Klingande

The French project began with Cédric Steinmyller and Edgar Catry. Punga and Jubel appeared in 2013, establishing an interest in melodic house arrangements which could accommodate an instrumental voice as readily as a sung refrain.

Jubel is carefully paced. The rhythm creates continuity, while changes in texture guide attention towards and away from the saxophone. The theme does not need to become more elaborate every time it returns; a different surrounding can make the same phrase feel newly present.

Klingande continued with Steinmyller at its centre. The 2019 debut The Album brought newer songs together with earlier recordings, including Punga, Riva and Jubel. By the River, with Jamie N Commons, is part of that later picture.

The wider collection makes the songwriting interest easier to hear. A voice, an acoustic texture or a short instrumental figure can supply the emotional identity of a track, while the house rhythm keeps the arrangement moving. The production is there to support the hook’s character rather than flatten it into one standard sound.

The lightness of Jubel can be deceptive. Its impact depends on decisions about when a part should enter, how long a phrase should remain alone, and how much energy to hold back for the next return.

That restraint gives the record its particular colour. The saxophone feels large because the arrangement lets it, and the steady beat does not have to compete for attention to keep the track in motion.