Silentski

This is the eighth album from the Belgian balfolk duo formed during the Andanças Festival in Portugal in 2003. It is a dance festival, and bal folk is a traditional folk dance band scene popular in Belgium and other parts of Western Europe. Its dance styles and tunes come mainly from France, in particular the Breton region, with influences from other Celtic and Eastern European styles.

The duo is diatonic accordionists Pascale Rubens and Toon Van Mierlo. Rubens also sings and plays fiddle while Van Mierlo plays the bagpipes. On this recording they are joined by two other members of the Van Mierlo family, trumpeter Mathijs and Charlotte, whose voice adds a striking counterpoint to the instrumental dance numbers. There is also saxophonist Philippe Laloy, pianist Jeroen Geerinck and guitarist Maarten Decombel. Their music is delicate and ornate, with finely plucked melodies and the sense of the natural world close at hand in birdsong and water. While Naragonia would undoubtedly be a rollicking good dance band when the squeezeboxes got a head of steam at a bal folk night, their poignant melodies, like the song of a rare bird in your garden, are also deserving of more relaxed and contemplative listening.