The Watchman - High Acres 2006

Is 'High Acres' The Watchman's most contemplative album to date? It may very well be, together with Carnival of Circumstance, his album from 2002, which was so well received. But in this case the rule is: soft = heavy !!

There are 'no dull moments' on this collection of songs which all feature The Watchman's trademark sound. Intriguing, almost hypnotic songs with a definite romantic feel, sung in a compelling way by Ad and his wife Ankie, who was also responsible for the more than agreeable production. She has a style all her own, in which the various acoustic instruments are draped around Gerard van der Graaf's piano and the percussive rhythm section. The latter includes - next to Eric van der Lest on drums - Osama Milaagi, King of Rhythm from Khartoum. He also distinguished himself on the very successful No Blues production, the Arabicana project in which The Watchman played such an important part. And it goes without saying that Ad van Meurs himself 'picks' his guitar as fluently as ever, that Stephan Jankowski's guitar solos are immaculate and that Theo Wijdeven provides his familiar, propulsive bass support.

There are songs about grandfatherhood (sic!), the 'bigger powers', jealousy, magpies in a tree, falling leaves in autumn, the search for God, youth, love, and puppy love and what have you.

'High Acres' is transatlantic folk & blues from The Watchman: sincere, luxurious and addictive. Thanks to B.!

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The Watchman - The Carnival of Circumstance 2002

Dutch songwriter/guitarist Ad van Meurs started out playing keyboards in a folk-rock band called Deirdre in the mid-'70s. After the punk revolution, he switched to guitar and formed the punk band Bleistift. By the early '80s, the group had become an experimental noise band, including van Meurs'sgirlfriend, Ankie Keulthes. In 1983, the duo formed World According To, a less abstract band, featuring Keulthes on lead vocals. When Keulthes took time off to have a child, Ad van Meurs began his solo career under the name of the Watchman. The group supported Alex Chilton, Michelle Shocked andJonathan Richman, and released a self-titled album for Rykodisc in 1991. AMG.

This is also a B. link, thanks. If you say The Watchman plays Blues, you're right. If you say The Watchman plays American Folk, you're right. If you say the band rocks, you're right. The Watchman is not easily categorised.
The music of The Watchman is a search for originality along a road full of traditional elements, 'roots', improvisation and happy songwriting. If it really needs to be forced into words, why not just call it contemporary Rhythm & Folk. If anything, their music is straight from the heart, a heart that knows more doubts than certainties and is always hopelessly in love with life itself.
Ad van Meurs began his career as The Watchman in 1988 performing at the Rockfest in the still-behind-the-curtain Prague.
As a singer-songwriter with a rhythm-box, labelled as 'hard-folk', he took around the world, from The New Music Seminar in New York, an East coast tour and a Texas tour up to be the opening solo act for Urban Dance Squad's European tour in 1991.
The album "Carnival of Circumstance" is a Watchman album if there ever was one. Warm, sometimes lonely songs with lyrics as deep as Ad's voice speak of love, passion and being homesick regardless of what country you're in. Raving reviews allround, and reviewers wonder how soon The Watchman will see a much earned breakthrough.

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