Music
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Dutch couple's debut
Beanspouts are a singer songwriting couple from the Netherlands and "Happy Go Lucky" is their debut album. Primarily made up of Martijn de Kleer and Liesbeth Kemerlings, for "Happy Go Lucky" they have been joined by a full electric band. Even though there are old roots influences on this record they have been updated and there is a distinctly modern feel to this record.
"Shine" is an impressive track, a laid back song that has similarities to Neil Young while "Under the Weather" is an upbeat number with some great harmonies, the voices of de Kleer and Kemerlings compliment each other nicely. The title track has an old bluesy riff and is just one example of some great guitar playing by Martijn de Kleer. "Close" would sound good on any country radio station and closing track "Nature's Call" is one of the few times on the album where the music is stripped back to reveal the duo in more familiar settings, without the full weight of the backing band. The result is a warm, intimate number reminiscent of Johnny Cash and June Carter, and is a good way to end the album.
The danger when you have two different songwriters as lead singers in a band is that sometimes an album can seem disjointed but that is not the case with "Happy Go Lucky". Even though there is a range of different styles explored such as bluegrass, country, blues and folk they fit together nicely and there is cohesive direction to "Happy Go Lucky" that works quite well.

Date review added: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Reviewer: Steve Wills
Reviewers Rating: 
Related web link: Band Website
Americana UK
- Steve Wills
Press Reviews “Happy go Lucky”
“A surprisingly strong and versatile debut. They have an incredibly effective pen at their disposal for writing memorable pop songs; therefore this is a record that doesn’t seem to leave your CD player.
With this debut Beansprouts manifest themselves as the new standard barriers of Dutch roots music. A very big promise for the future.”
Erwin zijleman -Velvet Music
“You can rip my heart out and tear it in two (Close)
Beansprouts switch between folk country, intimate material and tasty
countryrock. The catchy song “Close” (a radio single?) is a highlight,
And not even because Gurf Morlix plays pedal steel on it.”
Bart Ebish - Hanx
“Kemerlings and de Kleer are singer songwriters in the right sense of the word. This is how we like to hear these songs best, warm, recognizable and from the heart. Beautiful intimate songs taking turns with stronger stuff, fine arrangements, pleasant voices, great lyrics with depth and great atmospheres. The songs are convincing and never slick or dull.
Happy go lucky contains all the ingredients of an excellent alternative country record.” Sjak janssen- Folkforum
“ A guaranteed hit in your car stereo”
Ronald besemer - Kinda Music
“ A surprisingly mature piece of work, with all original compositions that stand out piece by piece. The production sounds fresh and crisp, the musicians sound professional and a very strong point is the way the voices of Kemerlings and de Kleer seem to be designed for each other.”
Rene Leverink- Alt.country.nl
“Better believe us, Rootsville is not always so generous with compliments but for this heavenly duo we make an exception.
A must have!” Swa – Rootsville
“With Happy go lucky Beansprouts instantly belong to the absolute top of the European Rootsmusic scene, and they achieve the impossible by putting out a perfect debut album.” Benny Metten - Ctr.Alt.Country
“Real roots music. An absolute strongpoint is the switching of lead vocals. Some of the songs sound like classic Woody Guthrie or Hank Williams but this record certainly sounds like it’s made in 2008. What a beautiful record” Valsam – Rootstime
“A tasty record that anyone should try”
Jan Janssen – Real RootsCafe
“Pure and honest Americana. In a warm and effective way they know how to bring across the right authentic atmosphere, complete with banjo’s and fiddles and a characteristic tear in the eye.” VPRO 3voor12
“The roots/Americana music of Beansprouts is a very pleasant listening experience. You can easily picture yourself in an old Lincoln cruising down an American highway. Vocally very strong and authentic sounding.
This is REAL music.” JG – Backline Magazine
“Old fashioned quality!”
Ruud Heijer-Heaven magazine.
- several
Discography
Beansprouts: “Happy go lucky” (Distribution: Sonic
Rendezvous NL)
Martijn de Kleer solo – “Flow” (Soleilmoon Records, USA)
Martijn de Kleer solo – “So close yet so far out” (Beta lactam ring records USA)
Martijn de Kleer: the stranger it gets: part 1 & 2
Photos
Bio
Dutch Singer-songwriters Martijn de Kleer and Liesbeth Kemerlings form the basis of the band Beansprouts.
Armed with a repertoire of American Rootsmusic they have made their rounds in the acoustic music-scene in several European countries,
refining their skills, writing their own songs.
In 2007 Beansprouts recorded their debut album titled “Happy go lucky” with a full back-up band, and they sure did pick the right people. As soon as you hear the fiddle and five string banjo in the first song you can tell that these guys paid some dues to get that authentic feel to their sound, but there’s a lot more to this band than just banjo’s and fiddles. All the songs on this CD are their own material and the sound is fresh and contemporary. They easily shift from acoustic instruments to twang banging electric guitar, creating a wide musical landscape. The lyrics find a perfect balance between straight from the heart honesty and dry humor, intriguingly personal but never hard to digest. Cleverly choosing the right song for the right singer they either switch lead vocals or back each other up with voices that seem to be designed for each other.
As a special treat Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier) plays some mighty fine Pedal steel on a few songs. Call it Electric Acoustic Rootsmusic with a Dutch American flavor; this is the kind of record that you really play.. a lot.
“With Happy go lucky beansprouts instantly belong to the absolute top of the European Roots music scene, and they achieve the impossible by putting out a perfect debut album.”
Benny Metten - Ctr.Alt.Country
“ A surprisingly mature piece of work, with all original compositions that stand out piece by piece. The production sounds fresh and crisp, the musicians sound professional and a very strong point is the way the voices of Kemerlings and de Kleer seem to be designed for each other.”
Rene Leverink- Alt.country.nl
A list of musical influences could be endless but the following names ring pretty close to home:
Hank Williams, Steve Earle, The Band, Uncle Tupelo, The Meat Puppets, Cowboy Junkies, Hackensaw Boys, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Townes van Zandt, Michael Hurley, Bert Janch, Doug Sahm, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Jayhawks, Son Volt, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, The Carter family, The Holy Modal Rounders, Clarence Ashley, The new lost city ramblers, Jody Stecher, Woody Guthrie, Jimmy Rodgers….
Currently receiving airplay, including:
Blueprint radio
Song River
KRO American Connection
Paul van Gelder, Night jock VARA
A Shake of Music
Crossroads: ALBUM OF THE WEEK, June 20
Havenstad FM Country file
Radio Landslide
Radio 0162
Radio Barneveld
Radiogirl
Radio Hoorn
Radio Rijnswoude
VPRO 2voor12 Arnhem/Nijmegen
Number 5 in the Euro Americana Chart of July 2008.
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