Skipper Boetlek Ndromeda (NL,2005)****

Ndromeda is Ciska Ruitenberg : vocals, dobro, harmonium, banjo, and Jaco Bouwmeester : vocals, banjo, quatro, sitarguitar, cello, violin, double bass, bass and samples. Ciska played and sang before with a few other bands, like the triphop band Flying Dutchman. It’s a strong moody release, with a professional (-big label attractive-) sound and production. Ciska’s attractive, warm soulful voice has a bluesy-jazz Americana feel to it, with tempered but honest expressions of songs which reveals themselves softly. All songs are in English. It's hardly noticeable that it's sung by a Dutch person. The accompaniment is moody, chamber like and well executed. A short, but strong debut.

Gerald van Waes, www.radiocentraal.be/psychevanhetfolk