Yes I love this review

So glad with these colourful words!

In german:

„Don‘t mind the blues“ meint Joos The Vanished Dutchman in einem Titel seines neuen Albums. Hardcore-Bluesfans sollten das als ernste Warnung auffassen und mit Lesen der Rezension und dem Anhören der Scheibe äußerste Vorsicht walten lassen. Ansonsten gilt: Mit „The Ballooning Brouhaha“ hat die niederländische One-Man-Band Musik so richtig passend zum beginnenden Sommer mit Jazz, Funkgrooves, Rock und einer gehörigen Dosis Humor.

Ein Aufruht beim Ballonfahren? Aufrührerische Ballons? Oder die Empörung über die Ballonsportler? Mit dem Albumtitel kommer ich schnell an die Grenzen meiner Englischkenntnisse. Aber der Titelsong und Opener des aktuellen Albums von Joost Van Dinther erzählt rein musikalisch (wenn man von den paar „Haha“-Rufen absieht) eine Geschichte, die all das sein könnte - oder was ganz anderes. Und schon sind wir bei dem Problem, was man unwillkürlich hat, wenn man sich Songs dieses Niederländers anhört: Man muss ich das Lachen verkneifen. Und man erwischt sich immer wieder dabei, das Wort „zappaesk“ verwenden zu wollen.

 

Dabei könnte man ebenso auch Verwandschaft zur Musik etwa von Steely Dan, der mittleren Schaffensperiode von Stevie Wonder und anderen finden. Nur eben waren die niemals so voller Humor, Sarkasmus - und Selbstironie. Wer nennt einen Titel schon freiwillig „Stupid song(s)“, der dann auch völlig albern daherkommt wie für die Welttournee von Ralf Sögel direkt am Casio geschrieben und dann noch mit Bläsern aufgemotzt? Das ist einfach zappaesk. Und natürlich großartig. Dann folgt noch ein „Disco Scream From The Sinking Loveboat“, eine Tour mit dem „Sunday Train“ oder ein Trip durch einen schweigenden Dschungel. Meist humorvoll, oft auch plötzlich von einer Melancholie eingetrübt, dass man gleich nochmal aufmerksamer hinhört, um festzustellen: Joost ist ein verdammt guter Songschreiber und keine wandelnde Comedy-Attraktion. Und auch das hat er mit dem verstorbenen Gitarren- und Kompositionsmeister mit dem berühmten Klofoto gemein. Wer mir das nicht glaubt, sollte auf diversen Online-Plattformen wie Jamendo nach dem kostenlosen Download von „The Ballooning Brouhaha“ suchen und mir erst danach widersprechen.

In English (google-translator):

"Do not mind the blues," said Joos The Vanished Dutchman in a title of his new album. Hardcore blues fans should take that as a serious warning and exercise with reading the review and listening to the disc extreme caution. Otherwise: With "The Ballooning Brouhaha" the Dutch one-man band music really match the beginning of the summer with jazz, funk grooves, rock and a good dose of humor.
One rests in ballooning? Riotous balloons? Or the outrage over the balloon athlete? With the album title, I commer to the limits of my knowledge of English. But the title track and opener of the new album by Joost Van Dinther told musically (apart from the few "haha"-Call) is a story that could be all that - or something completely different. And already we are in the problem, which he automatically when you listen to this song Dutchman: Man I need help laughing. And you get caught again and again going to want to use the word "zappaesk".
It could also find some affinity to the music of Steely Dan, the middle period of Stevie Wonder and others. Only just were never so full of humor, sarcasm - and self-irony. Who calls a title already voluntarily "Stupid song (s)", which then comes as quite silly for the world tour by Ralf Soegel written directly on the Casio and then beefed up even with horns? This is simply zappaesk. And of course, great. .
 Then follows a "disco Scream From The Sinking Loveboat", a tour with the "Sunday Train" or a trip through a silent jungle. Most humorous, often suddenly clouded by a melancholy that is the same again attentively listens to determine: Joost is a damn good song writer and not changing comedy attraction. And also that he has in common with the late guitar master and composition with the famous Klofoto (Zappa). If you do not believe me, should look at various online platforms such as Jamendo for the free download of "The Ballooning Brouhaha" and disagree with me afterwards.

Yes! JoosTVD tonight on german radio

For our german friends:
Einen musikalischen Roadtripp unternehmen wir am 18. Juni in der nächsten Ausgabe des Crossroad Cafe: Americana und Bluesrock aus Paris oder Kansas, Soul aus Großbritannien und Chicago, britischen Akustikblues und zappaeske Klänge aus den Niederlanden ergeben eine knallbunte Mixtur, die hoffentlich zum Sommerabend passt.

