Spinvis

Spinvis, aka Erik de Jong, appeared from seemingly out of nowhere with his 2002 debut, which the Dutch composer recorded in his attic, tackling every instrument himself. His winsome bedroom pop feels both placeless and, save the occasional touch of Auto-Tune, timeless, bridging classic singer/songwriter styles and contemporary electronic. Much of the magic lies in his unconventional chord changes and intricate guitar/bass interplay, but it’s his nuanced voice—a wistful croon on “Bagagedrager”, a gravelly croak on “Smalfilm”—that makes the album feel as welcome as a phone call from as a long-lost friend.