ANNELIES MONSERE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Annelies Monsere's Mares album takes us deep into the contemporary underground of Belgium as she serves up some fascinating and experimental new ambient and modern classical compositions. They are raw and deep and draw on plenty of the traditions of European folk. The album was written between 2016 and 2022 and is full of contrasts - adventurous new synth sounds, organic folk moods, brooding minimalism and complex harmonies. It was made using the guitar and piano and was conceived as "adding similar layers upon each other with (slightly) different hues". It's a beguiling new work littered with her own vocals which make it all the more impactful.