maandag 31 maart 2014

Wow, great review from Nathan (Wasser-Prawda)!

So glad with this. Some feedback! He (Nathan Nörgel) knows his way with words and you have to read carefully to fully understand the german symbolic meanings he gives of various songs. So I'll give you a "not so perfect" translation after. If you understand it, tell me! If you don't, well I can try to explain!

"I Mimic Me" Review in Wasser-Prada

Original:
Auch auf seinem bislang zehnten (wie immer nur rein digital veröffentlichten) Album, bleibt der niederländische Songwriter Joos TVD alias The Vanished Dutchman vor alleim eines: unwahrscheinlich unterhaltsam. Musikalisch erkundet er auf „I Mimic Me“ so ziemlich jedes Territorium zwischen Rock, Fusion-Jazz, Pop und sogar Blues.
Mit Blues hat es der Multiinstrumentalist eigentlich nicht so. Umso überraschter war ich, als ich auf der Tracklist des neuen Albums einen Titel namens Ballroom Blues entdeckte. Doch wer jetzt auf die heiligen zwölf Takte wartet, der kennt Joos TVD schlecht. Denn das Stück über vergebliche Versuche, als jemand anderes wahrgenommen zu werden ist anfangs Rock, zwischendurch bricht es kurz in swingende Jazzgefilde auf. Und insgesamt ist das wieder ein melancholisch-humorvoller Song, wie ihn heutzutage vielleicht auch Zappa hätte schreiben können. Der Anfang von „I Mimic Me“ hatte mich da musikalisch schon mehr überrascht. Denn Stücke wie „Cowboy On The Moon“ oder „Velvet Shoes“ perlen zunächst elegant wie der jazzige Pop von Steely Dan.
Was mir besonders auffällt, ist die Melancholie der Lieder, die oft nur wenig von der Musik verstellt wird. Hier - und damit sind wir beim Titel des Albums - versucht der Künstler, sich selbst als Kind nachzuahmen. Und natürlich ist das zum Scheitern verurteilt. Was unwahrscheinlich schade ist. Denn als Erwachsener ist man bei aller Anstrengung oft nicht mehr als ein „Cowboy On The Moon“, also völlig am falschen Platz, man begeht unablässig sozialen Selbstmord, wenn man sich um die Regeln nicht schert.
Selbst die Beziehungen drohen an solchen Banalitäten zu scheitern, dass man selbst seine Katze liebt, während die Partnerin in ihren Hund vernarrt ist und die beiden Tiere sich vertragen wie Schweine und Frösche. Also wie sprichwörtlich Hund und Katze.
„I Mimic Me“ - ein tolles Album musikalisch und auch von den Texten her. Und auch wenn hier die Musik ganz dem Thema entsprechend Stile der letzten Jahrzehnte nachahmt, heißt dass noch längst nicht, dass die Stücke von Joost van Dinther nicht äußerst orginell wären. (bandcamp)

English:
On his tenth so far (as always purely digitally published) album, the Dutch songwriter Joos TVD aka The Vanished Dutchman remains: unlikely entertaining. Musically, he explored on 'I Mimic Me' pretty much every territory between rock, fusion jazz, pop and even blues. 
With blues, this multi-instrumentalist has actually not so. The more surprised I was when I discovered a title called Ballroom Blues on the tracklist of the new album. But who is now waiting for the holy twelve bars knows Joos TVD bad. Because the piece on futile attempts to be perceived as someone else's first rock, between it breaks up briefly in swinging Jazzgefilde. And overall, this is again a melancholic and humorous song, like him nowadays perhaps Zappa could have written. The beginning of 'I Mimic Me' had me as musically surprised even more. For songs like 'Cowboy On The Moon' or 'Velvet Shoes' pearls initially elegant as the jazzy pop of Steely Dan.

What I notice is the melancholy of the songs that is often adjusted only slightly from the music. Here - and brings us to the title of the album - the artist tries to imitate himself as a child. And of course, this is doomed to failure. What is unlikely shame. Because as an adult you are with all the effort often no more than a 'Cowboy On The Moon', so completely the wrong place, one commits suicide relentlessly social, if you do not care about the rules.

Even the relationships threaten to fail in such banalities that even he loves his cat, while the partner is fond of her dog and the two animals get along like pigs and frogs. So like the proverbial dog and cat.
'I Mimic Me' - a great album musically and also from the lyrics here. And even if mimicking the music here all the topic according to the style of the last few decades, that is, by no means, that the pieces of Joost van Dinther would not be extremely orginal. (Bandcamp) 

Dutch:
Op zijn tiende tot dusver (zoals altijd puur digitaal gepubliceerd) album, de Nederlandse songwriter Joos TVD aka The Vanished Nederlander blijft vooral: onwaarschijnlijk onderhoudend. Muzikaal verkende hij op 'Ik Mimic Me' vrijwel elk gebied tussen rock, fusion jazz, pop en zelfs blues.
 

