Band : Klein
Album title : A Devil’s Bargain
Label : Excelsior recordings
Distributor : V2
Release date : 26/10/2009
Release : CD

This Soft-Jazz & Lounge band was originally started as a project for singer Merel Wijnberg and singer/ songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist Roel Kleintjens, which started as a duo, but was regularly complemented with befriended musicians on stage. As a foursome, and under the bandname Chicklet, they already did several live appearances, like a set of theater shows with Paul Haenen, and a participation to the prestigious Noorderzon festival. When guitarist Eric Leenes joines as a steady member, the line-up was considered complete, and the band signed to Excelsior Recordings for the release of their debut album A Devil’s Bargain.

As mentioned in their biography, you get 10 intimate listen-songs with a “…nicely warm sound, which remind of Portishead in a night club coat, and far less chilly. Dreamy songs that get under your skin, but with the capacity to warm you. Lived, with a Jazzy touch, nicely balanced…”. Well, if you’re into Portishead, and wonder what they would sound like in a more sedate musical surrounding, then maybe you’ll enjoy listening to Klein. Personally it boggled my mind what got into the editor-in-chief’s mind when downloading this, because frankly I think it’s a waste of my valuable time! Not that I don’t like what Klein brings here (in reality, and quite on the contrary, I’ve enjoyed what I heard), but I’m not sure Concrete Web readers are among those whom would be interested in this kind of music, or got out to buy the album.

Just in case I’m mistaking (stranger things have happened, and the world is full…contrary to what the “majority” of people might think…of open-minded folks), the band posted music off the album at last.fm/music/klein-music (for once, I found no MySpace page). If you’ve bothered to read on thus far, the material posted might indeed interest you as well! Oh, right…the band has since grown to a full-fledged 4-piece with the induction of bassist Sebas Wolfensberger. Live, by the way, Wijnberg sits behind the keyboard, and Kleintjens behind the drum kit!

85/100

Tony.