Hope And Fury. Joe Jackson

It is a lifetime ago that Joe Jackson with his Band entered my life. His single 'Is She Really Going Out With Him' made an immediate impression on me and that was the start of a relationship that is still there in 2026. Sure, I skipped a few albums here and there, especially when Jackson went off in directions that are more or less beyond me. Recently, especially two records from the zeros landed really well with me. You can find them on this blog. If there's anything beyond 'The Fool', I've missed that.

His latest record is called Hope And Fury. For starters, no, I do not think it is as good as 'Fast Forward' and 'The Fool', but things are relative in the world of Joe Jackson. At age 71 he releases an album that sounds urgent, is very varied in genres and an amalgam of the rock, latin and pop mixes he is renowned for and extremely good at. Expect touches of the Joe Jackson Band, 'Night and Day' and 'Body and Soul'. It all comes by on Hope And Fury. The album most likely is titled this way because of the similarities with the two albums mentioned, and the style he calls "his own mainstream".

Every Joe Jackson fan will welcome Hope And Fury as Joe Jackson is presenting his music in his best form. The bio even claims that this album could be "his best yet". Should he gain young followers with this album, that may just be true. Everything that came before has to compete then with the first impression. For me that is competing with 'Look Sharp', 'Night and Day' and 'Body and Soul'. Undoable.

That said, with each spin this new album is growing on me. Hope and Fury will effortlessly wind up among my favourite Joe Jackson (Band) albums. Jackson worked again with his new band, Graham Maby, who else, on bass, guitarist Teddy Kumpel, and drummer Doug Yowell. Added to the band is Peruvian percussionist Paulo Stagnaro, whose distinct contribution gives some of the songs a Santana flavour and brings Sue Hadjopoulos of old to mind. It is a very strong team, on record as well as live. They come over here late November and early December.

The album starts of with an odd-sounding song, for Joe Jackson, but after that it is all smooth sailing, to end with a smooth ballad, 'See You In September'. Something Jackson is good at as well. His voice is still in great from, although the first signs of a little wear is noticeable in a few spots. Nothing to worry about, as his voice sounds great and so recognisable.

48 Years after 'Is She Really Going Out With Him' Joe Jackson still pleases me no little. Hope And Fury is a great album and I have no doubt that it will grow on me even more, so that perhaps I will have to re-view my opening paragraph soon.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

Gunmoll live. Patronaat, Haarlem, Friday 10 April 2026

Photo: WdN-vdB

Gunmoll is on tour on the back of its really, really nice debut album. I was really looking forward to hearing the songs live. A few things really stood out. This band is able to rock. With a strong drummer and a bass player who really is taking care of the deep end, the foundation of Gunmoll is so strong. At times my throat vibrated with the sound of the bass. They can groove as well, making it very easy to move in a dance like way to the more up tempo songs. The band had enough fans in the room to get a party started.

Over that groove the rhythm guitar plays some great riffs or strictly rhythm that supports the voice and the lead lines played by the singer, often drenched in reverb like a true surf rocker. The more eastern European sounds came across as well, but less strong than on the album. Gunmoll live likes to rock foremost it seems.

Anyone who has listened to 'Kill Your Darlings' knows that singer Jolien Grünberg's voice is not your average rock singer's. Live, at least in the mix the Patronaat Café offered that does become a bit of an issue. As the band rocks with a deep sound, Grünberg sort of got lost in the mix and had to sing through the band instead of over it. This does take away some of the charm of her unique voice. Despite this fact, I never had the idea she had out-shout herself, so could comfortably sing her lyrics and melodies.

Fun fact, I ran into bass player Lana Kooper of Loupe (ex-Dakota) and she told me she was married to Jorien Grünberg. A pretty unique household, as I truly like both bands.

Photo: WdN-vdB

What also stood out, is that the three men accompanying the singer, remain very anonymous on stage. They remained mostly in the shadows with the spotlight on Grünberg the whole of the time. The backing vocals of guitarist Bram Bol were inaudible for me. Which is too bad, as this adds flavour to the songs.

Finally, Jolien Grünberg is getting into her stride as a front woman. Some of the poses she struck are alright for a bigger stage. Gunmoll deserves a bigger stage and far more people attending than were present in the Patronaat Café. The fact that the café wasn't even sold out, makes me wonder why. This band rocks, has several outstanding songs that any post-punk-pop loving listener should get his way into.

Gunmoll has to mind the mix in the venue, so that Jolien Grünberg's voice comes across in a better way. As soon as that happens, I see a better future for the band ahead.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Gunmoll's music here:

https://gunmoll.bandcamp.com/music 

2026, week 15. 10 singles

So, from listening to the single, I changed to the album immediately and I'm being fed endless surges of energy from Amsterdam band Dishes, and this is supposed to be about singles. I can't keep this to myself I'm afraid. More will follow in the coming days (of writing this post). Here are ten recent singles for you to explore and enjoy!  

Unentertained. RubinCarter

Anyone who ever listened to Bob Dylan's 'Hurricane' knows who Ruben Carter is. Chances are alternative rockers RubinCarter took the second part of its name from the U.S. boxer who was or was not guilty of murder. The band formed around Queen's Pleasure drummer Sal Rubinstein. Just like in former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, a songwriter and guitarist was hiding inside of Sal Rubinstein. Judging by single Unentertained, his talent as a songwriter must have been bursting at the seems. Unentertained is a stark rocker with a strong melody, vocally and musically, with a pop element that invites singing along to. RubinCarter makes his debut (on this blog) with a strong musical statement. There's an EP underway, release date 24 April backed by a live presentation in Cinetol on 25 April. 

One Stop. Aldous Harding

With One Stop Aldous Harding returns to this blog with a mysterious new single, that holds a complete change of everything to boot. John Cale has a mention in the lyrics, "eating rice". The music evolves around a few small changes in the chords, played by a piano, acoustic guitar and a sparse bass. It is almost stern the way it is played. Over it Aldous Harding sings with a voice that hovers over the music, at times almost dreamy to change back to being very present, including harmonising with herself. And then it happens, everything changes. The rug is pulled from under the song and its listeners. Rhythm is allowed in, as the guitar gets strummed and a drummer joins. The vocal becomes more improvised it seems and for the final seconds, a second, electric guitar joins, before all is faded out. Album 'Train On The Island' will be out on 8 May. 

Love Tick. The Woggles

The second new name this week is The Woggles. Musically, the band takes yo back a decade or six. Love Tick is a great psychedelic rock song like they used to make them in the 1960s. This song rocks in a great way, with a fiery guitar tandem and a great, to the point solo. The organ that meanders throughout the song continuously gives the song both an authentic and a warm feel. Believe it or not, the music of the Woggles took shape during the pandemic. When will we hear the last song from that short period of time, that we have all but forgotten about or so it seems? As long as a song is as good as Love Tick I can't complain too loudly. This is a really good rock song. There's an album coming up, 'Stop And Take A Minute', also released on 8 May.

Speeding Up Faster. The Mono Kids

The Mono Kids from Eindhoven are moving up in the world, as its latest single Speeding Up Faster is released through the U.K.'s Dammit Records as part of its 'Dam-Nations (mix tape)'. Of course The Mono Kids do what they are good at. The duo plays punk rock and roll and if necessary in overdrive. Speeding Up Faster does the title right. It's over before you know it. Michel is singing as if he had a bad meal earlier that evening. The words spew truly powerfully from his mouth. The drums are whacking like they should: rhythm and major filling up musical space all at once. The distorted guitar does the rest. What the listener is left with, is the sense of an electrical shock to the brain and with the sheer need to play Speeding Up Faster again and again and again.

