Bernard Hering - “Abel Tasman NP”

Photo by Elisabeth Van Aalderen

We’ve long been fans of Bernard Hering and his quest to deliver an album of raw, stripped-back music that harkens back to the days of analogue recording. In fact, much of his new record was captured live, in one take, resulting in a collection of some the most honest and pure recordings that we’ve ever heard. Back in April, we featured two cuts from the LP, “Drive on, drive on” and “Only a broken heart away,” but today he returns with the fourth single, “Abel Tasman NP.”

Much like the rest of the record, with “Abel Tasman NP,” Hering maintains the same, extremely raw and no-frills production. The track begins with the wide and spacious strums of an acoustic guitar, seemingly dry aside from the coat of reverb that dresses the entire arrangement. When his vocal enters, you get nothing but the truth– there is no autotune or fancy, modern tricks being utilized here; it’s simply a man and his heart, entering your ears as though you’ve opened a private journal of Hering’s thoughts.

A glorious highlight of “Abel Tasman NP” is when Hering travels up into his falsetto. There’s something about these stripped-back, emotional performances that remind us why we started our blog in the first place– to unearth the natural talent of the world. And within these barebones recordings, therein lies a sort of sonic DNA that forces the listener to believe in the magic of those who were born to be songwriters. For a divine sense of atmosphere, Hering has invited the ghostly keys of Len van de Laak, which become audible on the second half of the track, ensuring that every listener remains engaged.

If you like what you hear, be sure to pick up the full LP, Out of thin air, when it is released next month via Concerto Records.

-HD