REVIEW: KB Meier “Durns”

Don’t be confused by the unfamiliar names of the artist and the album – KB Meier is a domestic musician who worked in several instrumental and vocal groups, until 2015 he started a solo career. In 2020, he released his debut album “Broken” in English, while last year he released the EP “Mājas” – now in Latvian. And “durns” is also a local word, if the 21st century generation doesn’t know it. “

“Durn is intoxicated, misunderstood, sometimes dazed and crazy, but real – to the bone, his soul is open to him, so look inside, take what you like, the rest is not needed,” comments the artist himself. About the album: “It contains nine, in my opinion, lovely songs with a hint of melancholy. Like all my songs, they are about loneliness, love, addictions, fighting with yourself, your mind and everything else that keeps you up at night.”

The recording was made in the studio “Gateris” under the guidance of Jānis Kalvānas, who also mixed it all, as well as generally applied his magical hand during the entire recording. In addition to KB Meier himself, Mārtiņš Vilnītis also participated in this recording, who sang background vocals and added keys to the whole event, while Ieva Fogele also appears as a backing vocalist in the track “Madness”. Drummer – Robert Kochots.

PAR. Quite listenable semi-acoustic indie rock with a pleasant timbre of the voice and attention-seeking lyrics, which could also be heard live in a smaller cultural venue. If you want to listen, you can recommend the opening song of the album “Asras” and/or “Neprāts” and “Liktenis”, which are located a little further in its vicinity, but subjectively, the song “Zvaigznes” included with the penultimate number of the album seems to be the best.

AGAINST. How many have heard of such an album coming out, even though it’s officially dated November 18th? Probably not too many. But if it was worth anything, word of mouth would have spread about such a feat. There is nothing here, absolutely no piece sticks in the mind.