The Dutch musician Jozef Van Wissem is one of the best-known lutenists in the world, a post-minimalist composer also known for adapting 400-year-old tablature. In a 2012 interview with Architects of Harmonic Rooms, he described how, when performing or writing music, he becomes very open to what’s around him, enabling him to channel melodies, a technique that has allowed him to continually explore new ground across the many albums he has released to date; something that is very evident on his new album, The Night Dwells in the Day, on which he also sings, something we don’t get to hear very often.
Talking about his deep relationship with the lute, he says:
“It’s like a part of my body; the complexity of it is what keeps me going because you can always find something new.”
‘The Night Dwells in the Day’ is set for release on January 19th on Incunabulum Records, and Van Wissem has shared his first single and video for The Call of the Deathbird; see below. He has also announced extensive European live dates for later this year (see below).
The genesis for the album began during lockdown in Warsaw, where Van Wissem splits his time between Rotterdam. “The Call of the Deathbird” was the first song he wrote from the album and is the first to be shared, along with an accompanying video today. Over a hypnotic yet beautifully fluid and plucked melody – it captures scenes of deserted streets, death and the intense isolation that gripped us all. One of the relatively rare tracks that Van Wissem sings on – along with some stirring and enveloping guest vocals from Hilary Woods (who will tour with Van Wissem later this year – details below) – his towering voice circles above the music much like the swooping deathbird he sings of.
He developed the concept for the video below, which Philip James McGoldrick directed.
Jozef Van Wissem live dates
Oct 10th: KINO MURANOW, WARSAW
Oct 14th: LEHNGERICHT, AUGUSTUSBURG
Nov 7th: JUNKYARD, DORTMUND
Nov 8th: CINEMA PLAZA, DUFFEL
Nov 10th: EGLISE NOTRE DAME DE LA NATIVITE, MORET- SUR- LOING
Nov 11th: CAFE POMPIER, BORDEAUX
Nov 12th: CINEMATOGRAPHE, NANTES
Nov 24th: A4 ZERO SPACE, BRATISLAVA
Nov 25th: CHURCH OF ST AGNES OF BOHEMIA, PRAGUE
Dec 2nd: THE BLACK LAB, LILLE
Dec 5th: SETMANA SANTA FESTIVAL, TOULOUSE
Dec 6th: CAVE 12, GENEVA*
Dec 7th: BRONSON, RAVENNA*
Dec 8th: TIPOTECA ITALIANA, CORNUDA*
Dec 9th: CIRCOLO DEV, BOLOGNA*
Dec 12th: ROTE SONNE, MUNICH*
Dec 13th: ARKAODA, BERLIN*
Dec 14th: TRAFO, JENA*
Dec 15th: HD, DRESDEN*
Dec 16th: JASSMINE, WARSAW*
Dec 17th: ST CATHARINE CHURCH, VILNIUS*
Dec 18th: VAGONU HALL, RIGA*
Dec 19th: KINO SOPRUS, TALINN*
* with support from Hilary Woods
The Night Dwells in the Day tracklist:
1. The Devil is a Fair Angel and the Serpent a Subtle Beast
2. The Call of the Deathbird
3. With Our Hands Our Hearts To Raise
4. In Exile Here We Wander
5. Slowly The Rays of Daylight Fade
6. May The Bright Gate Welcome You
7. The Day of the Lord
https://www.jozefvanwissem.com/