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Wednesday, 30 October 2024

'Southern Return' by Dimitri Howald



'Southern Return' marks the new release from Swiss guitarist and producer, Dimitri Howald, whose latest project finds its home through the Berlin-based record label XJAZZ!


Looking back through past Howald projects, the variety that the artist continues to offer up with each release consistently leads to some compelling results.  With projects that can range from Howald performing in a room by himself to the guitarist helming sextet ensembles, Howald continues to find new ways to present his music and recontextualise his own performance with each go-round. 


Having earned a Masters Degree in Music Performance at the Hochschule der Künste, Bern, Howald's proficiency as a performer finds his album releases mount up since his debut 'Three Flamingoes' in 2016.  An album presented by Howald as part of his trio outing, positioning his guitar alongside double-bassist Valentin von Fischer and drummer Philipp Leibundgut, 'Three Flamingoes' established Howald through a stunning project that cemented his arrival as an imaginative band leader in his own right. 


Consecutive full-length and EP releases see Howald embrace the challenge of new arrangements, collaborators and conditions going forward.  While 'Tundra' in 2018 saw Dimitri Howald expand the collaborative pool under the ILJA banner, projects like 'Industrial Plants' and 'Amnis Alsace' serve as releases that demonstrate the multi-faceted nature to Howald's vision, seeing him tackle even more duties as a musician posing even greater challenges for himself. 


The kind of challenges that appear to be echoed within current project, 'Southern Return', which sees Howald credited for no less than guitars, vocals, bass, organ, synth, drums and drum Machines throughout the album.  While Howald clearly excels when playing alongside like-minded musicians, there's something about Howald's compositions as part of these solo projects that generates thrilling results - with sonic soundscapes both sweeping and immersive, so much of the compositions revel within various underlying inspirations.


The Latin-tinged 'Akimi' and 'Blurry Lights', the harder-edged guitar of '16-8', the ambient intricacies of 'Delude' and the synthy wonder of '7+9=1 (Levitate)' are all strong album highlights that demonstrate the project's boundless versatility and the personality injected into each track.  The album opener 'Serafin' may well come off as the project's gleaming gem however - a rousing piece accentuated by some subtle and sublime wordless vocals by Howald himself that really steal the show.


Regardless of the circumstances or the setting, Dimitri Howald consistently finds ways to bring the best out of himself and his music, elegantly adjusting the narrative each time.  Although 'Southern Return' adds as part of the strong lineage of Howald releases to date, the album also proves to be a great introduction to his music and over-arching vision.


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