More than a decade after her last solo release, Mariska Baars graces us with a new mini-lp. Her
sound is as minimal and spartan as her amount of output. The songs are still slow, stripped-down and quiet, made with an overwhelming love for tone and sound, focussed entirely on guitar and vocals. They’re definitely rooted in the folktradition, but at the same time very ‘ambient’, in the true sense of the word.
‘tell from the grass’ is an extremely natural sounding record. Baars is a master in letting sounds resonate and explore their own path. As if she is more interested in conducting the songs in a certain direction than pushing them in a specific shape. To reach her goal, Baars works very restrained: she never uses a single note when it’s not fully required. The fact that the record still sounds so spontaneous makes it so unique: she does it so effortless that no one else really comes close to her approach. Utterly mesmerizing.
Reviews/Press Quotes:
9/10 "On her first album in 14 years, Mariska Baars of soccer Committee makes great virtue of very little. As with its predecessor, the 2007 album 'sC', 'Tell From The Grass' features Baars' lovely, unforced voice, and a smoky, mottled guitar that recalls the muted tone of jazz guitarists such as Barney Kessel. At its most layered, as on the wispy folk of 'Hazy' and 'Interstellar', it's a little like Cat Power circa 'Moon Pix' and 'You Are Free'. But more often than not, it's more bare-boned -- just the essence of the song: one note, and then, slowly, carefully, the next." (Uncut - September 2021)
"The songs have the feel of true, authentic, and traditional folk, its songs morphing into an ambient form instead of your typical ambient soundscape. Short but oh-so-sweet, Tell From The Grass is a record of unparalleled depth, capable of dazzling in just a few short seconds." (Fluid Radio - experimental frequencies - June 2021)
"..this new mini-LP is absolutely spellbinding." (Midnight On Jupiter - June 2021)
credits
released June 21, 2021
written, performed and recorded by Mariska Baars
mastered by Michael Anderson
cover art by Mariska Baars
layout by Rutger Zuydervelt
screen print by Wim Lecluyse
Sarah Louise blends glitchy electronics with comfortingly familiar folk guitar on a surprise release imbued with a quiet sense of dignity. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 19, 2020
Stark, slightly spooky songs from this Asheville musician, with guitars as bare as winter trees and eerie, distant vocals. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 16, 2021
A luxurious suite of daydreaming introspection full of soothing instrumental guitar from always-great label A Colourful Storm. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 29, 2024