Dez Mona sounds like a secret performance held in a deconsecrated cathedral at 3 AM. It is music that feels ancient and modern simultaneously, anchored by the deep, percussive thrum of the double bass and elevated by Gregory Frateur’s extraordinary, gender-blurring vocal range. There is a palpable sense of physical space in their recordings, often capturing the natural reverb of churches and theaters.
What truly sets them apart is their ability to merge the spiritual fervor of gospel with the intellectual rigor of avant-garde jazz and the emotional weight of opera. The instrumentation is often sparse but incredibly intentional, using accordion and trumpet to add splashes of color to a sound that is primarily defined by the interplay between voice and bass. It is music of high drama and deep vulnerability.
Start with 'Hilfe Kommt' to hear their sound at its most refined and expansive. Produced by Paul Webb of Talk Talk, it perfectly balances their experimental tendencies with a haunting, melodic accessibility that showcases their unique position in the Belgian underground scene.
Dez Mona is a Belgian band formed in 2003, playing a combination of jazz, gospel, spirituals and drama. The band revolves around singer Gregory Frateur and bassist Nicolas Rombouts. The duo is sometimes joined by Sam Vloemans on trumpet and Roel van Camp on accordion. The band's third album, Hilfe Kommt, was produced by former Talk Talk bassist Paul Webb.
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