She Comes Again. Ape Hangers

In the summer of 2025 Ape Hangers returned after a long hiatus with the EP 'This Is It'. Come spring 2026 and  the band is back with a new single called She Comes Again. Once again the band hits the nail on the head. Pete Sjostedt (guitars/vocals), Bob Kiah (bass/vocals) and Dennis McCarthy (drums) present a grunge ballad that both has a touch of tenderness in it and a bite. Comparison wise I would opt for Foo Fighters as Ape Hangers can explode out of nothing as well. She Comes Again is a song that is instantly recognisable and in all universes except this one dominated by the like Taylor Swift, etc., this would be a huge hit. This is one hell of a grunge ballad.

Mystic Chords Of Memory. Upupayãma

Some fuzz toned music from the Fuzz Club label. Upupayãma's latest single is a mix of dreamy psychedelia and an exploding nightmare in one. The Italian project of Alessio Ferarri, live a six piece band, called Upupayãma is on route to deliver a new album, 'Honesty Flowers' (29 May) and delivers quite the statement. The song goes off in many directions. With just a little imagination it is possible to hear a Santana like groove from 1969, at the beginning and end of the song. There is some singing with a dreamy voice as well, supported by a wah wah guitar making it all just a little more psychedelic, not unlike The Stone Roses were capable of. However, it seems more like an excuse to be able to go into the stratosphere with that fuzz solo. Ferarri does not hold back here. Mystic Chords Of Memory is quite the statement.

So Long. The Spongetones

The song title 'So Long' will always bring me to the Fischer Z single from the very early 80s. Nothing is going to change that. Not even the nice pop single of The Spongetones, a band that started not that much after Fischer Z did. Pop I wrote, as this So Long comes close to a Paul McCartney song from once upon a long time ago. Slightly melancholy but with a touch of lightness in the music that will make the average popmusic lover prick up his or her ears. From the soft beginning, the band turns into a rock song anyway. From the voices it is obvious that this is not a band with young musicians. They do manage to attain that pop feel in the harmonies, that makes a song special. The song tinkles in all the right places, even after it is toned down again, mimicking its start.

I Ate A Sandwich. The Eradicats

This might just be the first song about eating disorder that I'm reviewing. Bass player Kristi Who shares that she ate a sandwich without fear for the first time in a long time. I sincerely hope that it was her first of many. As this is a blog focusing on music, let's put our attention on the song. In my ears it sounds inspired by 1980s indie pop bands, that had a revival in later decades. That gives the song a punky underside while delivering a pop feel in the lightness with which I Ate A Sandwich is presented. The guitar sound is light but has definitely heard the guitarists of The Velvet Underground, to give an example. The tempo is what gives the song a punky feel. I Ate A Sandwich is my introduction to The Eradicats from Kansas City, Missouri. Send me more when the time is there, please.

O’ Evangeline featuring Sade Sanchez. The Underground Youth

You have to go back close to three years to find Berlin's The Underground Youth on this blog, with the single I Thought I Understood. The post tells you about 80s doom and gloom. O' Evangeline is far less easy to capture. The song has the same kind of mix as 'I Ate A Sandwich' by The Eradicates has (see above here). The guitars sound light despite the melancholy vibe the whole song holds. Craig Dyer sings with L.A. Witch's Sade Sanchez who lends her voice to this duet, determining a large part of the mood of O' Evangeline. Both singers are able to sing in the same kind of tone. This fact sets the way the song sounds. The The Cure style guitar playing brings the song to the 1980s, but without the doom and gloom of the years. Making the song very attractive to listen to. Don't forget to notice the dreamy interlude!

Requiem. Dishes

We close this week's singles post with a punk song from The Netherlands. Dishes has recently released its debut album, 'Drama'. I have not gotten around listening to it yet, but Requiem is telling me that it might be a smart thing to do and soon. Dishes is a band from Amsterdam and Leiden and started in 2021. The result of its years of working towards the release of Requiem has given the band the ability to play fast without losing the quality of melody and variety. The two guitars play off of each other in a great way. Interchanging rhythm and melody, while the drummer just keeps pounding away in the best Mo Tucker tradition. Again, I notice the way Dishes is also able to have the light and the shade in its single. Both sides are divided equal. I had not heard of the band before today but it is certainly worthwhile checking out.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

The Former Site Of. The New Pornographers

The band with one of the most outrageous names out there returns with a new album, The Former Site Of. I'll be be honest. Despite me being enthusiastic about the single 'Votive' a few weeks ago, I was disappointed listening to the album for the first time. Quite often my ears betray me while listening to a new album and that proved to be true giving the album a second and third chance.

My encounter with The New Pornographers came through A.C. Newman's solo album 'The slow Wonder' from 2004. From there I followed the band's career, saw a great live show in the old Tivoli in Utrecht. Come 2026, it may be that I've missed an album here and there. Not so The Former Site Of.

The new album is not an overly exciting one. The New Pornographers are more thorough than exciting today. The vocals are exquisite, the arrangements certainly decent with surprises here and there. It's the combination that really works and what makes the band so attractive to listen to.

Besides Newman today the band exists of Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey, with session drummer Charley Drayton joining the band in the studio. Calder and Case sing with A.C. Newman and together they make a large part of The New Pornographers' sound. The ladies wrap their voices around Newman's and create vocal magic for most of the time. In a song like 'Spooky Action' the harmony vocals are the driving force of the melody of the song. Listening more closely and you'll find that a lot more is happening. That bass line is certainly worthwhile following, just like that meandering synth.

I'm sure that a lot of attention was given to the arrangements of the songs, but in a lot of songs the less is more principle was applied as well. Songs are relatively bare. That caused me to think at first The Former Site Of was a bit boring. The attraction is in the details and to hear them the listener needs to pay attention. It pays off abundantly to do so.

The New Pornographers are still called a supergroup. A band that is around for 29 years is a band in its own right. Most supergroups from the past were around for one album before they disbanded, often due to personal differences. The Canadians are still around and hopefully they will be for many more to come. And that single, 'Votive'? That is the price song of The Former Site Of as far as I'm concerned.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order The Former Site Of here:

https://thenewpornos.bandcamp.com/album/the-former-site-of 

Drama. Dishes

Wow! Put Drama on and within 10 seconds Dishes will have blown you off your feet. After the sole guitar intro of 'Machine Learning' the band pushes the pedal in right to the metal and in principal only takes it off when the final second of the record is fading out off my ears.

Only a few days ago, I encountered single 'Requiem' and wrote a small post for the singles section (see coming Sunday). Listening to 'Requiem' I knew instantly that I had to listen to Drama, fast. Here is the result of several listening sessions since.

Yes, I may have heard albums like Drama before but seldom has a band convinced me with the ease that Dishes has. The energy shared with the listener is enough to burn down the house from full overload of all the systems. The band simply does not let go of its listeners.

The band formed in 2021 and comes from both Amsterdam and Leiden. It's members are Shireen (van Dorp), vocals, Swaan, bass and background vocals, Kim, guitar and background vocals, Jurre, guitar and Eric, drums. After a few singles, the band released its debut album a few weeks ago.

To me, it doesn't make sense to pick out a few songs. Why? Nearly all songs go off and keep up a huge pace and loads of power from the first to the very last second. What stands out, is the clear voice of singer Shireen that always is in command of the band. Whether this works out live just as well, I can't tell (yet). In the mix Shireen is always on top of the music, so that her lyrics can be followed for the whole of the way, while the band is hacking away, grinding everything in its place. It's a good thing, as she has several messages she wants to share with us. Don't worry, the lead guitar has its moments too, making the album even better.