Ok here's the english version:
A musical RoadTripp we take 18 June in the next edition of the Crossroads Cafe Americana and blues-rock from Paris or Kansas, Soul from the UK and Chicago, British acoustic blues and zappaeske sounds from the Netherlands give a gaudy mix which hopefully fits the summer evening.


Playlist:

The Communal Well The Road
Moreland & Arbuckle Road Blind
Moreland & Arbuckle Quivira
Gwyn Ashton Take You Home Tonight
James Boraski & Momentary Evolution Who (Told Ya)
James Boraski & Momentary Evolution Sensitive Kind
Anthony Gomes Old Ten Wheeler
Anthony Gomes Let's Fall In Love
Poplar Jake Sweet Marianne
Poplar Jake Whipping Boy
Big Frank Mirra Ferryboat Blues
Homemade Jamz Blues Band Nothing Stays The Same
Homemade Jamz Blues Band Ain't No Sunshine
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa Miss Lady
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa See Saw
James Hunter Six The Gipsy
James Hunter Six Heartbreak
Lonnie Lester So This Is Love
Lonnie Lester Ain't That A Shame
JoosTVD Big Bad Boy
The Communal Well Scratch My Back
The Communal Well Mexico
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa Strange Fruit
JoosTVD Don't Mind The Blues

Live stream on german radio 98eins 20:00 tot 22:00

Yes, first on BBC6 radio with Tom Robinson and here I'll go again (with some blues gigants) on the other side of the Netherlands. Thanks to that german journalist Nathan Nörgel who already reviewed a few of my albums. I hope he'll do my latest too..

Search the balloon, grab!

 

Yes it's (free) in there....

For the buyers: Brouhaha at eMusic

The Ballooning Brouhaha: Songguide (secret messages?)

Every year I've got a brand new batch of songs that reflect my state of affairs, my moodswings, frustrations, tribulations and the lot of everyday life. Here's the story, the inspiration behind them.
I don't want to explain what the lyrics are about though,
I'll leave that open for interpretation.

"Is there a important message, theme in there then?" I hear you ask.
Maybe. Look at the cover, you can say that the balloon with the printed world stands for the bloated, forced way people treat the earth and eachother (I'm no exeption). Blowing it up. Well, what´s the brouhaha of it all?


And you see me just letting it go. Letting the world pass me by or trying to catch it with irony in 13 songs.


Well, here we go!


                                                                            1.Brouhaha!

I didn't intend to leave it as an instrumental, as I found this funky chord progression easy to work with vocalwise. I just found some melodies on the keyboard. "Brouhaha", a word you hear me shout, I used to hear it in my youth, whenever someone in my neighbourhood did his hoopla (dutch=heisa) trick: "well, what´s the hoopla/ brouhaha all about boy?"



2.Stupid Song(s)                  

The irony. The (s) gives the songs a double meaning. I always like to play the joker. I work at night, where they always turn up the wrong station on the radio. With stupid songs creeping into my ears. Couldn´t resist to write something...stupid.
This is one of the 2 songs Wijnand Brant got his sologuitar on. At the end you hear him duel with himself. Fire!

3.A Trip Together

Wrote this one very quick on guitar, sang the melody spontanuously on top of it. One of those that wrote itself. I think it works well, because there´s a intensity and balance between the groove and the melody, a tension I often go for. You can dance to it too.

4.Talkwalk (Looking For The Boz)
                                                             

Boz, we all know of Scaggs, don´t we? Wel he´s an old hero of mine. Sophisticated, cool shades. This is a musical wink, tribute  to his work of the seventies. Notable is the obvious similarity in arrangement feel between his "Lowdown" and this song, but I did it all in the name of inspiration. Yeah, really.

5.Here She Goes Again (Yo Mama)  

 
The old rock´n roll feel in this song has to do with my mother. She used to drive us kids nuts with that volume knob, when she turned up a new album she´d just bought. Loud! I mean loud. She angrily turned it off when she found out that the song she was after (but didn´t know the title of),wasn´t on it. A very intense woman with a deep rooted bluesattitude, that´s why....
Meanwhile, I played drums in the loft and my older brother played his Hendrix licks for hours in his room underneath. I mean loud!

6.Sunday train

Wrote this on piano and although I'm not classically trained, I've got just enough fingers to handle a few keys to come up with a few tunes. Couldn't do it in one take, so I rehearsed the hell out of it. Challenging stuff for me to sing it with the right power and dynamics.


