Rosemary & Garlic - Rosemary & Garlic (2018)

How the Dutch duo of Anne van den Hoogen and Dolf Smolenaers came up with the name Rosemary & Garlic is anybody’s guess. Suffice to say that this own goal is best overlooked as it is the only aspect of this marvellous debut album that fails to impress. The opening track Birds opens with a gorgeous piano intro lasting close to a minute and a half before Anne’s vocals kick in and, if an opener was ever an advert for what is to come, then this is it. Haunting and brilliantly evocative vocals layered around Dolf’s memorable keys create a canvas rich in atmosphere and melancholy.
On first meeting, Anne joined Dolf’s band as a background singer but he very quickly realised that her vocals and lyrics needed to be up front and centre stage. It was a very wise decision.