Dishwasher_are the latest disciples of yet another new wave of talent in the fertile Belgiangroove and jazzscene. It would, however, be a shame to limit them to the constraints of anygiven musical style. Ever since their formation in 2019, the Ghent-based trio have beenexperimenting with all possible genres to create a contemporary sound they can now rightfullycall their own. With theirself-titled debut album, to be releasedinApril 2023via Sdban Ultra,they are closing off an impressive first chapter, delivering a unique and diverse yet coherentcollection of groove-driven cuts.
While labelling Diswasher_ as ajazzband wouldn’t do them enough justice, it is a fact thatimprovisationand a certainfree approachturn out to be key in the creation and performanceprocess of the album’s tracks. Werend, Louise and Arno specifically aim to capture theirliveenergy and synergyon the album by experimenting with structures and textures, playing withsong lengths and implementing influences from various other styles—electronic musicin thefirst place, but as well traces from(Middle-)Eastern and Balkan music, next todance,hip-hopand evenmetal.
As a result, the record tends to be a pure and honest representation of Diswasher_’s musicalidentity and artistic quest over the past years—both as individual musicians and as a band.Saxophonesdrenched ineffects, diverse layers ofsynthesizers, abass guitarhopping fromfingerpickinglicks to deep anddrone-likebass tones,drumscan sometimes sound like drumcomputers, and sometimes assubtle acoustic beats: it’s pretty clear how deep this trio havedived to search and find something totally fresh and new.
