The lute was a popular instrument in classical music for decades, but in 2014 it is mainly used to reproduce old sounds. The originally Limburg American Jozef van Wissem plays the instrument in his own way and writes his minimal compositions for it. He had success with this with the soundtrack of the film Only Lovers Left Alive by director Jim Jarmusch, which was awarded at the Cannes Film Festival
… in 2013. Jarmusch returns as guitarist on Van Wissem's album It Is Time For Your Return. On the cover we see the lutenist as a pastor with a crucifix on his chest. His compositions on the warm and baroque sounding string instrument have a hushed and sacred feel and sometimes evoke memories of Arvo Pärt's pious minimalism. Dark electronics and gloomy sung mantra ' s supplement this sporadically, but the main role remains for the lute on this spiritual album. (MR)more
