It’s not often that I get excited by a new single from Dutch rock band Di-Rect. For the longest time, Di-Rect have been the most popular rock band in The Netherlands. Even a change in lead singer, who went on to have a solo career touring theatres instead of clubs, couldn’t slow the band down.
The change in front man happened several years ago (2009 to be exact), and I have noticed that the band have used that change to get more experimental, in recent years. They have introduced more of a sensitive side and got to experiment with more psychedelic music, while their original front singer also went on to explore his sensitive side.
With all the previous releases, only one or two songs have caught my attention, and that was pretty much around the time that Marcel (the new guy) replaced the old guy. The band quickly also added a keyboard player to their regular line-up, which has not only had an impact on their musical changes, but it’s also created an interesting picture every time I see a photo of the band. The band has since existing of a wide range of ages and people.
I think their latest single is another testimony of all those facets combined. They’ve incorporated a sound that takes us back to 60s and early 70s. It’s definitely something I didn’t have expected from them.
In “Ricochet”, the group have decided to take on a funky, partially electronic, disco sound and it works magnificently well. Due to the rough vocals from Marcel, it doesn’t have that edge that you would expect from Di-Rect, or any rock band for that matter, but mixed with this sound, it all reminds you a bit of Jamiroquai or something in that line. Don’t be fooled by the showbiz tune intro of the song. It is in no way cheesy, but it is in every way a very good shot.
