Music
The Dutch songwriter follows behind-the-scenes work with Rex Orange County, The Free Nationals, and others with a breezy new solo record. Featuring collaborations with Mac Demarco and Emily King, the album does a good job distilling his charms into a single package.
Dutch singer/songwriter Tim van Berkestijn, aka Benny Sings, has carved out a niche for himself with his evocative, '70s-influenced brand of soft rock, something he further champions on his seventh album, 2021's Music. His second record for the Stones Throw label, Music follows his equally vintage-inspired 2019 album, City Pop. Where City Pop found him drawing inspiration from the '70s and '80s brand of Japanese pop referenced in the album's title, Music is more stylistically broad in tone, touching upon breezy yacht rock ("Sunny Afternoon"), symphonic disco balladry ("Break Away"), and even hip-hop-infused R&B ("Here It Comes"). Helping bring Berkestijn's distinctive sound to life are his bandmates, including vocalist June Fermie, keyboardist Adam Bar-Pereg, bassist Bram Wassink, and drummer Colin Lee. Together, they frame Berkestijn's laid-back vocals in organic, sun-dappled arrangements that just keep drawing you closer. In the past, Benny Sings has collaborated on tracks with artists like Rex Orange County, Cornelius, Mayer Hawthorne, and others. Music continues this collaborative tradition to delightful effect, showcasing guests like British guitarist Tom Misch, who lends some fuzz-tone accents to the Doobie Brothers-ish "Nobody's Fault."
Now on his eighth studio album, Benny Sings has brought his usual sunny disposition to an LP that revels in pure pop songwriting. From the delicate piano
Music by Benny Sings album review by Adam Fink. The Dutch singer/songwriter's full-length comes out on April 9, 2021 via Stones Throw Records