7.The Route Through The Quiet Jungle 

Melody, breaks combined with a steady groove and city noises, that's it.



8.Don´t Mind The Blues

Guess I don't mind that much, but blues singing especially comes from my gut. It's always a challenge to find a fresh topline to keep that blues alive. This song brought that to me.

 9.Big Bad Boy

Variation in style. Never dipped in this one, but a little country keeps me upbeat. Yie-haa!

10.familiar Lines

Yes, the thin line between love and hate. I hear The Metropole Orchestra (if they ever hear this...call me) behind this, just like they did with Todd Rundgren. I play most of the orchestral stuff, except for a few sampled violins that suited and complemented the basic arrangements. Majestic.

11.Disco Scream From The Sinking Loveboat

Instrumental disco. Whatever happened to the (seventies TV) loveboat.....? As a variation of the excisting instrumental melody Wijnand Brant goes in overdrive with his guitarsolo. I had to edit and alter his stuff in order to make it a totally. To round it off I put a titanic and desperate scream for dramatic effect.
Nope, it's not the wife..




12.Social Spy

The obsession for social media transmitted to an intense funky groove.

13.I Am Older Now

Ballad of the old kid. Sounds a bit desperate, but it expresses my lack of self confidence that sometimes bothers me. Guess it happens to most of us.

So listen carefully...

Ballooning on Jamendo

Brouhaha here!

JoosTVD's 2013 release party of The Ballooning Brouhaha (afspeellijst)

Youtube Promo 2013: Brouhaha!

Teasing Snippet

Ok, full version: Brouhaha! on Soundcloud

Listening Party: Deezer

Listen to Brouhaha on Deezer










Ok. Next? More buylinks like. iTunes, eMusic, Amazon....
Streaming is the new hype, go with the flow then!

Btw, I'm still busy conceiving my next blog, The songguide. Promovideo, alternative platforms like  Jamendo, Noisetrade, Bandcamp will follow soon.
I'll Keep you posted. Hope you like the new stuff.

That's quick!

 Thanks again Routenote for the quick delivery!

Up here
The Ballooning Brouhaha on Spotify!

Covers and Songlist Of The Ballooning Brouhaha (ha-haaaa!)

Front

Back

Yes, it's almost all white (it's the peace album I guess), even my hair has caught the snowflake glow......

Next:  The Ballooning Brouhaha The Songuide

Distribution in progress

The green light is on. That´s quick. Just got the message from Routenote. In a couple of weeks, you can expect the new album on Spotify, iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, Rdio. I hope so. In the meantime I´ll be working on two little, funny Youtubes to support the album. Furthermore, I will put the album on several platforms like Jamendo, Noisetrade and Bandcamp. Spread the word...bla, bla, blah.

I´m happy now or am I?

 Whaaat?

Here´s a link to the distribution label btw,
Routenote digital distribution

Keep it up
JoosTVD

A new baby

Hai there music lovers! Here's another update. Just finished the mastering & the mixing of the new baby, The Ballooning Brouhaha, my 17th album (9th digital). The most difficult thing to do for me is mastering, but after a lot of working out the last details of the sounds, I'm ready now to deliver. I'm really glad that the working process didn't took that long as the previous album. I guess I got used to the fixed idea of making those big double albums (just like Zappa did), with as much songs as I could fit on them. I always write more, so there's always a melody floating around somewhere on my harddrive. Maybe I'm just obsessed with writing.
This time I've chosen to take just 13 songs that- I think- represent me in the most convincing way thusfar. A really gratifying experience for me. So this afternoon I took the distribution road again, on the digital highway. Routenote will hopefully release this one (my fourth one for them) in a couple of weeks so you can stream it on Spotify. I hope you'll dance, cry, laugh and sing along with it!
If they give it the green light, I'll show you a little promo video. And next, you can expect the covers, the songlist, the process, the guestlist (only one), what can be more on your wishlist? I know something, a balloon!

The Ballooning Brouhaha!

Yes, that's the title of the new album for 2013. Since the last album, Art Decoy, I've been learning a lot more about Pro Tools, smoother recording and especially the finesses of mixing. If everything goes as planned, this album will arrive a lot sooner than the previous one. I've chosen for a shorter album with about 13 songs. Still a lot is happening, that I can assure you. No, it will not be an "Orson Nietes, The Next Day", I don't want to wait that long! Though I think Bowie is still cool.
BTW, thanks for you listeners out there, always grateful for the feedback. You can buy my music of course, but the main thing is the accessibility of my songs. Luckily for me, that's the here and the now, I've got visitors from all over the world who are in for a listen. But who are they? Who are you?
ME....
Well, this baloon will show up in my Grabbelton very soon. The links of the albums are still working, I can see that in the statistics, so I guess it will work out fine.
Ok, it's all about ballooning, so are you ready for the next trip? Soon, soon,.....

