The Watchman

There are two artists that go by the name of The Watchman: #1 A Dutch americana and folk band with Ad van Meurs. #2 A Chicago based IDM / Drum n Bass producer of local fame. #1 If you say The Watchman plays Blues, you're right. If you say The Watchman plays American Folk, you're right. If you say the band rocks, you're right. The music of The Watchman is a search for originality along a road full of traditional elements, 'roots', improvisation and happy songwriting. If it really needs to be forced into words, why not just call it contemporary Rhythm & Folk. If anything, their music is straight from the heart, a heart that knows more doubts than certainties and is always hopelessly in love with life itself. Last album High Acres:.Is High Acres The Watchmans most contemplative album to date? It may very well be, together with Carnival of Circumstance, his album from 2002, which was so well received. But in this case the rule is: soft = heavy !! There are no dull moments on this collection of songs which all feature The Watchmans trademark sound. Intriguing, almost hypnotic songs with a definite romantic feel, sung in a compelling way by Ad van Meurs and his wife Ankie Keultjes. She has a style all her own, in which the various acoustic instruments are draped around Gerard van der Graafs piano and the percussive rhythm section. The latter includes - next to Eric van der Lest on drums - Osama Milaagi, King of Rhythm from Khartoum. He also distinguished himself on the very successful No Blues production, the Arabicana project in which The Watchman played such an important part. And it goes without saying that Ad van Meurs himself picks his guitar as fluently as ever, that Stephan Jankowskis guitar solos are immaculate and that Theo Wijdeven provides his familiar, propulsive bass support. There are songs about grandfatherhood (sic!), the bigger powers, jealousy, magpies in a tree, falling leaves in autumn, the search for God, youth, love, and puppy love and what have you. High Acres is transatlantic folk & blues from The Watchman: sincere, luxurious and addictive. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.