M.A. Bakker - Rejected Scripts (2016)

Bakker, who is also currently the bassist for the band Amsterdam Saints, is a consummate craftsman, displaying excellent engineering, and production talents and expertly playing almost all the instruments with steely precision. M.A. Bakker’s debut has a fiction novel feel to it, using vivid lyrical imagery with a level of musicianship and recording dexterity from a by-gone and great era of music.

“Ming Zhao Paradise,” the lead-off track on Rejected Scripts, lays if all on the line, with cryptic lyrics sung by featured vocalist Warren Byrd over a precocious back beat. Bakker supplies a Toto-like synthesizer accent, and a David Foster-inspired piano solo which interplays with a flute. It all melds together perfectly. Quite a feat in a 4:30 rock-pop song. “All We Need (Is a Little Bit of Luck)” travels down more familiar middle-of-the-road rock territory; however, M.A. Bakker’s craftsmanship is unmistakable.

“Fright Night” heaps on elements of funk, with Bakker’s bass setting the pace. Lyrically, the song would make a tasty theme for a horror-parody film, with Byrd casting the spell which is enhanced by the female vocalist and a 1970s-era synthesizer sound. There’s even a compact Dean Parks-like middle guitar solo, reminiscent of Steely Dan’s “Rose Darling.”

Tracklist:

1. This Amazing Hat 04:08
2. It's a Dirty Job 03:11
3. All We Need (Is a Little Bit of Luck) 04:26
4. Fright Night 04:23
5. Ming Zhao Paradise 04:25
6. Jet Set Dream 04:55
7. Goodnight Suzanna 03:43
8. House of Leaves 04:39
9. The Sirens of Titan 05:01
10. OASIS 04:35

Personnel:

Maarten Bakker - all music & lyrics, arrangements, bass guitar, guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (track 2 & 8), mixing & editing, recording engineer, artwork, catering
Warren Byrd - lead vocals
Peter Weissink - drums
Natasja den Toom - backing vocals (track 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 10)
Simon Feenstra - backing vocals (track 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6)
Anna Zeijlemaker - flute (track 5 & 9), piccolo (track 5)
Hans van Wingerden - trumpet (track 1, 6, 7, 8)
David Wilschut - tenor saxophone (track 1, 6, 7, 8)
Jos van den Heuvel - trombone (track 1, 6, 7, 8)