Should you like a comparison, then only one band comes to mind: traumahelikopter and only in its best, up tempo songs at that. Dishes manages to capture that same sort of energy and keep it up for the whole of the record.

In the past say seven, eight, years I have heard many good (post-)punk bands coming out of The Netherlands but never has a band convinced me of its quality so instantly as Dishes has. And yes, that includes Tramhaus, Marathon, Slow Worries, etc. Drama is an absolutely top album and one of the best releases of 2026 so far.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Drama here:

https://dishes.bandcamp.com/album/drama 

The Secret To Good Living. Hiding Places

Hiding Places is a band from Brooklyn, N.Y. The band is announced as indierockers, but you will encounter a few flavours of indierock on the album. From shoegaze and grunge to slowcore and everything in between. Just as easily I'm remembered of Hole, without the vocal antics, as of Veruca Salt and even Low. Hiding Places captures all these different musical outings and moods on The Secret Of Good Living.

It is the debut album of Hiding Places, following an EP from 2024 called 'Lesson'. The band is a four-piece consisting of Audrey Keelin, Henry Cutting, Nicholas Byrne, and Michael Matsakis, with Keelin and Byrne alternating as lead vocalist. The band members all moved from rural Georgia to Brooklyn to come together, rehearse and record the first album, which is followed by a tour.

The album opens with a riff bringing Blur's 'Beetlebum' to mind, to change tack becoming its own song fast. 'Dead Dove (Your Love Was Never A Waste Of Time)' is a grungy song, with distorted guitars that spring to the fore first. Listening deeper, it becomes clear that the song breathes despite the huge sound of the two guitars (off and on some more). The huge opening riffs do not completely deliver, as the song tones down somewhat halfway. It opens itself up as it were, making the song more interesting to listen to. Audrey Keelin opens as lead singer. She is able to share uncertainty as well as convince all at once with her voice.

'Dead Dove (Your Love Was Never A Waste Of Time)' is a bellwether for the rest of the album. The band loves to share different sides to itself. Second song 'Holy Roller' is a great example of how perfectly dynamics are used by Hiding Places. If I have to place 'Holy Roller' somewhere, it is in between Wednesday's rock songs and 'Death By Diamonds And Pearls' by Band of Skulls. It has the stutter rock/grunge of the latter and that well-studied sloppiness of the former. For me that makes 'Holy Roller' the price song of The Secret To Good Living.

When you go through the album, Hiding Places will surprise you a few more times. It is not afraid of putting you on the wrong foot musically, before coming back to what it is the nucleus of its music. That can include the use of an organ that wasn't there before. You'll find some experimental music here and there. It all makes for interesting listening. You will not see me claiming The Secret To Good Living is a life-changing experience. For that the music on the album sounds too familiar. What The Secret To Good Living is, is a great and interesting debut album from a band that is honing its chops and will most likely only get better soon by playing more. If you're into indierock, Hiding Places is the band to check out next.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order The Secret To Good Living Here:

https://hidingplacesnc.bandcamp.com/album/the-secret-to-good-living-2 

Clipping. Special Friend

Indie rock of good to best quality can come from anywhere in the world today. The exclusivity of the U.S.A. and the U.K. has long been cracked by bands from other countries. A prove of point is Special Friend's third album, and first on this blog, 'Clipping'.

Special Friend plays that kind of sparkling indie rock that gives the songs a pop feel like a glass bubbling over when pouring Coke or beer in too fast. Right at the very start 'Paints A Picture' shows it with that bubbly guitar part that works its way throughout most of the song. Add the voices of Guillaume and Erica, who weave in and out of each other and despite the song holding a little melancholy streak, the sun starts shining instantly. (And it is in abundance while writing.)

Special Friend is an French-American duo from Paris, consisting of Erica Ashleson (drums, vocals) and Guillaume Siracusa (guitar, vocals). They alternate lead vocals, but also weave their vocals regularly, with different lyrics at that. They formed Special Friend in 2018 and with Clipping release their third album. Clipping was recorded at Studio Claudio by Alexis Fugain and Margaux Bouchaudon. Between them they decided to expand on the duo setting, making it impossible to play live what you hear on record, but all the more interesting. Just listen to the experimental 'Mustard' for example. 

Photo: Jules Vandales

The whole is an enrichment of the duo setting though. An overdubbed guitar, a synth or organ, all make the sound of the band fuller and essential. More so, because the songs of Special Friend are well above the average. They got to me during the first listening session and from there grew a little more each time. Whether more up tempo or slower like in 'Mold', where Erica Ashleson harmonises with herself, the duo always finds an angle that makes the song interesting to listen to, multiple times.

What I like especially, is how the mood of Clipping, which in general can be called light, can be changed with just a little growl of an extra guitar or just a few extra notes added to the song. With a minimum of effort, a song comes alive even more. You can find a few examples all through the album. Add a detail like this to all that already makes Clipping stand out and the band convinced me I'm listening to something special.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Clipping here:

https://specialfriend.bandcamp.com/album/clipping 

Country Dragon. Mountaineer

Mountaineer is back with a new album after 'Lewis & Clark' (2022), the third in total with '1974' (2014). The bio accompanying the album speaks of a headphone record and I am in total agreement. Country Dragon is a soft and silent album. All is downgraded to minimal accompaniment, exceptions noted. There are two ways to enjoy this album to the max. Either with a headset on or turn your speakers up to a loud volume. In both cases the music will absorb you and more or less take you over.

Marcel Hulst, who is Mountaineer, has worked for one and a half year on the record with producer Diederik van den Brandt (Aidan & the Wild), and it shows. Country Dragon is a rich album with lush arrangements. Even in its minimal setting there is so much to enjoy. Musically and vocally a lot is going on. I do not have information on who is playing on the record, but I suppose that the basis is the members of Maggie Brown, Marcel Hulst's other (or former?) band.

The album came together in a time of personal hardship, where creating music became a personal escape. Unfortunately, from the artist's point of view, it seems an artist needs hardship or unhappiness to get truly inspired. The result is often a musical high and Country Dragon is no exception. The album is of a richness that the two previous albums cannot claim. It could be that working with the Excelsior label opened possibilities that were unattainable before. An extra instrument here, an extra singer there. I was already enthusiastic about '1974' and 'Lewis & Clark'. With Country Dragon Mountaineer has gone next level. Mountaineer and Excelsior have finally found each other. It was about time in my humble opinion.

Where album 'Lewis & Clark' was named after the two famous explorers, who in 1804 travelled the whole of the U.S. from St. Louis all the way to the mouth of what we now call the Columbia River. It was all about looking forward. With Country Dragon the demise of the U.S. is the theme. The shine went off of that shiny city on the hill in the past year. Marcel Hulst has a long-time fascination with the U.S. but how to be fascinated in a positive way with what is going on there today? It's more a horrorshow. Inspiration galore though.

Promo photo

The outcome of this fascination is a beautiful record. As an example, I'm pointing you to 'Queen-Size Life'. The song starts with an intro that has a lone trumpet accompanying Hulst's acoustic guitar. It immediately sets a melancholy mood. In the verse a muted trumpet or French horn comes in. And then the ladies start singing with Marcel Hulst. Only then the band comes in and shivers run down my spine from musical pleasure. That lone piano! Just a few notes and it's enough to make an impression of sheer brilliance. What kind of music is this? Ballad pop? Folk? It doesn't matter, it's perfection. That description does it for me.

