Cleaned The Windows. Geri van Essen

And finally Van Morrison's chore of 'Cleaning Windows' is done. It took 40 years but the windows have been cleaned. With Cleaned The Windows Geri van Essen releases her first album on Tiny Room Records. having left The Netherlands behind to write and play music in London. The album sounds inspired and warm.

After Jane Willow in Dublin, a second expat Dutch musician finds her way to this blog. On her second album Van Essen started working on her own in her home, recording her voice, guitar and piano, overcoming all the challenges working at home posed to her. From that moment two things happened. First she handed over the tapes to producer and label owner Stefan Breuer who started adding instruments to the home recordings, while in London friend musicians added more "exotic" instruments like horns, violins or euphonium. The result is a collection of small, modest songs that nonetheless make an impression immediately.

I'm totally inclined to compare Cleaned The Windows with three great albums coming out of New Zealand over the past 18 months: Aldous Harding's 'Designer', 'Reb Fountain' and recently 'The War On Peace Of Mind' by Dianne Swann. Geri van Essen moves into this class of musicians with her new album. Although she starts off from a U.K. folk perspective with her songs, one person, one guitar, the way music is added to them, take the electric guitar in 'Spelling Lonely', the songs tend to receive a bite, changing their nature along the way. This results in a deeper layer making the album so much more interesting. Always there's something extra to discover. Even after multiple listening sessions.

Of course this begs a question, I guess like with most singer-songwriters who work with a producer. In how far is this Geri van Essen's album and in how far Stefan Breuer's? This question I cannot answer, but it seems like a relationship of mutual consent. Breuer is not in a position and most likely does not want to be in a position where he forces decisions on the artist for commercial reasons. Cleaned The Windows will very much be a project where Van Essen's wished ruled.

The result is simply beautiful, warm, delicate yet forceful songs. Beautiful because the already nice melodies are all adorned by the addition of different instruments. Warm is simply what these songs are. Delicate because most are presented as frail songs that one could break, if wanting to do so. Forceful because of the self-assured way they are presented. Geri van Essen displays no doubts about her songs. They are hers alright and she knows they're good.

What has been avoided, is any modern influences, something the New Zealanders do not shun. It does give rise to wonder what a remix could do to one of the songs, like Reb Fountain's 'Hawkes And Doves'. Is that an option for a song like 'In The Morning'? What would it sound like?

All that aside. Cleaned The Windows is a beautiful album. I can not stress that enough. Together with Stefan Breuer and all the musicians who contributed, Geri van Essen has produced an album that is worthwhile to invest time in and some money so you can listen to it on your own device(s). Sometimes a song does not need more that a characteristic voice and an acoustic guitar. Sometimes just a little more. Cleaned The Windows attests to this.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Cleaned The Windows here:

https://tinyroomrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cleaned-the-windows

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