Inbetween. Donna Blue

Donna Blue returns to these pages with its third EP released just before the band leaves for its first tour in the US. Slowly but surely the world outside of The Netherlands is introduced to the nostalgic sound of Donna Blue.

Label and band have decided to introduce the band slowly. Singles alternate with EPs combining the singles with one or two other songs. An album at this point in time is still not within sight, as far as I know. So far this policy is fine by me. I have only one complaint: Why is this beautiful set of songs not released on vinyl like the first two? My Donna Blue collections remains incomplete for ever it seems.

On Inbetween, a change as it is the first EP with a title, five songs are combined. Two have been sung the praises of already, 'Desert Lake' and 'Billy'. For them I refer you to the reviews to be found on this blog.

In 'Paradis' the French language returns and with it a 60s atmosphere of French sigh girls and Serge Gainsbourg accents in the production. The beautiful bass takes the lead in this song. Dry and driving it takes 'Paradis' by the hand. The echo on Danique van Kesteren's voice suggests an enormous bathroom at her disposal when she sings. The rhythm guitar playing is soulful, the drumming has that same dry sound as the bass, the organ plays just a few but just right notes. Together I am taken back decades to a time when James Last and his orchestra was a favourite of my now deceased uncles and aunts and The Beatles provoked them same relatives by growing their hair longer and playing wilder music. In the 60s this song would have been a huge hit in France.

The title song is even more mysterious. Slow, meandering, 'Twin Peaks'. How much more reverb can a guitar take before the sound disappears behind the horizon into another world or dimension? The emptiness of the song gives it its mysterious atmosphere along with a deep sense of longing for something that lies behind that same horizon, unattainable for the longing singer. Bart van Dalen's guitar realises the loss without ever having had and wails for Danique in her stead, as she seems incapable of shouting out in pain herself.

The EP ends with 'Fool'. In as far Donna Blue can be direct the guitar suggests it for just a few moments. 'Fool' is the slowest song possible. There are no beats left below this tempo, only inertion. It is a song 50s singers like Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine or Dean Martin could have sung. With loads of vioins and horns of course. Donna Blue manages this feat pure by the fairylike angelic voice of Danique van Kesteren and the empty atmospheric sounds made around her.

I liked 'Billy' a lot a few week ago. Somehow the song is dwarfed by the power of these new songs. All so different, all so good. Donna Blue is an exceptional band working in a small niche all by herself, with influences from people who have long left this earth of are really getting on in life. Mystery surrounds the music, that haunts the darker spaces in the room where it blooms and flowers. Some black others in unexpected bright, if isolated, colours. All different shades of blue of course.

This post was supposed to be a little push in the back of the first U.S. tour of Donna Blue. The cancellation of SXSW due to the Corona virus outbreak must be a tremendous disappointment if not disastrous for the band. So support the band and get down to the website below and buy this beautiful record.

Wo.

You can buy Inbetween here:

http://www.snowstar.nl/artist/donna-blue/


or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g