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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.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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