JoosTVD - 196tree (2024) Hi-Res

A new album from JoosTVD! This singer-songwriter and do-it-yourselfer Joost van Dinther, a.k.a. The Vanishing Dutchman, has set itself to release a new album every year. And every time he surprises with high-quality songs that reflect all kinds of influences, such as the warm Kevin Ayers sound through Joost's vocals, cocktail jazz, Bee Gees disco, fusion, Frank Zappa, Steely Dan...

His new album opens with the ingenious “triple-step-jump” funk of Keep The Temperature Down. Full of lazy grooves that stumble over each other but still keep swinging.

Then it's time for the samba in The Dark. Joost's vocals make this song sound as if Kevin Ayers is trying his hand at samba, with good results and a cocktail in his hand. The Bee Gees disco sound is put through the wringer by Joost in That Freaking Disco, resulting in a grooving Steely Dan-like sound. Voyage Of Vanity is a soothing cocktail jazz song driven by lazy electronic rhythms.

The viciously pumping and funky, The Girl Not The Blues is full of angular grooves and fusion influences. Joost's intimate side is featured in the Michael Franks-like soul jazz song When Blue Turns To Gray. City In The Sea is an instrumental floating syn-pop song in the best Yellow Magic Orchestra tradition. Speaking of the Yellow Magic Orchestra…Sakamoto is a respectful and atmospheric tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto.

In 196Tree, Joost lets 60's pop pass by, crooning. After the guitar instrumental Flower In A Flame, Joost closes his album with the hopping funky Zoo Or Zen.

Once again JoosTVD delivers an excellent, unique, quality album. I'm already looking forward to the 2025 album!