On this debut album,
Erik de Jong, the mastermind behind
Spinvis, carefully constructed his quirky, world-weary persona. Songs like "Smalfilm" and "Limonadeglazen Wodka" are like nothing else heard before in the Netherlands, both lyrically and musically. The songs on
Spinvis appear to be simple and messy, but in fact they are elaborately and inventively orchestrated. Only on a second or a third listen does one hear that almost every second line rhymes, and that there are quirky sound effects beneath all the great rhythm tracks. This record creates a universe of its own by contrasting conventional instruments with computer soundscapes. It draws the listener in with whispers, loopy riffs, and soft synthesizers. Double-tracked vocals do the rest. A mesmerizing debut. Wonderful.