 BROUHAHA!

Collected & Hidden Stuff on New Myspace

Here go the fingers again, typing, my head thinking how to begin. Well, here's a patronising starter: hope you all seize the day once in a while.
Well, "we"as in musicians, all used to have a page on MySpace. It became old hat, when other, more flexible platforms stepped in. In the end, I think they are all useful as tools and I'm grateful that I can use them to spread a few tunes. And god, I've been spreading! Like a faithfull catholic, except for the multiplying part- I've got two kids already- I've been creating like a rabbit. A lot will not see the digital www, but now I've finally decided to pick a few loony tunes, combine them with some favourites of the period between 2000-2012.
I've been recording since 1980 with the help of an old tape recorder. As time went by, technology kept me on my toes (Midi and all that stuff), so I could finally record my own digital albums, the first effort, burned on cd in 1998.
This year I'll bother you again with some new songs, I've got more than a few in the pipeline already!
Meanwhile, I hope you'll enjoy the "new space"......

 

 See for yourself! New Myspace

On stage 1989

Today I went back, couldn´t resist to share this croony, after midnight picture with the world.
I started out as a drummer, hiding behind a wall of cymballs and toms. It just fellt natural with my introverted personality. In the late eighties and early nineties I stepped up as a frontman of a band called `Catch My Drift`.
It was the first time I played my songs with a full band and it was a chance for me to get in touch with my extravert side. I mostly played the crazy, teasing clown. We were all Zappa fans, so we tried out a lot of styles, basically rooted in seventies pop blended with funk, rock, jazz, blues, latin and humor. The best memories I have of those days are the the antics I pulled on stage. I improvised a lot to interact with the crowd just for the effect. Funny boy. Now I´m hiding behind a keyboard or guitar, pulling out whatever comes out of my fingertips. Ok, it doesn´t Sound that adventurous, but it´s fun enough for me for now.

Take a free ride, give us a tip then!

In the middle of songwriting, recording, exploring ideas, I am always looking for new platforms to spread my works on. Grateful for those ingenious guys who put a lot of work in creating them! I found one, called Noisetrade that's very professional, easy to work with. A lot different options for musicians. Listeners can download all 8 albums I've digitized so far and- just like a waiter- you can leave a tip to support the good cause.....so why don't you try it out? (I know, there's a "grabbelton" up here, so why bother to go up there?)
And yes, I am working on some new stuff all the time. A lot of ideas I record right away, but as I get older, I'm becoming increasingly critical of the outcome. I just want the best songs to survive. But hey, I am just a creative, but mortal human being with these fustrating limitations. So what I really appreciate is the moral support, the feedback that is so important to keep me motivated, so don't hesitate, keep in touch!
Here are some cool platforms for ya (the list keeps growing):

Tip me on Noisetrade
Try me on soundcloud
Jamendo
Bandcamp
Stream on Spotify
YouTube
Routenote

BTW...to follow me....I'm also on Twitter under the name
Arthur Lokeend (free translation of my last album)

Listen to the radio! The musical higlights of 2012

I haven't listened to radio for years. Well, as a young boy I used to have my own a radio-djshow, rattling out my top 40, as I chose my special faves I bought of a perticular year. I played the best tracks for myself and the rest of the household. I don't do that anymore, because there's not many to choose from. Guess I stick with old seventies stuff I grew up with. I didn't often search in the extreme sections/ styles though. I mean, I love all kinds of music and if an artist has those eclectic, colourful qualities, such as Todd Rundgren, David Byrne or Frank Zappa, I'll always go back and listen to those, problably till the day I die. I do love the rock element (as in Who, Kinks, Led Zeppelin), blues (Muddy Waters, J.L.Hooker) and any of the ethnic, traditional stuff, but not for a whole day. Black music (soul, R&B, funk, latin) did the trick for me and my poproots (10cc 1972-1975 period) got injected with that. Eclectic brew, cross-over, blue-eyed stuff, quirky avantgarde mix.
I still listen to the "new" stuff, as long as it takes itself not too serious. In  my opinion, the alternative music scene (journalists hyping) of today do that to the core. They don't even know that they are as mainstream as the AOR eighties nowadays. The real alternative doesn't really excist, because you can't stay in the lo-fi underground forever. It's all in the mind. So, free your mind and.....!

