On his 11th album Voort! shows Alex Roeka that his seamy past is still an inexhaustible source for him. This singer-songwriter, originally from Brabant, belongs in the tradition of Dutch artists who sing about the dark side of life with a great sense of romance. Night owls like Ramses Shaffy and Maarten van Roozendaal preceded him with great success. Roeka is a late bloomer. Before starting to
… develop his musical talent around the age of 40, he was a sailor, psychologist and (not to mention) alcoholic. On Voort! he wants to 'live like an animal' in the opening song Ik Wil Leven. But his conscience, love, bottle and memories keep him chained to his humanity, as we learn in the course of the album. Fortunately, because in that guise he is a strong lyricist who does not shy away from poetry, without getting swollen. Since his records are released by the Dutch indie label Excelsior, Roeka has also started to sound more catchy. (MR)more
