Ad Vanderveen
Beat the Record
(BTR)

Ad Vanderveen’s exceptional reputation as a singer-songwriter with a superior skill set is well entrenched in his native Netherlands, but sadly, here in the States, he’s hardly known at all… and that’s despite a string of exceptional LPs and intermittent efforts with sometime collaborator Iain Matthews. Nevertheless, this latest set of songs offers all the proof needed as why his fan base continues to build back home. Exceedingly mellow, melodic and engaging, these tracks demonstrate his innate ability to create a compelling sound from the most tender of trappings. There’s not an abundance of fuss or fastidiousness in terms of preparation; as he explains in his back cover comments, his aim was to convey the music in “the most direct and pure way by sharing… the first expression in recording, the original demo.”  Yet despite the relatively spartan settings the songs still resonate remarkably. Modest though it may be, here’s hoping — and expecting — that Beat the Record will propel this talented artist towards even greater awareness.(www.advanderveen.com)
Lee Zimmerman-No Depression, April 2014.