ARRIVAL The Debut Album

Beschrijving

“Arrival” is the debut album by Kae West containing eleven stunning tracks. The album spans 25 years of songwriting. Its genre is rock, blending elements of alternative rock, progressive, and even metal rock. If you enjoy these genres and artists like Pink Floyd, Heart, Kate Bush, as well as ABBA, Morrissey, Linkin Park, Picture, Metallica, The Pretenders, Within Temptation, Nightwish, etc. then it’s definitely recommended giving it a listen.

“ARRIVAL” was brought to life with contributions from, among others, the GOOV Musical Theater Choir from Groningen, Red Pack Productions, Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios in Sweden and Laurens Bakker (drummer of the metal band Picture). In the 70’s Laurens is lead singer’s former neighbor, and she used to hear him drumming. She is an ABBA fan, and he’s into metal. Today, they’re joining forces in Kae West together after an almost serious feud between their parents 45 years ago due to poorly insulated walls in the apartment building.

What’s special about the songs is the English pronunciation of Dutch lead singer Korine and the beautiful harmonies combined with the wall of sound from metal drummer Laurens Bakker and metal guitarist Jon Merrelaar. The multi-vocal choir contribution from the GOOV Musical Theater Choir from Groningen and the symphonic layers that carry the songs make the whole experience truly amazing. Experience has shown that few people listen to music lyrics, but you can’t ignore the recognisability of the song lyrics.

Examples of the wall of sound can be found in tracks like “Bigotry,” “Alert The Media,” as well as “Here I Am” and “Heavenly Light.” Also in progressive rock song “Phenomenon” with the voice of Korine’s daughter Caelyn at the time she was six years old and with lead guitar by her son Kay. (Someone commented on TikTok: “If someone told me Gilmour (David Gilmour/ Pink Floyd) dropped this (guitar solo) on a solo album I wouldn’t think twice about it”.) Symphonic elements are evident in “The Sparkle,” addressing loss and deception, and “No Trespassing,” a song about eternal darkness. But there are also a few cheerful, albeit never without some cynicism: “Strictly Necessary.” Could that be a subtle ABBA influence I hear?

Live, Kae West promise a lot for the near future. A co-production that resembles a rock opera, but only in the way that Kae West could do it. So, expect something different and very special in the first quarter of 2025.

KAE WEST – ARRIVAL (Debut album)

Credits:
Korine Varekamp – Composer, Arranger, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Art Conception;

Laurens Bakker – Drums;

Appie de Gelder – Keys;

Roland Kramer – Synths;

Kay Varekamp – Solo Guitar ‘Phenomenon’;

GOOV Musical Theater Choir, Groningen, under direction of Marcel Den Os;

Red Pack Productions, The Netherlands – Recording, Mixing, Production

Fascination Street Studios, Jens Bogren, Sweden – Mastering;

Alex Elzer – Composer;

Boudewijn van den Berg – Composer;