Met blues, heeft het multi-instrumentalist eigenlijk niet zo. Des te meer verbaasde mij toen ik ontdekte een titel genaamd Ballroom Blues op de tracklist van het nieuwe album. Maar wie zit nu te wachten op de heilige twaalf bars dan kent die Joos TVD slecht. Omdat het stuk op vergeefse pogingen worden gezien als iemand anders eerste rock, tussen het breekt kort in swingende Jazzgefilde. En over het algemeen, dit is weer een melancholisch en humoristische lied, zoals hij tegenwoordig misschien Zappa had kunnen schrijven. Het begin van 'I Mimic Me' had mij als muzikaal verrast zelfs meer. Voor nummers als 'Cowboy On The Moon' of parels 'Velvet Shoes' aanvankelijk elegant als de jazzy pop van Steely Dan.

Wat ik merk is de melancholie van de nummers die vaak slechts in geringe mate wordt aangepast van de muziek. Hier - en brengt ons naar de titel van het album - de kunstenaar probeert zichzelf te imiteren als een kind. En natuurlijk, dit is gedoemd te mislukken. Wat is onwaarschijnlijk schande. Omdat als een volwassene je bent met al de moeite vaak niet meer dan een 'Cowboy On The Moon', zo helemaal de verkeerde plaats, een zelfmoord pleegt meedogenloos sociale, als je niet de zorg over de regels.

Zelfs de verhoudingen dreigen te mislukken in zulke banaliteiten dat zelfs hij van zijn kat houdt, terwijl de partner is dol op haar hond en de twee dieren opschieten zoals varkens en kikkers. Dus als de spreekwoordelijke hond en kat.
'Ik Mimic Me' - een goed album muzikaal en ook uit de teksten hier. En zelfs als het nabootsen van de muziek hier al het onderwerp volgens de stijl van de laatste decennia, dat wil zeggen, geenszins, dat de stukken van Joost van Dinther zou niet extreem orgineel zijn. (Bandcamp)
 
Next: I Mimic Me, the songguide

donderdag 27 maart 2014

Spread like oil...

Well, good folks of mother earth, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard that the new album arrived yesterday on Spotify. Next came iTunes. That's what I call fast delivery! Thanks to Routenote.

And now I "give it all" away (buy & links) on:

1.iTunes
2.Spotify
3.Bandcamp 
4.Noisetrade
5.Deezer
6.Amazon
7.Music.Xbox
8.Rdio
09.Emusic
10.Jamendo
11.Avaxhome
12.Southernbluesrock.blogspot
13.All about entertainment
14.Musicbay
15.Wimp

Keep checking, I'll update the links for more. It's a flat earth. Have earfun!

woensdag 26 maart 2014

Promo & Preview "I Mimic Me" 2014!

Do we really only mimic ourselves?

                                                                      Promo 2014

                                                            Preview the whole album

As you can see, the album should be online by now (yes here: Spotify  iTunes ,
the rest will follow) and if not, keep checking!

Next: I Mimic Me, the songguide

dinsdag 25 maart 2014

Copy, copy, right!


Routenote, my distribution label (spotify, itunes, deezer,...) is partners with YouTube now. That means, all of my video content will be automatically recognised as a topic. Read about it here

http://routenote.com/blog/routenote-officially-partners-with-youtube-worlds-largest-music-streaming-platform/

 


So- as enthousiastic as I am to spread the new stuff- yesterday, I uploaded an upcoming promo video for the new album, but that got me in "trouble" with a copyright claim from...ahum, Routenote.
Of course I always upload under my REAL name (who am I anyway?), so they didn't recognize that it was JoosTVD himself!
pfffffff...
Well, after a few mail exchanges, it's all solved now

(Btw, the new promo/teaser (and a few other funny vids) will-hopefully- see the light of day soon, soon!
So why don't you serve yourself another cup of joe and subscribe?)
The JoosTVD topic is here

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz0rVf75F736h1Mn_QuyULw or here https://www.youtube.com/user/giftshot


Next: Teaser/ promo video "I Mimic Me"

donderdag 20 maart 2014

New album 2014: I Mimic Me

Update! 
What time is it? Yes exactly time for a brand new TVD album!
Routenote has approved the album so distribution is on its way. 
I'm so excited about the songs!