One month from now we are going to the LP presentation in De Nieuwe Anita. I'm really looking forward to hear the songs live. In the meantime, I will play this album a lot. It is one of the best in 2026 so far.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can order Country Dragon here:

https://excelsior-recordings.com/products/mountaineer-country-dragon-pre-order 

Valentine. Courtney Marie Andrews

De Amerikaanse muzikante Courtney Marie Andrews beschikt over een van de mooiste stemmen uit de Amerikaanse rootsmuziek en heeft ook met Valentine weer een indrukwekkend mooi album afgeleverd.

Met het eind 2022 verschenen Loose Future had Courtney Marie Andrews de lat wel erg hoog gelegd voor zichzelf. Ze heeft daarom de tijd genomen voor Valentine, dat deze week is verschenen. Het is een album dat wederom werd gemaakt met een klein team en dat, net als zijn voorgangers, indruk maakt met mooie en bijzondere klanken en een vakkundige productie. Ook de songs van de Amerikaanse muzikante zijn weer van hoog niveau en het zijn ook dit keer zeer persoonlijke songs. Het mooist van alles blijft echter de stem van Courtney Marie Andrews, die ook op Valentine weer prachtig zingt. Loose Future blijft een werkelijk fantastisch album, maar Valentine komt zeker in de buurt.

Courtney Marie Andrews had al meer dan een handvol albums op haar naam staan toen ik tien jaar geleden voor het eerst een album van haar hoorde. Met Honest Life trok de Amerikaanse muzikante overigens niet alleen mijn aandacht, want het album kon zowel in de Verenigde Staten als in Europa rekenen op zeer positieve recensies en werd in rootskringen liefdevol omarmd. 

Sindsdien mag Courtney Marie Andrews worden gerekend tot de smaakmakers binnen de Amerikaanse rootsmuziek. Die status dankt ze aan haar vermogen om zeer aansprekende songs te schrijven, maar vooral aan haar bijzondere mooie en gevoelige stem en aan haar zeer persoonlijke teksten. 

Na Honest Life kon ik ook May Your Kindness Remain uit 2018 en Old Flowers uit 2020 zeer waarderen, maar mijn favoriete album van Courtney Marie Andrews is het in de herfst van 2022 verschenen Loose Future. Op Loose Future werkte de muzikante uit Phoenix, Arizona, samen met producer en multi-instrumentalist Sam Evian en met muzikanten Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman) en Chris Bear (Grizzly Bear), wat een verrassend origineel klinkend rootsalbum opleverde. 

Loose Future haalde in 2022 de top 10 van mijn jaarlijstje, maar inmiddels schat ik het album nog wat hoger in. Ik was dan ook al maanden benieuwd naar het afgelopen herfst aangekondigde nieuwe album van Courtney Marie Andrews, dat deze week is verschenen. 

Op Valentine werkt de Amerikaanse muzikante samen met producer Jerry Bernhardt en dat is een naam die bij mij geen belletje deed rinkelen. Ik had na het zo succesvolle Loose Future en de twee albums die er aan vooraf gingen eigenlijk weer een producer van naam en faam verwacht, maar Jerry Bernhardt heeft prima werk geleverd. Ook Valentine is een album dat anders klinkt dan de meeste andere rootsalbums van het moment. Net als op Loose Future varieert Courtney Marie Andrews er ook op haar nieuwe album flink op los. 

De muzikante uit Phoenix, Arizona, had op haar vorige albums vaak een zwak voor folk, country en pop uit de jaren 70 en dat zijn invloeden die ook op Valentine een belangrijke rol spelen. Dat kon in het verleden nog wel eens een album opleveren dat zo was weggelopen uit de Laurel Canyon Scene van de late jaren 60 en vroege jaren 70, maar op haar nieuwe album wandelt Courtney Marie Andrews met zevenmijlslaarzen door de tijd. 

Ik ben echt zeer gecharmeerd van het geluid op Loose Future, maar ook Valentine klinkt prachtig. De songs van Courtney Marie Andrews zijn ook dit keer zeer persoonlijk en vaak behoorlijk melancholisch, maar het is geen album om somber van te worden. Valentine is over het algemeen niet zo heel ver verwijderd van zijn voorganger, al is het maar omdat de stem van de Amerikaanse muzikante de meeste aandacht trekt bij beluistering van het album. 

Courtney Marie Andrews beschikt over een uit duizenden herkenbare stem en het is een stem die ook op Valentine weer met grote regelmaat goed is voor kippenvel. Het doet me af en toe wel wat denken aan de stem van Maria McKee, maar Courtney Marie Andrews heeft absoluut een eigen geluid. Ik begon met onwaarschijnlijk hoge verwachtingen aan Valentine, maar ze zijn verrassend makkelijk waargemaakt. Erwin Zijleman

De muziek van Courtney Marie Andrews is ook verkrijgbaar via de bandcamp pagina van de Amerikaanse muzikante:

https://courtneymarieandrews.bandcamp.com/album/valentine

2025, week 14. 10 singles

Sun, wind, rain, sun, wind, rain, it's a typical Dutch early spring. In a few days it will be warm and sunny. Perhaps next week frost in the night and sleet. Who knows? What I do know is that new singles keep coming in. Here's the selection for week 14, so explore and enjoy! 

Gris EP. a.gris

The two singles released in the past few months signalled that a.gris's upcoming EP Gris could well be worth my while. Believe me, it is. As a short reminder, a. gris is Alex Delamard, singer/guitarist of Hoorsees, who has been working on a solo project under the name a.gris. This EP is his first work of art. Before I start, I refer you to the singles posts of 27 December 2025 and 1 February. That leaves me with three songs to review, the number 3 to 5 on the EP. It starts with what was released as a third single, 'Meta Piano', an alternative rock ballad. A distinctive feature is a Chinese/Japanese sounding main riff, that has a kinship to Ryuichi Sakamoto's main tune for the 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' Movie. It gives the song a totally different vibe from the two singles that precede it. 'Munchhaussen' derives his name from the "by proxy". I know Baron von Münchausen from a comic series published most likely in the 1950s or early 60s, at my grandparents'. The song 'Munchaussen' is a heavy tune, with a dark sound that lays over the song. The acoustic guitar opening takes nothing away from the brooding sound of the song. The treatment of the voice adds to it. The female voice behind Delamard brings some relief. Final song 'Gravity Rules' starts somewhat lighter with again that female voice. Not that much later the brooding mood returns, interlaced with intriguing sounds that move in and out of the song. The whole EP has a touch of emo in it but not in a way that stops me from listening. (No, I'm not a fan, exceptions allowed for.) a.gris has produced a strong EP that allows him to explore his solo work further.

Projectors. The Notwist

The Notwist is a German band that is around for longer than I care to remember, but also a band where I never found my way into. On this blog you will only find a review by Erwin Zijleman from 2021. As I tend to give singles I'm alerted to a circa 30 seconds chance to convince me, I did so with Projectors. Without too much expectation. To my surprise I heard a sort of funeral dirge entering my ears. The music is somewhere between folk and country, with an acoustic guitar as the lead instrument. With a female second voice, Enid Valu, giving the music something angelic, the song becomes infinitely more attractive. With the following line from the bio: "the lyrics ... have been written as if Rutger Hauer could have sung them in 'Blade Runner'". Yes, the song is dark enough alright. It's good thing surprises are still possible.

