Tot ziens, Justine Keller

After building his bedroom project up to a full touring band, Erik de Jong stripped Spinvis back to its solo origins on 2011’s <i>Tot Ziens, Justine Keller</i>. His melodic magic was as unpredictable as ever:hushed, piano-led lullabies (“Jij Wint”) and gentle acoustic fingerpicking (“De Grote Zon”) alternate with sunny rave-ups (“Heel Goed Nieuws”) and even ‘60s flutes and glockenspiels (“We Vieren Het Toch”). But his sweet spot remained trim, quietly affecting pop songs like the opening “Oostende”, where tendrils of synth and guitar twine around his warm, weathered voice.