It's too bad but the Dutch pop group Johan has called it quits. It seems the band has had hits in Europe but that success has not translated to the U.S., despite favorable reviews and release of their first album on the SpinArt label. I noticed the Pergola album on the website of Parasol Records, who have a bit of a jones about music from Europe, particularly Scandinavia. They claimed that this was one of the best pop albums of the past 5 years (originally released in 2001) and was not at import prices. So I took the cheese--and was pleasantly surprised.
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| Catch The Morning Rain, Upon Your Face Again |
Well the first surprise was the gnome on the cover as shown on the website was a limited edition album cover--the one I received was fairly generic, more like a soup can label. But the music within was pretty terrific. Don't misunderstand me, there isn't a lot original going on here. However the songs are so well done that many of them sound as if they were exhumed from a time capsule from the 60's and could go toe toe with many of the mellower romantic classics of the era. Think early Bee Gees, The Byrds, CSN, The Monkees, Zombies, or Beatles, slightly modernized. If you did not know their origin, you would think these guys were from Rhode Island or San Francisco instead of Netherlands. Great vocals, soaring harmonies, classic arrangements--its hard to be believe their second album was never released in the US.
I don't think there is a bad track here really. Starting with the poignant Tumble and Fall, the strong confident vocals of Jacob de Greeuw dominate the proceedings. The title track Pergola has a bit of an alternative feel with the verses reminiscent of "its the end of the world as we know it". I Feel Fine is also a corker which is more of a 90's rock arrangement. I Mean I Guess sends a lot like a classic Bee Gees song, but with a burbling synth in the background. They reach the very heights of Bee Gee emulation with the lovely Day is Done which has the soaring choruses you might expect. Some of the backing vocals actually sound like they were cribbed from their disco years.
Some of what I am saying does not seem complimentary, but you only have to hear the songs to know how outstanding this album is. The optimistic and nostalgic Paper Planes is just a perfect sweet love ballad. Time and Time Again makes great use of dynamics, starting softly, crescendoing with pizzicato strings to a huge chorus. Tomorrow is a driving pop song which resembles a revved up CSN a bit. Other highlights here are the mournful How Does It Feel?, the tortured Why CP, and the grandiose symphonically arranged finale, Here.
Start to finish an enjoyable album with original songs that could pass for 60's classics. If you love great harmonies and gigantic hooks in your music, you should check this one out. I see that Parasol still sells this at a very reasonable price, and the first album (also very good) can be easily found for pennies. Their biggest hit came from their 3rd album (they made four) Thx Jhn, namely the very romantic Oceans. The video for the song was about a young woman from Argentina who traveled thousands of miles and endured hardships to see her favorite band perform in the Netherlands.
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