‘Grichte’, meaning ‘sound, noise, racket’ in the dialect of Karen Willems’ region, is part of her Terre Sol-project. With this project, the Belgian drummer/percussionist attempts
to explore two parallel tracks. It is a quest to turn inwards and find her personal motives, as well as an effort to get to the true core of it, with results that are both intimate and free. At the same time, it is also about connection with others in times when evident concepts such as
collaboration and exchange have become fragile.

In 2021, Willems released four tapes - Grondwerken Willems, Seslerde, Bentillse Berber and Schreve - with which she explored this twofold mission. Helped by a sudden pandemic, it became an impressive feat that moved from introverted explorations to exciting ensemble playing, with unusual instrumentation, field recordings, a combination of acoustic, electric and electronic elements and a healthy disregard for conventions. Improvisation, ambient/drones,exotic folk colors, trance, it all came together. With the Grichte 2lp, she continues developing.

For the first album (Grichte 1), Willems went to the Dunk!studios in the middle of the fields of Zottegem.
The result is a kind of auditory play that moves back and forth between organic seeking and playful turmoil. Willems moves between collage art, shamanism and a kind of futuristic ritualism. Man, machine and
nature (always present via the field recordings) keep on interacting in constantly transforming constellations.

Grichte is a mission of searching, feeling and letting go, the spontaneous game with adventure and connection as underlying key motifs.

Music composed and performed by Karen Willems.
Recorded at Dunk Studios by Karen Willems.
Mixed and mastered by Barkin Engin

Artwork and lay-out by Dominiek Claeys

'Grichte' 1 Side A Live In Zottegem

meme madeleine

a day at home, a bit of noise
a crackle, a smile
and never ending sounds

rolling da sea

old well wishing well

THERE ARE THOSE WHO CONFIRM AND THOSE WHO CONFRONT AND NEVER STOP TRANSFORMING

In the year that should lead to better development,
Karen Willems dives into new adventures and will focus on a solo parcour.
TERRE SOL is the working title.
Just sharing experiences from daily life, honest and pure.
A journey through a colorful world of possibilities.
A free haven with influences from all over the world.
It is musical ethnography with an industrial touch.

grondwerken

Since 2020 Karen willems focuses on a solo-path entitled ‘Terre Sol’.
A Play with no boundaries, in which she is in search for herself as a solo artist and in collaboration with others.
Her project ‘Terre Sol’ will map out that path through different tape releases.

There is stylistically divergence on each tape. Where the 2nd tape 'Seslerde' was more an excursion, 'Bentillse Berber' was an extention of the first one ‘Grondwerken Willems’.

Willems feels the need to go deeper within her research so 'Schreve' 04 will be the last tape (for now) in the 'Terre Sol' saga.
For this tape she joins forces with Taping Policies once again.

Dreaming of how it would have been without COVID19,
the encounters on the road.
Willems wanted to awake the feeling of creating a journey together 
with like minded musicians.
So at the end it became a tape with some small contributions.

"A game without limits,
balancing,
floating,
on and off the line "

Mixed and Mastered by Marlon Wolterink.
Graphic Design by Dominiek Claeys.
Release Taping Policies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIDE A

1. Bie Lena: Karen Solo
2. Fabel: Karen + Stijn Dickel
3. Cows and Cats: Karen + Rutger Zuydervelt
4. Hemel en Hel: Karen + Glen Steenkiste
5. Habla con Harmonica en Boca: Karen + Pablo & Nico Picco

SIDE B

1. Panneblues: Karen + Barkin Engin
2. Swinghounds: Karen + Bram Bosteels
3. De Raspador: Karen solo
4. Aquavit: Karen + Rutger Zuydervelt
5. No Fear: Karen + Margaret Hermant

about.me/Karen_Willems
karenwillems.bandcamp.com/
www.tapingpolicies.com/

Side A SCHREVE 04

'THERE ARE THOSE WHO CONFORM AND THOSE WHO CONFRONT AND NEVER STOP TRANSFORMING'.

The Belgian drummer/percussionist Karen Willems (1979) is active in various fields. Started as a drummer in rock and pop bands. (Yuko, Zita Swoon Group, Pascal Deweze, Mauro..)

With a number of musicians she built up a tradition within improvised music and sound art.( Zwerm, Terre Sol Four, Eric Thielemans, Frederik Croene, Jean DL, Jürgen De Blonde, Aidan Baker, Stijn Dickel, Kreng, Kaboom Karavan, Jürgen Augusteyns, Rutger Zuydervelt, Fred Frith..)

Willems started a first project in 2012 under the moniker 'INWOLVES'.

Since 2020, with ‘TERRE SOL’ Willems is searching for personal modifications within her play of instruments and objects, with the focus on solo work and compositions.

The result is a kind of auditory play that moves back and forth between organic seeking and playful turmoil. Willems moves between collage art, shamanism and a kind of futuristic ritualism. Man, machine and nature keep on interacting in constantly transforming constellations. It is a mission of searching, feeling and letting go, the spontaneous game with adventure and connection as underlying key motifs.

https://karenwillems.bandcamp.com/

Karen Willems

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