Now keep your/my fingers crossed..... Still 4 to 6 weeks to go though, but iTunes & Spotify are fast, so check them and tell me!

In the meantime, here are the covers:

                                                                       
Front
                                                                
                                              
                                       
                                             
                                        About the Title I Mimic Me

Narcistic as hell that title. It sounds fun to me. "I do Lou Reed better than anyone" Lou Reed confessed to a crowd once. Well in my case, when you reach a sudden age (?), you've come full circle. You learn to accept what you've become (pros & negs) on your own level.

So on the frontcover there's a little me, about 10 years old, in a rare state of relaxing, grinning shyly and there's the grown-up old farty me, trying more or less, but fail to mimic the younger me. Mmmm...

Back


As you can see, 13 songs (+ song 14 is the instrumental promo version of song 1) again, just like last time. Yes, I've got lots of more songs in the bag, but these are chosen as the best buy.

Btw, I also got a few funny vids in the making for ya, so...

.... next time:  Teaser "I Mimic Me" 2014

zaterdag 15 februari 2014

And Another favourites album


Sort of an alternative of the previous one, these are some of my personal faves. An addition to Sin Pan Alley for the new potentional  listener or the nostalgic one. It's only on Amazon, which has an option to sell your products and that gave me the idea of this compilation part 2.

The real new album wants to come out, but there are a few "minor" details getting in the way, like balancing out the mix, vocals pitching...aaahhrrggh. Got my ears focused.
But I'm very excited about the new stuff and with distribution time, I'll expect a spring release. I'll keep you posted ASAP. Got a nice little promo in the near future for ya too.
Meanwhile, why don't ya take a listen? Just Think Pan Alley!

Think Pan Alley (Favourites) on Amazon

Thank U, bye buy!

woensdag 22 januari 2014

No, it' s not the new album...



Sin Pan Alley [Compilation 2005-2013]

Never meant to do this. Everytime I finish an album, I already work on another one. But 9 digital albums is a lot to listen to these days, so...yes, it's a sort of a favourites album I've put together for iTunes via iMusician Digital. Sure, everyone's got their own faves. It' s just a snapshot, hence the cheesy, rare picture of me (about 10 years old) laying on the couch, relaxing. A lot of songs to choose from. My Tin pan Alley.
But I won't look back!
The real new album is now in its finishing stages. Busy mixing, listening, mixing....update follows.
In the meantime why not have a "nostalgic" listen?
A request for a download anyone? Well, you can always ask me and I'll put a link up here or there...

donderdag 19 december 2013

2013?

2013? Lou Reed is gone. Not a perfect day, but......reminds me how big his influence as an artist is, now even more.

But success in the music business is a very relative thing and Lou did his time in the rodeo.                                             

2013? More and more people decide to try out the bumpy road to fame and fortune. They often wonder why the glamour doesn't happen or... not as quickly and sensational as on TV. You sister says it's good, so.....duh?!

2013? You have to ease down a bit and take a deep breath. I think there's a lot more pros in it for us all in the end.
Yes, create excitement! You can still play the live-circuit and sell a few cd's afterwards, but on top of that-with a little bit of healthy self-reflection and some bold determination-you can get your own fifteen minutes. You can easily spread and share the best(!) of your (musical) works in a digital way (Fandalism, Jamendo, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Youtube) and create your own "fans". If they like your music, they can spread it for you among their buddies. Some of these potentials can become loyal listeners, others will move on. A lot of helpful recourses to try out in your favor, a great one is Tom Robinson's Fresh On The Net.


2013? Nowadays you can bring out a new album without any restrictions of a label. I know it will give the listeners way too much to listen to. But I think the level of musicianship/produktion is so way up high, you can easily filter the bad from the goody, goody stuff.

2013? So glad my humble latest "The Ballooning Brouhaha" has brought me a few more new listeners and podcasters. It got me more feedback, radioplays (Croydon radio London, Tom Robinson's BBC6 Mixtape, Radio 98Eins Germany, got reviews from loyal journalists like Nathan Norgel). Yes, times have changed. Next year there'll be a new one, right on schedule.

