Gingerpig - Hidden From View (2013)

In 2011 we - at least I was! - were pleasantly surprised by the debut album 'The Way Of The Gingerpig' by the new Dutch outfit Gingerpig, a band around singer / guitarist Boudewijn Bonebakker. On that album four guys showed their love for classic rock: killer riffs were peppered with delicious grooves. The absolute highlight was and is the irresistible 'Joe Cool', a track I still listen to every week. We are almost two years later now and now there is the release of a new album, 'Hidden From View'. We already knew that keyboardist Jarno Van Es had left the band in 2012. The strange bird - who certainly gave the band something extra - decided to call it quits so he could venture into the wide world and the band stood at a turning point: continue as a three-piece or look for a replacement keyboard player. After the wrote the first song for the new album - 'Ugly Heart' - the band decided to continue as a trio. With the departure of Van Es the jams and weird antics have disappeared and the band is focussed now on writing and playing 70's rock-based songs.

In the best Deep Purple tradition opener 'Run' immediately sounds delicious. What a great guitar sound and what has Bonebakker grown as a singer (again)! 'Backlash' is built around a lovely swampy riff and the solo in this track is really cracking. The first more relaxed song is 'A Touch', a song with prominent keys. In my opinion this is an example of a song that would have sounded better with Van Es still in the ranks. 'Nothing' is a nice buster with a typical heavy rock vibe from the 80s, with nice mean vocals from Bonebakker. In terms of atmosphere, the following 'Oceans' perhaps is the highlight of this new album. The flute that we hear during this track directly reminds the listener of Jethro Tull or vintage Golden Earring. When the song is halfway it turns into a folky sound which is totally awesome. 'Pride' is also very well structured with driving drums from Maarten Poirters and the throbbing bass of Sytse Roelevink, not to mention the amazing guitar solo. In this track for (only) the second time I miss the contributions of the former bandmember. The aforementioned 'Ugly Heart pounds this album nicely slow towards the end. What a wonderful Sabbath colossus!

My conclusion is that I am very impressed by the compositional talents of the trio. The three of them know how to create a great sound and combined with technical skills it all fits together perfectly. I also think the band had guts to decide to go on as a trio, given the rather important role for the Hammond and electronics in the past. Apart from one or two moments this 'loss' is compensated effortlessly and carelessly by the qualities that have remained in the band (or even have strengthened). Unfortunately I miss a track of the same level as 'Joe Cool' but the album still impresses.

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