Sanne Rambags - The Frieze of Life
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"I do not believe in the art which is not the compulsive result of man’s urge to open his heart." - Edvard Munch
Sanne Rambags - voice and compositions
Roosmarijn Tuenter - viola, voice, effects
Jeroen van Vliet - piano and effects
Joost Lijbaart - drums and percussion
Total time: 44:38
Original recording format DXD352kHz-24bit.
Mastered by an HQ analog chain to PCM768kHz-32bit.
All other formats are converted versions of the original master.
Sanne Rambags - The Frieze of Life
When Joost Lijbaart approached us with the idea of recording Sanne Rambags’ The Frieze of Life Suite, we knew immediately this was a project we had to bring to life. Inspired by Edvard Munch’s iconic series of paintings, the suite resonates deeply with our label’s vision: striving for the seemingly impossible goal of making sound visual, a philosophy captured in Sound Liaison’s tagline, The Visual Sound.
In discussing musicianship, one often highlights technical mastery. Yet what sets these performers apart is their ability to channel pure emotion into every note. Listen to Roosmarijn Tuenter’s enchanting viola introduction on Woman in Three Stages, Jeroen van Vliet’s tranquil piano on Madonna, Joost Lijbaart’s almost imperceptible percussive textures on Starry Night, and Sanne Rambags’ mesmerizing voice on Dance of Life.
Each moment brims with authenticity and depth, with silence and space as integral as the notes themselves. This is not easy music, yet it flows organically, like a mountain stream in springtime.
Premiered at the November Music Festival to critical acclaim - “Moments arise where, under the influence of goosebumps and moist eyes, we are driven to the edge of our seats” (JazzProg) - this suite is a deeply moving experience. Thanks to Frans de Rond’s extraordinary recording technique, described as “A Van Gogh painting come to life, vivid and multidimensional” this masterpiece has been immortalized. It offers listeners the rare chance to step into the music and experience it as if standing among the musicians themselves.
- Peter Bjørnild
“One rainy May day in 2024, our friend Morten drove us and Sanne Rambags into Oslo. As we headed to Edvard Munchs Plass, a terrific storm broke - lightning, thunder, and a torrential downpour. Sheets of rain blurred our first view of the imposing, angular MUNCH museum on Oslo’s waterfront. Soaked through, we finally stood in the lobby, water dripping off our waterproofs. Could anything more dramatic have prepared us?
Inside, Sanne was an inspiring guide, leading us through vivid rooms of Munch’s work: early sketches, enormous paintings in a double-height gallery, and striking sculptures. Having visited the original museum decades ago, we were staggered by the sheer depth of his work.
Sanne Rambags is an extraordinary vocalist and composer. Walking through the exhibition, we were struck by how her voice, with its profound emotional resonance, mirrors Munch’s ability to explore the human condition. Munch celebrated the connection between people and nature, while Sanne speaks of being “connected with the mystery” and “all connected”. Her voice reaches the soul.
Inspired by paintings from this collection, Sanne Rambags composed nine pieces exploring Munch’s themes. The suite includes Madonna, The Dance of Life, The Voice, and Melancholy. Rambags’ unique voice, laid over sparse, atmospheric arrangements, echoes Munch’s brooding landscapes and melancholic figures. Her voice soars, cries, sobs - a barely audible whisper or a repeated word like a tribal chant over drumbeats and viola - all while conjuring vividly painted landscapes.”
- Julie and Mark Wilkinson
Recorded in MCO Studio 2 (Hilversum) on September 9 and 10, 2023
Recording, mixing and mastering by Frans de Rond
Produced by: Peter Bjørnild, Joost Lijbaart & Sanne Rambags
Digital mastering by Tom Caulfield
Cover design: Ayu Slip
Used equipment:
Microphones:
Main system: Josephson C700S
Sanne: DPA d:facto
Rosemarijn: DPA d:facto, Avenson DI
Jeroen: Johsephson C700S
Joost: Josephson C617 & DPA4006A - overheads and Josephson C715 - bassdrum
Micpre's: Merging Horus
Speakers: TAD Compact Evolution
Poweramp: Moon 760A
AD converter mastering: RME ADI-2/4 Pro SE
Mastering headphones: Hifiman HE1000se / Sennheiser HD800S
All power cables and power conditioners by AudioQuest
Network Switch by SOtM
Catalog Number: SL-1073A