"Family Portraits (Volume 2)" is the second full length album by British song-writer Hendrik "Henk" Kleinsmiede; and the second in a triple series of "concept" albums on the theme of family.
Written largely during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021, the sheer number of songs (three volumes!) and the subject matter (family) reflect the times. During three separate lockdowns in the UK and the inability to do anything else but stay at home, Henk had plenty of time on his hands to write and record songs. It was also a time for reflection...on things that matter most. In times of crises, our collective thoughts also turn to the topics dearest to our hearts: family.
The songs on all three "Family Portraits" records explore different aspects of family life: the good times; the not-so-good times; the relationships; the emotion.
Many of the themes explored are universal: love for children expressed in love songs addressed directly to them; both joy and disappointment in relationships and marriages; sibling and parental relationships etc. In short, "the good; the bad; and the ugly". The fun and the dysfunctional.
The record also explores the theme of myth...of storytelling. All families are full of stories -- about themselves; individual members; relationships; occasions; friendships; feuds; fracas. But these stories aren't necessarily stable: like all stories they change and are reinvented over time. Mythologised. Take for example the song "Digital Migrants". Here my relationship with my step-son Henri, who I am very close to, is reimagined as a future journey through space and an imagined tech landscape.
To reflect this theme of mythologising, the songs across all three albums are expressed as little stories; observational vignettes. These often restrict themselves to a single dimension of a family relationship: love, pride, disappointment. Sometimes all three. Hence, some songs about, say, the parent or a lover, cover totally different dimensions of that person.
In writing vignettes, the artist was somewhat inspired by Charles Dickens, whom he has been reading fairly prolifically over the last few years (as if Dickens wrote songs!)and the employment of occasionally Dickensian titles.
As the moniker of the songwriter ("Reciprocity Nexus") suggests, this endeavour was very much a collaborative affair. First and foremost with musical collaborator and consultant, Siljan Panovski, who offered invaluable advice on all aspects of the songwriting, from song structure to melodies and harmonies.
But also the following musicians:
Drums: Max Saidi
Drum programming: Will Manwaring
Bass: Dan Giles / Will Manwaring
Piano and Keyboards: Siljan Panovski / Will Manwaring
Guitars: Nicky V / Will Manwaring / Hendrik Kleinsmiede
Brass: William Allen Jnr.
Strings: Elliott Kempton
Vocals and vocal harmonies: Hendrik "Henk" Kleinsmiede
Half of Volume 2 of the "Family Portraits" was produced (mixed and mastered)by Tunbridge Wells, UK, based producer Will Manwaring*. The other half by Skopje, Macedonia, based producer and music consultant Siljan Panovski**.
I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.
"Family Portraits (Volume 2) track listing:
- Siblings**
- Sunlight**
- Digital Migrants*
- Favourite People**
- The Beautiful Game**
- The Road Less Traveled*
- The Most Beautiful Girl in the World**
- Waifs-and-Strays*
- Love in a Time of Contagion**
- Trees**
- Wash Your Hands**
- Lesser Loved Sons*
- The One Thing (You Said You Would Never Do)*
- Never, Ever, Love**
All songs written by Hendrik "Henk" Kleinsmiede except "The Road Less Travel
ed" and "Wash Your Hands" co-written with Siljan Panovski.
Released by:
Third Space Entertainment Ltd.
Album release date:
14 July 2021
