creating an ambient wash of sound with shimmering guitar and electronics and rings and light touches from Lijbaart’s bewildering array of percussion collected on his travels. They were soon joined by Rambags, whose lilting voice and wordless improvisation added to the soundscapes that ebbed and flowed, holding the audience mesmerised.
As the music increased in intensity, Belgian Nathan Wouters added arco double bass, its drone giving a further dimension and depth to the performance which built to a crescendo before subsiding and bringing the first half to a close.
The trio’s eponymous first album was recorded live in the studio, while their second, Trinity, recorded in 2018, comprises live improvisations from venues around Europe. In a departure from their improvised approach, for their third album, Miin Triuwa in 2022, Stadhouders composed pieces to which Rambags added lyrics in Old Dutch. This formed the second half of the evening.
Joined again by Wouters’ bass, with Annabel Laura adding vocals, acoustic guitar and percussion, the trio added improvised passages, the music ranging from quiet ambience with delicate percussion and almost whispered vocals, to surging, guitar heavy washes of sound with Rambags’ effortless voice soaring high into the rafters. The standing ovation they received was no less than the music deserved. This was improvising and musicianship of the highest calibre and, as always, pure brilliance.
Under The Surface return to the UK in October and again in 2025.
Joost Lijbaart – drums, percussion
Bram Stadhouders – guitar, charango , electronics
Sanne Rambags – voice, harmonium, percussion
with Nathan Wouters – double bass
Annabel Laura – voice, acoustic guitar, percussion