2012 was a very good eclectic year! For me, these three young artists have stood out this year:

Michael Kiwanuka- Home Again

Retro (20, 30, 40ies, etc... next to the bloody eighties stuff) is the word since Amy Winehouse spread her voice all across the ether. So these nostalgic feelings do miracles in these troubled times. That's what is done on this album in very subtle, sympathetic way (like Labi Siffre seventies), with a warm soulful voice that never abandons his african roots. It's comforting, intimate, though familiar stuff.

Esperanza Spalding- Radio Music Society

A lot of great young interesting (mostly) jazz musicans come up today and yes, here's such a serious hard working and ambitious young lady at work. Challenging stuff rhythmically with sweet seventies George Duke- Stevie Wonder influences. Tight played and interesting chord progressions with lovely, floating melodies on top. She doesn't take the easy route, so it's a brave effort.

Cody ChesnuTT- Landing On A Hundred

As a whole it's not as quirky as his crazy debut, but the way he treats the retro-machine is very appealing to me. Ok, Marvin shines through in the vocals, but it's damn fine done. Colourful, uplifting, tighter as his debut. 

Ok, now what about the older guys?
My absolute fave of the year is:

Loudon Wainwright- Older than My Old Man Now

Self-reflective as always, how to combine humor with  the "growing older" symptoms. His conversation about sex with Dame Edna in "I Remember Sex" for instance. How it used to be. Hilarious. Thoughtful is his duet with son Rufus in "The Days That We Die", very recognizable that tricky family stuff. No more "Festen" needed. A tear and a laugh is enough for me. Let me grow old then...

David Byrne/ St Vincent- Love This Giant

Not satisfying on the whole, but these two different generations challenge eachother and do the trick with the horns, sometimes they overdo it. It's biting quirky stuff, but it doesn't hurt too much that it's killing me.

Yes there's more, like Mike Keneally, Rufus Wainwright (almost AOR), Joan Armatrading (back to the good seventies stuff) and Donald Fagen (no surprises, slick), Scott Walker (waiting for Scott 5, still interesting though). Well there is always more!
Pretty mainstream (or is it alternative?!) I guess. Not obscure. Well, it's a bit of everything and for everyone. Check them out! 

By the way, my personal musical highlight (the bomb went off!), next to a release of a new album, was to be chosen as a fresh fave by Tom Robinson and to be played on his saturday evening show, next to the likes of Paul Simon, Marc Bolan and Pete Townshend. Thanks Tom, very grateful to be on BBC radio. Read: Tom Robinsonshow

Next to listening the new and old stuff, I'm addicted to biographies. Not especially the above artists, but everything, mostly working in the entertainment business. Here's a list of the books I've read past year:

Robert Sellers- Hellraisers (Peter O'toole, Oliver Reed, Richard Burton, Richard Harris)
John Densmore- Riders On the Storm (his personal experiences with Mojo Risin')
Jeff Kaliss- I want to take you higher (on Sly and the Family Stone)
Eric Burdon- Don't let me be misunderstood (his life in lows and highs)
Julian Palacios- Dark Globe (very detailed story on Syd Barrett)
Mark Wilkerson- The life of Pete Townshend
Dave Zimmer- Crosby, Stills & Nash 
Levon Helm with Stephen Davies- This wheel is on fire (hot stuff!)
Dory Previn- Midnight baby (totally unique!)
Harry shapiro- Jack Bruce Composing himself
Peter Carlin- Catch a wave (on Brian Wilson's dark journey)
Stewart Copeland- Strange things happen (on Sting, Sting, hobbies and the Police)
Martin Heylen- In mijn hoofd (about Raymond van het Groenewoud, brilliant Belgian singer-songwriter)
Simon Callow- Hello americans (his second book about Orson Welles)
Janis Ian- Society's child (brave singer-songwriter!)
Christopher Sandford- McCartney
Lee Underwood- Blue melody (his times with and without Tim Buckley)
Hans Lafaille- Showbizz blues (Cuby & the Blizzards drummer tells his often funny story)
Bertus Borgers- Weg van hier (Sweet d'Buster sax-player reflects on his youth)
Billy James- A dream goes on forever (first of two books on Todd Rundgren)

And a lot of stuff I still have to read, before I go blind...O, and I watch movies, and, and...
Well, guess now you know it. The "Where did I get my inspiration from?"
That was 2012 for me. Hope we'll have an eclectic and energetic 2013 then, cheers!