Fourth World Clarinets
Ben Bertrand - Relic Radiation [STROOM.tv]
If your mind responds well to artist’s like John Surman or Jon Hassell’s Fourth World concepts, This might be the post for you…
It’s no mystery that Stroom.tv is one of the labels which is known for it’s outstanding discography, its special taste, and courage to collaborate with artists who consistently expand the boundaries of music. So much more to say, But this recent album got my full attention , Relic Radiation by Ben Bertrand.
Released on April 16, 2025, Relic Radiation is the fifth album and fourth solo offering by Bertrand and was composed at the Slovakian National Gallery. Across the seven compositions, it feels emotional, delicate, explorative, and memorable, moving in and out of our perception. The Belgian based bass clarinetist-composer holds the sorcery of his acoustic woodwind instrument with many electronic devices to build a world out of lucid and dream-motion pools of sound that push through seasons of change.
There is a noticed personality that stands out with his art of sound, it’s a perfect relationship between classical and contemporary, but all done in a out of worldly sense of style.
Hearing Bertrand’s music for the first time once felt like sitting by the river, watching our busy lives drift past in slow motion. Relic Radiation adds another layer to that feeling, a quiet reflection on how our planet earth is evolving.
If you have forty minutes in your day and need something to take a break with or zone out to, watch or listen this live session on xlr8r.