Dutch singer Geri van Essen is killing it softly on her new album Cleaned the Windows. She has been living in London for more than a decade now and has internalized the output of the UK folk boom in the sixties and early seventies. Her dreamy vocals are filled with melancholy and curiosity, as she contemplates getting older (23/32) or deals with solitude (Spelling Lonely).
She recorded the demos at home, after which musician, mixer and label owner Stefan Breuer came in to add more instruments and a wealth of guest players. The core - her vocals, piano and guitar - remained intact in the process. Van Essen has a lot to say, without raising her voice. Cleaned the Windows is like a gentle Summer breeze - highly enjoyable and reinvigorating.
Geri van Essen; vocals, Spanish guitar (except 5), percussion (6), piano (1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
Stefan Breuer: electric guitar (1, 2, 5, 10), bass (except 6, 7, 8), keys (except 7, 8), percussion (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10), drums (1, 2, 5, 10), backing vocals (2, 6, 10)
Anneke Nieuwdorp: keys (10)
Elizabeth Clough violin (4)
Gavin Taylor clarinet (5)
James Gilder euphonium (5)
Jim Moreton electric guitar (3)
Keren Lloyd backing vocals (6)
Rachel Finegan trumpet (10)
Stefan Breuer: electric guitar (1, 2, 5, 10), bass all (except 6, 7, 8), keys (except 7, 8), percussion (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10), drums (1, 2, 5, 10), backing vocals (2, 6, 10)
Cleaned the Windows is released on Tiny Room Records (CD, digital). Release date: April 22.
Tracks:- Two Strangers
- I Waved, You Waved
- Spelling Lonely
- 23/32
- For the Singing
- A New June
- In the Morning
- Count the Days
- The Sun Moves Around
- Words
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