Mirror. Eelke

An artist name like Eelke might pose some issues in other countries, in The Netherlands Eelke Ankersmit is quite alright. Releasing songs since 2014, the former conservatory student in 2021 released a mini album that shows him a master on edges of alternative rock and pop. It only took me one listening session with his song 'Mirror', the title song of the album, to convince me I'd better listen some more.

With Mirror I did get a bit confused. Had I not read the name of the artist, I could have been fooled into listening to Tim Christensen's new album, with or without The Damn Crystals. The style of music is so uncannily close that it is almost scary. Being a huge fan, I certainly don't mind listening to a record that I could mistake for the real thing. This is a complement to Eelke and I can't give a much bigger one in this segment of music.

On Mirror Eelke plays a melodic kind of rock that fills my whole room. This is a spacious and well filled mix. The instruments all come together in huge wall of sound, creating the image of omnipresence. This is not the whole story though. In 'Leech' the volume goes down and like with Tim Christensen a Crowded House element is added to the whole. 'Leech' is a more acoustic number, that receives an edge at the right moments.

It is exactly this point in between alternative rock and pop that makes Mirror such an intriguing album. By searching for these edges in his music, Eelke makes his songs so much more interesting, as they in a way are unpredictable. At the basis, each and every song can be played with an acoustic guitar at a camp fire. From there instrument for instrument and layer for layer are added. Take 'Something Anything'. Just listen to what the bass guitar does in the song. The instrument does not play a solo, but is the main solo instrument of the song, with all the runs and notes it is playing. Plugging the holes in between the chords in a beautiful way. That the guitars later on play a harmonised solo is only a nice addition to that beautiful basis. It goes to show that Eelke and his team have a nice ear for details.

"The focus song" is 'Mirror'. I have already commented on this use of words recently, so will refrain here. The choice is totally right though. If you don't like the song, you better have your ears screwed on again. (I know, taste and such.) 'Mirror' is a great rock song that should easily be able to reach the rest of the western world. If Tim Christensen can, Eelke should with this song as well. To my ears it has it all.

Mirror, summing up, is an album to check out. It simply spreads musical joy.

Wo.

You can listen to and buy Mirror here:

https://eelke.bandcamp.com/album/mirror-2

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