Day 85: Spinvis - Kom terug

Spinvis issued his first album more than 11 years ago and many were pleasantly moved by the sound of his tunes. The most interesting fact was that he ‘assembled’ all of the songs on his own in the attic of his house. At that time, he had no public musical background and he held up the image of an all average, boring type making at the same time apparently brilliant music. In the years he has developed his music making, but throughout his albums always has kept the signature to his songs.

Here’s the first single of his 2011 release ‘Tot Ziens Justine Keller’ (Goodbye Justine Keller), named ‘Kom Terug’ (Come Back). What I find most fascinating is that the apparent simple songs come across as so touching. Simple here means no complex chord schemes or virtuoso play of instruments. It’s the skill of giving his songs a certain sound that lifts them and while not a brilliant singer, the lines add a dimension too, in form and in meaning, when you’re able to understand the language. That sound, again, may come from him fabricating the songs together on his very own. While performing them on stage with a band.

Spinvis is a very special one in the landscape of Dutch music, as not to say unique. Therefore I need to share this one, if it’s only for being one of the more accessible songs of his and inviting for more to listen.

Day 84: James Vincent McMorrow - This old dark machine

Sometimes you just hear something of which you think "Wow", that's unique.. A sound that's really relaxt, that's sweet and innocent, thats sensitive.. which also makes you think about the important stuff in life and moves you.. And which at the same time you really enjoy..

James Vincent McMorrow is an artist of which music critics have predicted that 2012 will be the year of his breakthrough.. And with THE release of his debut album "early in the morning" I think he gives a good shot at it.. I certainly think that this year we Will certainly hear a lot from him.. I think that he will be one of the artist that we Will see a lot on the dutch summer music festivals..

Right now, during my trip in Bangkok and the southern parts of Thailand this is a pleasure to listen too.. It completes THE Holiday feeling..

I hope you like one even more..

Day 83: William Fitzsimmons - The Tide Pulls From The Moon

The saying 'never judge a book by its cover' implies one needs to take further reading of matter, even though it's tough on the beginning. As for music, quality songs will only reveal their beauty after several listening sessions. Instantly likable songs may seem nice, but all the same seem to last less longer. This is my rule of thumb when consuming music. But, to every rule is an exception. On a Saturday morning in December I got track of William Fitzsimmons´ songs, a singer –songwriter I had never heard of before. I started listening and decided it to be ´the music for the weekend´. The songs I heard from different albums were amazingly beautiful: well crafted, well played guitar and instruments, straight to the heart and visualizing (but that may be personal). My rule of thumb did not apply here. The evening I had two tickets booked for his concert, which happened to be in weeks from then in Groningen.

This song is the very recognizable opener of his last, 2011 album, Gold In The Shadow. As with many of Fitzsimmons’ songs, they might not seem highly complicated but are therefore very effective in putting forward the emotion of the song. Yet there is a lot to discover in, from subtle percussion to his delicate playing. As he, not once, jokingly put it himself, most of the songs have a little bit of a sad feeling, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. This one  is a ‘live’ version in an Amsterdam hotel room (mind that detail on 3:15).