Romany Blue. The Bevis Frond

U.K.'s The Bevis Frond is around since like forever and it's front man, Nick Saloman, even longer. With a steady pulse the band delivers a new album and with it's upcoming album, 'Horrorful Heights' (3 April), things are no different. What may be a little different, is how accessible single Romany Blue is. It is a delightful pop ballad like they used to make them a long time ago. Only with a singer that has aged gracefully. The music, after the intro, is fairly dense mix of bass, drums and two electric guitars, the second somewhat cleaner in sound. They alternately take a few leadnotes and strum the rhythm. The solo is overdubbed and nice, really supportive of the mildly melancholy mood of Romany Blue. All together Romany Blue is a nice listening experience.

Pieces Of Time. The Riflebirds of Portland 

If I've read the message right, I'm listening to a track from 1985 from the album 'April' to be re-released this month. The Riflebirds disbanded before they could have taken off, to reunite four decades later as The Riflebirds of Portland with last year's album 'Windmills on the Moon'. I have missed both albums at the time, but judging Pieces Of Time, I have to conclude it is fantastic folk song. Singer Kate Oser (at the time Lieuallen) has a beautiful clear voice. It really resonates on this single. The band, Lee Oser (bass/vocals), Kevin Kraft (guitar), and Kevin Jarvis (drums), provide her with the space to shine in Pieces Of Time. What also strikes me is the clear sound of the recording. Marvin Etzioni can be held responsible for this. You can find him a couple of times in a different capacity on this blog. With Pieces Of Time The Riflebirds (of Portland) ought to claim their route to fame any way. The song works totally in the 2026 context.

Next To you. Dirt Road Souls

With Next To You Dirt Road Souls enter this blog for the second time. Except for the topic of the lyrics, I could repeat the gist of my previous post. Next To You is an alternative rock track with a lot of country rock influences, ergo roots rock. The band I'm reminded of immediately is San Diego's Dirty Sweet, long since disbanded. There are far more famous examples but I suggest you pick your own favourite here. Next To You can be called a rock ballad also as far as I'm concerned. It is a song with the brake on, allowing me to listen to a lot of details. For a trio, Davis Black, Rick Weden and Brian Sargent, Dirt Road Souls has a rich and clear sound. What you hear on record can not be reproduced by three on stage; too many guitars. Singer Davis Black has a voice that seems to belie his age, but sounds fantastic in Next To You. Two singles in, I sure want to hear more and that more is there in the form of the roots rock opera '(The Life and Times of) Johnny Moonshine'.

When It's Over (feat. Hemi Hemingway). Vera Ellen

Vera Ellen can be heard regularly in my home, office and car. In a fairly short time she has become one of my favourite artists from New Zealand. All thanks to the newsletter of recordshop and label Flying Nun from that country. She's even coming over this spring but not for a regular show unfortunately but a festival. With the second single of her upcoming album, 'Heaven Knows What Time' (1 May), Ms. Ellen again shows how good a musician she is, while always maintaining that sort of slacker atmosphere that always is an integral part of her songs. The dark voice of Hemi Hemingway is a beautiful counterpart to her own voice. Ater she once sung a Nancy & Lee song karaoke with him, she just knew she wanted him to sing on When It's Over. A golden choice.

Cute. Asara

In 2024 I was charmed by the Paris band Dog Park's album 'Festina Lente'. I don't know whether Dog Park is no more, but one of the ladies in the band returns on this blog under the name Asara. With Cute she releases a dreamy song that, except for the rather abrupt and unimaginative ending, is really beautiful. Asara's voice reminds me a little of Amber Arcade's Annelotte de Graaf's. They both have that quality to hover of a song, while taking me as listener in to it. This is exactly what Asara does with me. The guitar with a little reverb on it plays a nice riff all through the song, supported by a keyboard. Underneath that is a synth making rather mysterious sounds, like a sampled choir. The introduction to Asara is just about perfect. An, as yet unnamed album, is announced for the fall.

Peaceful Alibi. Other Brother Darryl

Other Brother Darryl returns to the blog with a single announcing an album called 'Hey Yeah Hey' slated for this summer. The eight piece roots band returns with a single that makes me want to take out one of my old Eagles albums. The harmonies in Peaceful Alibi get extremely close to the 1970s band's. The word peaceful may even be sung on the same notes as in one of the Eagles' songs. Enough about memories and comparisons, as Peaceful Alibi is a beautiful song in its own right. Close to a ballad, the song has its own, mid, tempo that allows all the instruments to stand out. Starting with a pedal steel that howls softly into the mountains and a great guitar solo later on. The drums sit straight in the middle supported by the bass. From there a warm organ meanders through the whole and the clear sound of an acoustic guitar can be heard, as can a piano. Over it all lie the vocals, that are the cherry on the cake Other Brother Darryl baked for us to hear. A beautiful track Peaceful Alibi is.

I Wanna Feel Pretty. Greg Mendez

The name Greg Mendez did not ring a bell, but can be found twice on this blog, once by Erwin Zijleman. He returns with a single announcing his upcoming album 'Beauty Land', released on 29 May. The title alone reminded me of Elliot Smith and then I read Erwin's opening lines from 2023 mentioning the music reminding him of same. I can be short here, the music of I Want To Feel Pretty does as well. Mendez sings in a very relaxed voicing, while sparse accompaniment joins and leaves the short song. A few piano notes here and there do the trick. For the rest Greg Mendez plays his acoustic guitar and sings his story, not necessarily a happy one. Enough to make an impression though.

Wandering Star. Haylie Davis

We end this month with another ballad. Again, it has nothing to do with classic rock ballads from the 70s and 80s. Don't expect to hear a 'I Want To Know What Love Is', to name one example. Haylie Davis presents a piano driven song that could be called an alternative version of a Billy Joel song. As far as I know, Haylee Davis is a new name to me. Based on Wandering Star the pleasure of musically meeting is all mine. With a clear voice Ms. Davis presents her single. It is somehow timeless. There's no year I can pin her song on. It is as much of today as it could be from the past. Haylie Davis is from Los Angeles and working towards releasing her debut album, 'Wandering Star' (5 June). Based on this single, the album could be quite interesting to listen to.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

Suitcase Child. ISE

Niet iedereen zal gecharmeerd zijn van de stem van de pas 19 jaar oude Belgische muzikante Ise Smeets, maar als je vatbaar bent voor de vocale uitbarstingen op het debuutalbum van ISE is het een imponerend album.

Ise Smeets won in 2024 de muziekwedstrijd De Nieuwe Lichting en wordt sindsdien gezien als een van de aanstormende talenten van de Belgische muziekscene. Dat talent komt er uit op het deze week verschenen debuutalbum van ISE. Ise Smeets is pas 19 jaar oud, maar beschikt over een verrassend rauwe stem. Het is een stem die ze ook nog eens met veel kracht en emotie gebruikt, wat van Suitcase Child een behoorlijk heftig album maakt, wat het overigens ook in tekstueel opzicht is. De jonge Belgische muzikante beschikt over een stem waar je van moet houden, maar als je vatbaar bent voor de heftige zang op haar debuutalbum, is het een album dat behoorlijk wat indruk maakt.

ISE, hier en daar ook geschreven als ise, is het alter ego van de Belgische singer-songwriter Ise Smeets. De pas 19 jaar oude muzikante uit het Belgische Bree dook twee jaar geleden op en maakte direct een onuitwisbare indruk met haar wat rauwe en emotievolle stem. Deze week verscheen haar debuutalbum Suitcase Child, waarvan de titel verwijst naar het heen en weer worden geslingerd tussen de huizen van haar gescheiden ouders. 