1975! Back in the glam/disco/pre-punk days...
As I became such a crazy, curious and fanatic music lover when I was fresh and wet behind the ears, I used to tape every new, exciting tune I heard on the radio. Saved every dime I could to spent it on the new one of Bowie, Roxy Music, Boz Scaggs, Steve Miller, Zappa, John Martyn, Steely Dan and many more just for discovery purposes. I followed and supported their careers, even if the albums got crappier. Expectations. The human factor.
The excitement of discovery. Especially Zappa albums (talking vinyl here!) were unavailable or very expensive, so I was always glad to find one in a secondhand store. I spent hours and hours of magic shopping in Amsterdam (one called Concerto, 4 stores full of rare stuff) and I' m still proud of all those rare, often unknown and often pricey (aargh!) gems I've found there.

2013? Along the years I have created my own "recordstore" (a small music library of about 13.000 cd's, 1500 vinyl). Freedom for my ears, food for the mind & soul and not least inspiration for my own creations. I shall not count a 3TB harddisk full of the rest in mp3 format though. Modern times.

2013? I have never stopped looking for another obscure album.
The discovery is everywhere, not far away, just one mouseclick....voila! Streaming is the new buy.

So here are my most spotified albums of 2013 (very close but no sigar: the magnificent and surprising stragedy (marketing!) aka comeback album of Bowie, the verrrry Beatlesesque album of McCartney or the seemingly interesting Elvis Costello/ Roots combination, all simply great to have back for their age(!), but in my opinion, not all that strong compositionwise, but what do I expect):

Jonathan Wilson- Fanfare











Yes, I don' t like retro! But even if this recalls the seventies, it's is done in a very colourful, loving and organic way. The guest list, Crosby & Nash harmonies deja vuing around beautiful melodies. And there's also excitement in the playing and variety in the arrangements.

Darth Vegas- Brain Washing For Dirty Minds (Ok late 2012 release, late discovery)










10 years after their even crazier debut came this Zappa-esque slapstick rollercoaster of sounds. Full of funny musical surprises. Everytime I laugh my ass off when I play these 2 records. Long live Zappa.

Janelle Monae- Electric Lady











A grower. Had to listen again and again, it just crept under my skin.

 Prefab Sprout- Crimson/Red



          

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

So glad Paddy came out of his cave! No surprises here. Songwriting to the core.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
And for the sensational background information, here's a few books I've read this year
As usual, mostly sleezy biographies. Recommended:                                                                                                                                              

Neil Young- Waging Heavy Peace
Nick Kent, Apathy for the Devil A Seventies Memoir
Ryan O'Neal - Both of Us
Victor Bockris- Up-Tight The Velvet Underground Story                                                                        
Marc Elliot- Paul Simon                                                                                                                          
Ray Manzarek- Light My Fire                                                                                                                
Garth Bardsley- Stop The World (Anthony Newley)                                                                                 
Billy James- A Dream Goes On Forever (Todd Rundgren) Vol.1 & 2 
Paul Meyers- A Wizard A True Star (Todd Rundgren In The Studio) 
Al Kooper- Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards 
Bertus Borgers- Ik Hou Van Herman                

donderdag 12 december 2013

What Do Dutch Men Do?



Just a few google search results/ links about the dutch (men' s) behaviour


What is something that only Dutch people do? 
Have a cozy evening together on a comfortable IKEA couch watching the tele I guess. Well, almost. But I don't watch TV anymore.

Stuff Dutch People Like 
Traditions. Well, I have forgotten them

Why do so many Dutch people cycle? 
This is because of a vast network of cycle paths that are clearly marked, with smooth surfaces, separate signs and lights, and wide enough to allow side-by-side cycling and overtaking. Sure, but sometimes these paths are so crowded indeed, you don' t see the marks.

50 Things I hate about Dutch people  
50? Well nr 7 is right: They call themselves tolerant, but they are very narrow minded.  
Sorry for this.


10 ways to be polite to Dutch people 
Dutch men don’t hug. Well I do, but I avoid the annoying, meddling human beings.

How do Dutch people meet each other?!
The Dutch are quite direct (can be seen as a bit rude perhaps) but not straightforward at all.
Guess I' m rude sometimes. Although I' m a very private, introverted guy, I often try to break the ice, by teasing a stranger or joking around.

Well, I'm a dutch man, that' s why I ask. But I don' t sing in dutch, I just...can't. Yes I know, I' ve got a thick accent when I use my tongue for english, but what the heck.
Maybe there's a title in there for the new "Vanished Dutchman" album coming up in 2014.
When? I' ll let you know. The finishing of it all is the most intensive of the whole process.
I' ve got 14 songs for ya, chosen from about 30. I just need some smooth lyrics and a very thick accent for 7 of them to get there. Some tunes came very quick, so they motivated me the most to finish. Others need more time and space. But I won' t push.

So, what do dutch men do?