Black String - Mask Dance review: 'they bring an improvisatory fire to their music'

There are a number of contemporary South Korean bands using traditional instruments in a completely new way. Black String are one of them and they bring an improvisatory fire to their music, which is why their debut album appears on the prestigious German jazz label ACT.

The name of the group is a literal translation of geomungo, the Korean zither played by leader Yoon Jeong Heo.

In this quartet she’s joined by the daegeum (Korean flute), electric guitar and janggu (Korean drum).

Each of the instruments takes the lead on one of the tracks but it’s the interplay and visceral excitement of the playing that makes this group so strong.

They may be in London for the K-Music festival later this year.

(ACT)