Spangen by Jelle Kuipers, Philip James de Vries, Aiden & Gitchell Moore – An Experimental Ride Worth Taking
Alright, let’s talk about Spangen. Released in 2016 on Temparc Music (Canada shoutout!), this album is a bit of a wild card in the electronic scene. It’s not your typical beat-driven banger fest—it leans more into experimental, ambient, and leftfield vibes with some dub sprinkled in for good measure. If you’re into music that feels like wandering through a foggy forest at night, this one might just hit the spot.
The tracklist itself has some real gems, but two tracks stuck out to me enough that I couldn’t stop thinking about them: "Gezellig" and "Putidub (Philip James de Vries Remix)."
First off, "Gezellig." Man, what a vibe. The title is Dutch, which fits since Jelle Kuipers hails from those parts, and it kinda translates to “cozy” or “pleasant.” But don’t expect hot cocoa vibes here. This track starts off slow, almost hesitant, like it’s tiptoeing around your ears. Then these lush pads roll in, layering up until you’re completely enveloped. There’s no big drop or anything flashy—it’s all about building atmosphere. What makes it memorable? Probably how unassuming yet hypnotic it feels. Like, you put it on while staring out the window, and suddenly an hour’s gone by. Sneaky little thing.
Then there’s "Putidub (Philip James de Vries Remix)." Now THIS is where things get interesting. The original "Putidub" already had that deep, murky dub feel, but Philip takes it somewhere else entirely. He stretches out the basslines like molasses dripping off a spoon, adds these glitchy textures that pop in and out, and somehow keeps everything groovy as hell. It’s the kind of remix that makes you rethink the whole idea of what dub can be. Honestly, if someone played this at 3 AM in a dimly lit club, I’d lose my mind. Or maybe find it? Who knows.
One thing I dig about Spangen is how collaborative it feels. You’ve got four artists bringing their own flavors to the table, and instead of clashing, they complement each other. It’s like a musical potluck where everyone brought something weird but delicious. And yeah, sure, not every track lands perfectly—some moments are a bit too abstract even for me—but when it works, it REALLY works.
So, final thoughts? Listening to Spangen feels like taking a detour down a road you didn’t know existed. Sometimes it’s confusing, sometimes it’s breathtaking, and sometimes it’s both at once. Honestly, isn’t that what good art should do? Make you question why you’re smiling while being slightly disoriented? Anyway, give it a spin if you’re tired of predictable beats and want something that’ll mess with your head in the best way possible. Oh, and fun fact: I listened to this album while trying to assemble IKEA furniture. Let’s just say neither of us came out unscathed.