Ise Smeets is misschien pas 19 jaar oud, maar ze weet precies wat ze wil. Suitcase Child is in eigen beheer uitgebracht en op het album heeft de Belgische singer-songwriter zich omringd met door haar zelf geselecteerde muzikanten, waaronder een aantal leden van The Haunted Youth, en de ook van Selah Sue bekende producer Dries Henderickx. 

Op haar debuutalbum staat Ise Smeets stil bij haar jeugd, waarin de scheiding van haar ouders een belangrijke rol speelde. Het is een persoonlijk en vaak behoorlijk heftig album geworden en het is wat mij betreft een album dat diepe indruk maakt of dat je absoluut niet trekt. 

Dat heeft alles te maken met de stem van de Belgische muzikante. In de eerste reacties die op het Internet zijn verschenen wordt de stem van Ise Smeets met veel superlatieven geprezen of juist met veel kracht verafschuwt, een tussenweg lijkt er bijna niet te zijn. Ik kan me daar wel iets bij voorstellen, want de Belgische singer-songwriter beschikt over een behoorlijk heftige stem en zingt bovendien zeer expressief. 

Voor iemand van slechts 19 jaar oud beschikt Ise Smeets over een verrassend ruwe en doorleefd klinkende stem en het is bovendien een stem met veel emotie. Het is een stem die over het algemeen met veel kracht wordt gebruikt en bovendien is voorzien van een snik, die het geheel nog wat expressiever maakt. 

Ik kan me goed voorstellen dat de stem van de Ise Smeets flink tegen de haren instrijkt, maar zelf vind ik de zang op Suitcase Child mooi en indrukwekkend. Dat is op zich bijzonder, want ik hou meestal van zangeressen die goed weten te doseren en vooral kiezen voor ingetogen zang. Dat laatste doet ISE maar af en toe, want het grootste deel van haar tijd zingt ze met veel power. 

Ook als ze ingetogen zingt is de zang op Suitcase Child best heftig, maar het deed eigenlijk direct wat met mij en na enige gewenning vind ik de stem van ISE nog wat mooier. De stevig aangezette zang en de flinke dosis emotie in de zang voorzien Suitcase Child van een eigen gezicht en voorzien de songs van de jonge muzikante van een bijzondere lading. 

Het zijn songs die niet in alle gevallen even opzienbarend zijn, maar door de karakteristieke zang maakt ISE er iets bijzonders van. De muzikanten die haar omringen sluiten fraai aan bij de stem van de Belgische muzikante door ook de instrumentatie op het album af en toe stevig aan te zetten en bovendien te zorgen voor flink wat dynamiek in de muziek. 

ISE werd geboren in het huidige millennium, maar in muzikaal opzicht is ze vooral een kind van de jaren 90, waarin de wijze waarop ze haar stem gebruikt vaker voor kwam. Suitcase Child is zeker geen perfect debuut, maar voor een 19-jarige muzikante vind ik het een bijzonder knap debuut en met een stem als die van Ise Smeets zit er nog veel meer in. Het muziekjaar 2026 opent met een kleine handvol uitstekende albums en Suitcase Child van ISE is er wat mij betreft een van.

Erwin Zijleman

Drifter (/ Moon Dogs). Dreamwave

Bristol's Dreamwave has not released a regular album but two EPs in one, one called Drifter and one called Moon Dogs, and released them as one LP. As I've already reviewed Moon Dogs on 25 May 2025, I'm going to focus on Drifter here.

The EP just shoots out of its starting block like 100 meter sprinters do. Holding breath and just sprint to the finish line without thinking. Single 'Moon Buggy' is a party of a psychedelic song that slowly comes together turning into this tight rocker. The drums focus on the floor tom and hi-hat making the rhythm something that just goes on and on forever. (Don't worry, Dreamwave is not only aware of dynamics but knows how to use them successfully as well.). It turns 'Moon Buggy' into a huge musical party. If they are able to play this live successfully, there will not be a lot of people able to resist this invitation to dance and jump around.

'Web Weaver' is just as energetic. At the same time Dreamwave manages to weave a web filled with a dreamy atmosphere into its psychrock. The listener has to pay attention, as the band is going for it, but it is there for certain. The little psych stuff and the sound of the organ take care of it. Don't forget to listen to the bass part played by Grant Organ in the intro, as it really stands out.

'Space Debris' starts as a ballad. Psychedelia is let in a little more obviously, because the driving force of the rhythm is noticeable behind the balladry. American band The Black Angels come to mind, in a lighter version of e.g. its 'Death Song'. But also Small Faces and other 60s psych-pop-rockers. Dreamwave takes us on a trip around the sun at "the speed of light". 'Space Debris' shows another face of the band successfully. We may think we are float ingthrough space, drummer Alex Andrews keeps us on course. He is a strong force for Dreamwave.

When keyboard player Hester Batting starts supporting singer/guitarist Ben Symons on vocals, that is the moment when heaven must be missing an angel. Her voice adds this extra layer of psych to the band, but only because of the way her voice is mixed into this whole. It lends an otherworldly quality to Dreamwave's music. In 2025 I wrote "when I'm hearing Hester Battin sing again, I'm remembered of the only time I fell in love with a girl because of her voice coming though speakers far away at the Parkpop festival in The Hague in 1985 of 86 festival, Lorraine McIntosh of Deacon Blue." Once again, Hester Battin has this effect on me.

Single 'Over You' is another huge psych rock song that ought to attract all lovers of psych rock in spades. Great riffing, great solo, great pulse. You get the picture, right?

The EP ends with a ballad and a rather weird one. Almost jazzy, bare with only an electric guitar and Symons and Battin singing. For the whole time I'm waiting for the band to come in. Does it? You will have to find out for yourself.

With Drifter Dreamwave again put itself on my radar. The band is touring this fall. Let's hope they play not too far from here.  

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Drifter / Moon Buggy here:

https://dreamwaveoffical.bandcamp.com/album/drifter 

Concerns Of Wasps And Willows. The Corner Laughers

The Corner Laughers is one of the weirdest band names I've encountered over the past decades. Based on the music the band presents us, I can image the members laughing all the way home from the sheer joy of playing it.

How to describe this music? The Corner Laughers blends a host of influences into its songs that all together make me want to listen more, besides putting on a smile to my state of mind. It's the kind of music that makes me feel happy instantly. Somehow it is a perfect blend of U.K. and U.S. pop from long ago.

The Corner Laughers are from northern California and consists of Karla Kane (vocals, ukulele), Khoi Huynh (bass, vocals and more), KC Bowman (guitar, vocals and more) and Charlie Crabtree (drums). Together they manage to create a lightness in their sound as if gravity does not exist and there isn't a worry left in the world. Some might call this escapism, but I'm certain that is not the driving force behind The Corner Laughers. The members must love it to find the best elements for a song and putting them into a transparent arrangement and mix.

It all starts with the voice of Karla Kane. On the one hand it's mature and not only because this is not a young woman singing. The maturity comes through in her timbre. On the other hand it has this innocence that shines through in the way she is able to sing, while remaining instantly convincing. The male voices behind her manage to sing with a lightness that underscores both Ms Kane and the touch of the band's music. It brings songs like 'Frank Mills', a hit over here for singer Bojoura in 1969 and Lulu's 'Boom Bang-a-Bang' that co-won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 to mind. Pure pop, blending the U.S. and U.K., like I said.

Press photo

The music has a pop vibe as well from a time when a part of the pop music was full of innocence. Let me give you one example that stands out for me. It's in a song that is different, because of the following. The way the piano, played by Octavia Kane, is played on 'Crumb Clean', adds that touch of innocence. It reminds me of the way the piano was used in the romantic singles of The Kinks from circa 1966-67. You will hear the folk and country influences in the soft-toned lead lines of the guitar. Concerns Of Wasps And Willows brings so much to mind, that my head is nearly reeling but before all pleased by what I'm hearing. The Corner Laughers just do things right on this album. 

