The Watchman is the pseudonym of Ad van Meurs from Eindhoven, the singer and guitarist who made new wave with the group WAT in the eighties and then started to integrate American roots music into his music. High Acres is his ninth album and shows Van Meurs in a quiet and introspective mood. His compositions and playing are clearly rooted in American blues and folk (JJ Cale is never far away), but
… in their style they have an unmistakably European edge. European and melancholic as the expired grandeur in the photos of an abandoned seaside resort (Ostend?) That adorn the cover. Also special are the clear vocal contributions of producer / spouse Ankie Keultjes who often add color to the somewhat dynamic and toneless voice of Van Meurs himself. Another fixed value is guitarist Stephan Jankowski who seems to feel the singer flawlessly and sometimes puts down the right lick to break through all that stillness and introspection. All this makes High Acres a very beautiful and well-balanced album. (MR)more
