PURE DONZIN (vinyl)

Description

MEDITATIVE OBSERVATIONS AND HYPNOTIC GROOVES. 'Pure Donzin' is the first solo album from the talented Dutch artist Donald 'Donny' Madjid, keyboardist and singer for the well-known Mauskovic Dance Band. Forced into a hiatus by the pandemic, Donny, armed with a 60s drum machine and a few synths, used his free time to experiment and record new sounds. From these sessions, 9 tracks were chosen to form 'Pure Donzin', the debut album from the Don Melody Club, an alias chosen for the occasion. While many of his Amsterdam friends tend to look to distant sounds for inspiration, Donald Madjid took a different path to honor the literary and musical tradition of the Netherlands, following in the footsteps of Dutch troubadours, both classic and lesser-known, such as Ramses Shaffy (the album features a cover of 'Laat Me', itself a cover of Serge Regianni's 'Ma Dernière Volonté') and Ronald Langestraat. Don drew inspiration from bar slang and, for the first time, began writing in his native language, skillfully crafting lyrics that his rich tenor voice delivers with a sincerity that resonates, whether or not one understands Dutch. This intimacy is balanced by synthesizer and drum machine grooves, reminiscent of Dutch New Wave legends 'Doe Maar' — merging pop hits and infectious dance rhythms with these otherwise pensive ballads. Among the album's highlight tracks is the danceable 'Psychonauten', a true ode to immersion in nocturnal magic, at a time when it was so lacking during the project's recording; this track is a beautiful example of the synthesis between a festive atmosphere and the lyricism that 'Donny' wishes to bring to the album. The influence of the Mauskovic Dance Band, particularly the hypnotic groove and bass — a sonic signature that guides Don' in his new directions — can be detected on 'Veranderd'. Like an anthem, this track is interspersed with 70s West African sounds, fast percussion arrangements, and energetic choirs. More relaxed, 'Isabel', the album's first single, is a true love song, nostalgic, melancholic but also psychedelic and cool. A real treat for the heart. The opening track 'Geen Nood' (No Panic) paints a bucolic landscape where cyclists ride along the canals of Amsterdam, seeing leaves in the water. They feel their blood flow peacefully through their veins — letting go of the need to be anywhere other than where they are. Whether through meditative observations or hypnotic dance grooves, 'Pure Donzin' is a record that encourages the listener to fully immerse themselves in the present moment." A JUBILANT EXOTICISM. A GROOVE TO WAKE THE DEAD. " ---TÉLÉRAMA ---.