Single 'Rainbow Cardigan' was the band's debut on this blog and made me want to hear more. That more is now hear and I'm quite content to have invested time in the album. Up tempo or a little more slower and sad, the songs are made in great taste and with a fantastic pop feel. The band may sound totally anachronistic in the modern music landscape, but when a record is good, it's good. Sometimes a conclusion is at simple as that.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Concerns Of Wasps And Willows here:

https://cornerlaughers.bandcamp.com/album/concerns-of-wasp-and-willow 

The Gaya II Space Corps. Motorpsycho

It becomes ever harder to write anything inventive on a new Motorpsycho album. Almost like clockwork a new album is unleashed into the world. At the same time there is no reason to doubt that the album will at least be as good as the previous one. The opening sequence of The Gaya II Space Corps album is so strong and overwhelming that my brain tells me the following within a few seconds: Yes, Motorpsycho!, it's good!, it's invigorating!, you want to listen to this!!! The rest of the album delivers, in spades.

But where is my unique angle? Even after several listening sessions I simply do not know. Yes, I could start comparing to previous albums or repeat how I have encountered the band circa 2001 and mention the great live shows I've seen over the years. Should I go into the influences I hear here and there in the new songs, as the band obviously is good at taking a certain sound or artist and write a new song around this vantage point? I could do it all, but it would not add to all I've written before in the past 25 years.

Is it enough to just say that The Gaya II Space Corps rocks my world every time I listen to it? That it is a rich album, filled with great songs, fiery guitar solo's and stark rhythms and even a sort of folk ballad? I think it suffices, as that is exactly what this album is and Motorpsycho presents. The Gaya II Space Corps album is a great addition to the Motorpsycho catalogue, that will please all fans. For those who are not yet but love alternative rock with some loud rocking prog and 60s influences, can better start checking the band out now. You have tons to catch up on.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

You can listen to and order The Gaya II Space Corps here:

https://motorpsycho.bandcamp.com/album/the-gaia-ii-space-corps 

Everywhere Isn’t Texas. August Ponthier

August Ponthier is een non-binaire muzikant uit Brooklyn, New York, die met Everywhere Isn’t Texas een groots debuutalbum heeft afgeleverd, dat niet alleen een briljant popalbum is, maar ook een fraai singer-songwriter album.

Ik had de naam August Ponthier nog nooit gehoord, maar wat ben ik onder de indruk van het deze week verschenen Everywhere Isn’t Texas. De Amerikaanse muzikant uit Brooklyn schaart zich met dit debuutalbum wat mij betreft in één klap onder de grote beloften van de popmuziek van het moment. De muziek van August Ponthier heeft raakvlakken met de muziek van Chappell Roan en ik hoor ook veel van Taylor Swift, maar Everywhere Isn’t Texas laat ook een fris popgeluid horen met veel invloeden uit de country en de folk. Je hebt soms van die albums met songs die je onmiddellijk koestert en Everywhere Isn’t Texas van August Ponthier is zo’n album. Hier gaan we nog veel van horen.

Ik weet nog dat ik in de herfst van 2023 voor het eerst naar het net verschenen debuutalbum van Chappell Roan luisterde. Na één keer horen wist ik niet alleen dat het een sensationeel goed popalbum was, maar wist ik ook zeker dat Chappell Roan een wereldster zou gaan worden. Ik had gisteren een vergelijkbaar gevoel bij beluistering van Everywhere Isn’t Texas van August Ponthier. 

Het is een album dat deze week eigenlijk alleen door de alternatieve Amerikaanse muziekwebsite Pitchfork wordt gepromoot als een van de memorabele nieuwe albums van deze week, maar ik weet zeker dat het debuutalbum van August Ponthier dit jaar hoge ogen gaat gooien en de popmuziek er zeer binnenkort een grote ster bij heeft. 

August Ponthier groeide op in Texas en had in de Amerikaanse Bible Belt een jeugd waarin worstelingen met gender en seksualiteit centraal stonden. De Amerikaanse muzikant verruilde een voorstad van Dallas uiteindelijk voor Brooklyn, New York, en identificeerde zichzelf als non-binair persoon en queer. 

In tekstueel opzicht heeft Everywhere Isn’t Texas wel wat raakvlakken met het debuutalbum van Chappell Roan, al zijn haar teksten een stuk explicieter dan die van August Ponthier, die voor slechts één van de songs op het album een waarschuwing voor expliciete teksten heeft gekregen op Spotify. 

In muzikaal opzicht maakt August Ponthier andere keuzes dan Chappell Roan. Beiden maken pure pop, maar August Ponthier laat ook een voorliefde voor Amerikaanse rootsmuziek horen. Veel songs op Everywhere Isn’t Texas laten invloeden uit de folk en de country horen, maar August Ponthier maakt er uiteindelijk wel popsongs van. 

Als ik vergelijkingsmateriaal moet aandragen kom ik vooral bij Taylor Swift uit. Niet eens zozeer vanwege het countrypop verleden van Taylor Swift, want ik hoor vooral invloeden uit de meer pop georiënteerde songs van de Amerikaanse superster, die ook over het vermogen beschikt om songs te schrijven die je na één keer horen niet meer vergeet.

Ik had de naam August Ponthier (voorheen Allison Ponthier) echt nog nooit gehoord, maar de Amerikaanse muzikant timmert al even aan de weg op TikTok, dat zich buiten mijn muzikale universum bevindt. Het verklaart dat een aantal aansprekende songwriters uit Nashville en Los Angeles hebben bijgedragen aan de songs op het album. 

Everywhere Isn’t Texas is geproduceerd door Matthew Neighbour, die niet dezelfde status heeft als de grote popproducers van het moment, maar al wel fraai werk afleverde voor onder andere Lord Huron, Soccer Mommy en Julia Stone. Het levert een album vol lekker in het gehoor liggende songs op en het zijn in de meeste gevallen ook aansprekende songs, die ook na meerdere keren horen nog leuk blijven. 

August Ponthier trekt zelf de meeste aandacht met een aantal persoonlijke songs over een ingewikkelde jeugd en een mooie stem, die makkelijk verleidt, maar die ook over voldoende diepgang en gevoel beschikt. Het levert een geweldig popalbum op, maar het knappe van Everywhere Isn’t Texas is wat mij betreft dat het debuutalbum van August Ponthier zich ook laat beluisteren als een knap singer-songwriter album met voldoende invloeden uit de folk en de country. 

Het debuutalbum van August Ponthier kwam, net als het debuutalbum van Chappell Roan tweeënhalf jaar geleden, voor mij compleet uit de lucht vallen, maar wat heb ik nu al een zwak voor dit album en de rek is er nog lang niet uit. August Ponthier wordt een ster, let maar op!

Erwin Zijleman

 

Je kunt Everywhere Isn’t Texas hier luisteren en bestellen:

https://augustponthier.bandcamp.com/album/everywhere-isn-t-texas 

2025, week 13. 10 singles

After a week that contained more sadness than I'd ever wish upon anyone, here is some new music for you to enjoy, like I have to set my mind to encounter more positive things. Spring and summertime are upon us once again and I look forward to the lengthening days and long evenings. Like I'm looking forward to all that great music to be released in the coming weeks and months, with some live shows as well.

