Raymond Van Het Groenewoud once played in the backing band of the hardly known in the Netherlands Belgian singer / guitarist Kris de Bruyne. Together with Johan Verminnen, they stood at the foot of Dutch-language rock in the early seventies. De Bruyne is now a living legend in his homeland with an eventful career and oeuvre behind him. On Westende Songs, produced by guitarist and producer Jean-Marie
… Aerts, he sounds like a refined and experienced blues singer. Charismatic and meaningful, like Johnny Cash on his American Recordings, he sings in a musing tone of love, death and nightlife full of fleeting encounters, longings and last glasses of rum. Besides the Bruynes bluesy guitar playing, the accompaniment is often limited to some percussion or modest saxophone bumps. It only benefits intimacy. On this intense album it sounds as if the man, oblivious to any audience, is lonely exposing his soul. (MR)more
