ROOTS TOWN – Belgium (June-August 2001)

DOUG HOEKSTRA – AROUND THE MARGINS (Inbetweens)

We had to wait 2 years for the follow to "Make Me Believe", the record that made us call him "The Godfather of narrative alternative folk."

Now Hoekstra's 4th album "Around the Margins" appears, a very headstrong, experimental but definitely not a less worth while product. Doug's always stong narrative songs are still about his personal believes about death, family and the way relationships can change over the years. He regularly weaves new sound elements through his songs and uses unusual instrumentationation to give this work a unique attmosphere.

Already from the instrumental opening song (viola/cello) "Margins", there's a certain tension and electricity in the air building up to the last notes of the closing rocker "Strangers Eyes". Just as on "Make Me Believe" all the styles are there to hear, only this time smothered in a different sauce.  Doug uses bells, harmonica, shakers, melodium, rainsticks and more, but is  also not afraid to use samples and drum loops in the song "Houses Flying"(in which you'll hear an interview with his parents). "Laminate Man" is another special example, all synthesizer and eckos of Ray Davies' Kinks and nuggets  of sixties phsycodilia. The only cover on the CD is Dylan's "Isis" accompanied by trumpet, alto sax and clarinet that smoothly goes over into a strong Dylanesque "Undone". At times this CD also has a very rootsy feel such songs as "Desdemona , "That's Where he was Living" (co-written with Gary Michael Smith) and the aforementioned "Undone" are real pearls. In short "Around the Margins" is a record you have to identify with...then it will slowly give away it's pleasures and secrets. Listen for yourself I'd say... (BD)