Brand New Me. Robert Ellis Orrall

Sometimes a song is released that while hearing them for the first time it seems that they have been around like forever. Brand New Me, a recent single by Robert Ellis Orrall is one of them. You could have fooled me into believing the song was released in the 1970s, 80s or 90s, but just never heard me by me at the time. In 2026 the song sounds just as fresh, as this artist pretends he is Heart, Gin Blossoms and Dan Baird in one. From the modest intro riff it's clear Robert Ellis Orrall brings us back to the time where folk, rock, indie and countryrock went into a blender and produced songs like 'Magic Man' and 'I Love You, Period'. Brand New Me can be added to these two examples and all others you can think of yourself while listening to this track. Brand New Me is a delightful song, Album 'Wonderland' is out since 27 February.

Mary Anne. Magic Castles

With second single Mary Anne of the upcoming album 'Realized' (24 April) Magic Castles makes to WoNoBlog for the first time. Mary Anne is a song that mixes pop, rock and a light touch of psychedelia with faint traces of the 1960s psych and pop era. The guitar solo presented here was totally unthinkable back in those days. The Minneapolis based band, that is around since the early 2000s, is not attracting your attention in a very obvious way. Mary Anne is the kind of song that comes to you slowly, like in waves, through all the well-thought out additions in the arrangement, while singer (and guitarist) Jason Edmonds sings with his soft voice lauding the woman 'whose mind he's trying to read'. In one of the waves this subtle yet very nice guitar solo sprouts forwards, topping the song off. Mary Anne is a song very much worth while getting to know.

Rewrite History EP. Fit

One of Rotterdam's Mattan Records' latest signings is the band Fit. Today the band releases its first EP on Mattan, second in total, which does make it to this blog. Fit hooks up to that very long train called postpunk. In 2026 that means that it becomes important to be distinctive. So many Dutch bands have come and also gone in the past circa eight, nine years that I've started to develop an interest in the genre again, after the wave with Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys fizzled out. Fit consist of Ide Ploeg (voice, synths), Oscar van Cruchten and Maas van Rijsbergen (guitars), Roman van Rookhuizen (bass) and Mink Huurmans (drums). With that distinction you'll find the band is more than on the right side. From postpunk in general and more specifically 'Little Something', a track Maxïmo Park would be proud of, to more danceable tracks where a hint is given to Chefs' Special, you can find it all on Rewrite History. Fit is able to add more than enough energy and youthful exuberance to its mix, making the songs fully their own. Rewrite History is not an earth shattering experience. What it is, is a very good EP that I will want to play more often for certain, to get to know the five songs better. There is no reason to doubt why Fit should not be able to follow the route ex-labelmates The Vices have taken.

Dreams I've Had. tofusmell

O.k., I'm convinced. Reincarnation exists. Elliot Smith has returned to earth and sort of starts again where he left off when his life tragically ended. No, just kidding. tofusmell is singer-songwriter Ray Chen from Winnipeg by way of Orlando, Florida. Anyone listening to Dreams I've Had will agree with me that, at least on his single, as I have not anything else by tofusmell yet, Elliot Smith's ghost is prominently present. The soft whispering, modest voice is there. The way the song transforms from an indiefolk/singer-songwriter song into an alternative folkrock song, including the addition of a dirty lead guitar. Ray Chen does it all in a very good way and in good taste. Nobody will ever write a better song in this genre than Elliot Smith's 'Pretty (Ugly Before)', but besides this point Dreams I've Had convinces me totally. Debut album 'All My Time' releases on 24 April.

Place Memory. Cape Crush

The title song of Cape Crush's upcoming album (1 May) finds its way to this blog, making it the band's second entry. And again, The Beths entered my mind instantly. Despite that the differences between the two bands are obvious, it's there any way. It is in the way singer Ali Lipman frases here words, turns her vocal's chord changes and in the background vocals. The Beths is one of my absolute favourite bands of this decade, so being compared to them is not a bad thing in my book. Place Memory rocks in the way alternative bands do. Cape Crush adds a golden melody to its rock and combines it with endless vocal lines that are all over Place Memory. Layers of them, making the song stand out totally. Bring me more, Cape Crush!

Anyone. Joan as Policewoman

Twenty years ago, I wrote about Joan Wasser's solo project Joan as Policewoman in the old magazine predating the blog by eleven years. 'Real Life' made Joan as Policewoman one of my favourite new artists at the time, just like she became for my then girlfriend, now wife. We saw her several times life in concert in Amsterdam and The Hague. And then, somehow, she slipped from my attention and her she is back announcing the 20 year anniversary version of 'Real Life' with the release of Anyone as a single and once again I'm immediately drawn into the jazzy tune. Anyone is the musical equivalent of a day where you do not have to do anything else but relax. Just lying around or reading a book. Anyone is the kind of song that I just want to listen to and not have to do anything else. It is beautiful and then some. 

Nobody's Heroes. The Menzingers

You will have to go back to the very first months of this blog to encounter The Menzingers. In April 2012 'On The Impossible Past' featured on the blog. I wrote about punk pop and a likeness to The Hold Steady. What the band produced in the past fourteen years, I don't know. Today I've encountered Nobody's Heroes and decided to write about it. The band, no longer young men, kicks the song off with an acoustic guitar and an organ, before the band kicks in. There's not much of punk to be found. There's certainly a hint of emo in the vocal delivery. The music is more alternative rock like they used to make around 2000 in the U.S. with just a lighter touch to the sound bringing the band closer to e.g. Gin Blossoms. The combination works well, because it makes singer (and guitarist) Greg Barnett's voice and vocal delivery stand out more. The music is serving, adequate and simply nice.

Cool Job. Telehealth

One more time machine on the blog. Seattle band Telehealth debuts on this blog with a song that is as odd as it is danceable and slightly infectious. A song like Talking Heads and many bands following it, like in the 00s Franz Ferdinand could have made. I'm not even going to mention the bands that sprouted this decade. For me the source is Talking Heads and let's stick there. Telehealth has all the things in place that allows for comparisons. The odd sounding rhythm, the guitar lines that are as weird as they are full of rhythm. The lyrics that seemingly are randomly generated and sang in a way that is somewhere between declaration and song. Did I mention that it works? It does and there is an album coming up. 'Green World Image' releases on 15 May. I've heard enough to want to hear more.

Over You. Dreamwave

Dreamwave returns to the blog with a song that lands somewhere in the middle of alternative rock, alternative pop and psychedelic rock. Over You manages to hold a 1960s psych and garage rock vibe and mixes it with The Black Angels on a good day, something the Austin band seldom to never has and Green Day exuberance. The result is a tremendously upbeat song that invites to dance to and sing-along with. The guitar riff may be standard for the genre, it makes Over You come totally alive. The female voice supporting the singer, gives Over You a party feeling as well. The Bristol based band has released two EPs at once, 'Moon Dogs' and 'Drifter' on 20 March. 

Born To Kill. Social Distortion

In 2004 I bought my first Social Distortion cd, 'Sex, Love And Rock & Roll'. The first four songs on that album are so fantastic. Then I found out that the band was around already for over 20 years. That makes over 40 today. And yes, Mike Ness' voice is definitely not one of a young man. The energy put into Born To Kill is phenomenal though and brings me in a good mood immediately. This song is one of a band on a mission but has nothing left to prove. Born To Kill is like a shot of adrenalin, immediately energising the senses and body into action. I would not recommend moshpits for the fans of the first hour but with a song like this the band ought pick up punk lovers of all ages. The song goes out with a banger of a guitar solo as well. Album 'Born To Kill' will be released on 8 May.

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