Released:
May 2002, Rhythm Records, RR 033

Website:
Koos Kombuis

Die legende van Koos Kombuis kry 'n nuwe hoofstuk by met die uitreiking van "equilibrium", sy eerste CD met nuwe komposisies in meer as 5 jaar.

Dié CD word uitgereik op 25 Mei 2002 en sal beskikbaar wees by sy optrede tydens die "Vodacom Square Tunes" musiekfees in Hatfield Square, Pretoria op 25 Mei. (Koos se optrede is geskeduleer vir 18H00.)

Die musikante op "equilibrium" is hoofsaaklik die lede van Benguela, naamlik Brydon Bolton op kontrabas, Ross Campbell (ook van Fetish en voorheen van Urban Creep) op dromme, en Alex Bozas op kitare. Ander musikante wat meegewerk het is Valiant Swart (kitare en sang), Melissa Van der Spuy (klavier, fluit en kalimba), Schalk Joubert (elektriese kitaar en sang), Albert du Plessis (kitare en sang), Cristina Azevedo (sang) en Stanislav Anguelov (akkordeon).

Die styl van die musiek wissel van melodiese ballades tot klipharde rock. "Sestien jaar met 'n vals kitaar" staan uit as 'n tribute tot Afrikaanse rock waarmee meeste deelnemers aan die destydse "alternatiewe" beweging sterk kan identifiseer. "My apologie" is 'n eerlike introspeksie en bestekopname na langer as 16 jaar se ruk en rol. "Equilibrium met Lithium" besweer die chaos van maniese depressie met 'n goeie dosis onbeteuelde emosionele wipplank-humor. "Luierliedjie" is opgedra aan Koos en Kannetjie se seuntjie Simon. "African Skyline", "Oorlog van die lem" en "Op die Plaas" lewer skerp kommentaar op toestande in Afrika en Suid Afrika.

Die 15-snit album is vervaardig deur Albert du Plessis en opgeneem deur Jürgen von Wechmar by Sunset Recording Studios. Die verspreiders is Bowline.

Review:

Although 'Equilibrium' is credited as a Koos Kombuis album, reading the sleeve notes, it seems that producer Albert du Plessis and Benguela had a large input into the first album of new material from the Bard van Gordon's Bay since the seminal 1997 works 'Blameer dit op Apartheid' and 'Madiba Bay'.

Koos does what he does best and that it to provide the lyrics. These cover various topics from a sort of tribute to the "alternative" Afrikaans movement in 'Sestien Jaar met 'n Vals Kitaar' through a song to his young son 'Luierliedjie' or just sommer venting in 'Jy Vas Nog Nooit In Langstraat As Dit Reën Nie".

Benguela and Albert du Plessis build around the basic kitaar track that Koos laid down, adding atmospheric guitar, piano, contrabass and occasional accordion. The sound is intriguing, mostly downbeat and quite melancholic.

This melancholy feel does not make this an immediately accessible album. It took a few listens for the beauty of 'Wrapped Around The Moon' to shine through or for me to hum along to the chorus of 'Sestien Jaar'. However, the dub remix of 'Lalie' is, probably because one is already familiar with it, one that has immediate appeal. Still, it's worth the effort to persevere, as this becomes a quite rewarding album with time.

The big question is what should one read into the words on the closing track 'Bach by die Voortrekkermonument' where Koos starts by saying 'Welcome by my laaste concert ooit' and closes the track by singing 'hou op met my sukkel want ek is 'n afgetreede musikant' and follows this by saying 'Bye'. Is this the last we are to hear from the man? Who knows, but one thing I have surmised from reading about Koos is that he doesn't like people to take his lyrics as gospel, so I guess we will have to let the passing of time answer that question.

John Samson, SA Rock Digest #158, June 2002