Elly Roberts reviews

Distributed by
River Records

January 2008

Rating: 10/10

With a little help from his famous friends, Frank Baijens cuts the mustard - and a debut CD.

So, when Paul McCartney is reported to have said "nice tunes", you simply have to take notice.

When Frank gave Macca the basic cuts on CD at the Virgin Mega Store in London on November 22, 2006, he was later sent a FAX from a representative of Sir Paul’s, claiming the great musician had heard the basic tunes, and liked them.

"Dream of dreams" can come true, even if they take much longer than you’d expect.

This is exactly what’s happened to Dutchman Frank Baijens as he finally realises a long-standing ambition to put his undisputed talents on disc. According to Frank, it all goes back to the halcyon days of pop: "it was the pop music of the sixties that definitely shaped my passion for music." It doesn’t stop there though.

The long overdue result is the excellent Odd Man Out which is set to be one of THE albums of 2008. Using a host of internationally recognised musicians including compatriot Jan Akkerman (ex-Focus) and Brit Bob Weston (ex-Fleetwood Mac) we get an album giving a strong nod to his childhood idols The Beatles, Macca and others. The "nice tunes" tag is an over simplification of what’s really going on here, and as flattering as it is, it doesn’t do justice to it.

His keen observational skills combined with personal matters make this a very potent album. Truth is, there’s a lot of stylish and sophisticated music happening here. We get solid pop ballads juxtaposed with jazzy outings, a la Steely Dan. Where The Heart Belongs, an undeniable nod to Macca (especially the vocals by Eric van Dijsseldonk who does most of the vocals), opens this box of delights, though the album isn’t a Beatles tribute per se. A similar later Macca template runs through Welcome To My Life, a personal song about escaping the rat race to Tobago.

There’s a dramatic shift of style and singer (Jo de Roeck) on Jake’s Own Personal Demon. Adopting a loungy urban Jazz style executed by the likes of Steely Dan. Despite oozing Californian warmth, it tells the tale of a boy who leads two lives, showing a darker side to his personality. Then comes a masterful instrumental – Call For C.B.A. This jaunty tune is dedicated to one of his heroes Chet Atkins.

Floating In His Mother’s Palm reprises Macca once again. This ballad is one Frank’s favourites as it reveals the sad tale of a boy who’s the black sheep of the family. Witnessing a friend who encountered a ‘control freak’ partner, it gave rise to Words To Live By – "She laid her hands on everything / He even lost his toys / How could she be so cruel to him / For he was such a lovely boy." - This exquisite jazzy ditty is highlighted by some virtuoso trumpet from Eric Vloeimans.

The Void is a deeply emotive song, introduced by sublime piano-work, recounts the tragic murder of a child near Rotterdam: this menacing song brings home the reality of psychopaths on the loose. There’s also a blistering bluesy guitar solo that adds drama to the piece.

Inspired by a Steve Martin flick, Home Again’s almost jazzy/music hall touch relates the funny side of domesticity for the typically married man seeking to ‘escape’, temporarily. Another instrumental – On Your Bike - shows the playful side of Frank’s versatility, dipping into Kurt Weill’s theatrical territory, then a switch of code for the lush Song For Greg that tells the sad story of Ernest Hemmingway’s eldest son.

For Back To My Childhood Years, his most personal song, Frank reminisces about time spent with his beloved mother, being the youngest of three children, he relates his fond memories with great sensitivity and empathy, given added melancholy by some divine splashes of pedal steel. Lovers torn apart decide the ownership of their pet dog, Max.

The man is tricked by his ex, with Max relegated to a animal shelter, but is eventually re-united with, "...a hug to express / a lifelong devotion to him"

All the songs are self-penned, but so confident is Frank that he’s happy to let a rotation of lead singers to deliver the lyrics and even opts out on some songs, which is a brave move.

Holland has a major songwriting talent. Embrace him.

What the musicians say:

• Sir Paul McCartney – "Nice tunes."

• Bob Weston – "My instant impression was that I was really taken by this album. It’s very emotional showing great depth. Frank has put a lot of soul into it and has achieved a tremendous amount of quality and all from the heart.

  Odd Man Out is a beautiful piece of work. There’s a wide spectrum of work: one for everybody, and Frank should be proud of it."

• Jan Akkerman – "I got involved with Odd Man Out because Frank called me and asked me if I’d play guitar on a tribute to his youth. He sent me some tracks to choose so I played on Out Of Breath. The album is very pleasant and influenced by The Beatles, 60s and 70s with a broad range of music."

File under: Another Dutch master.