J. Bernardt—aka Jinte Deprez—may be best known as one half of Belgian favourites Balthazar, but his latest album Contigo proves he can certainly hold a tune on his own as well. The album hits a mark between sophisticated and loose, emphatic and subtle, and steely and warm. Combining influences of orchestral pop, soul, and funk, the album oozes with a rainbow of flavours for the listener to indulge in.
Opening with “Rio,” which was written on a trip to Brazil, we are immediately welcomed by majestic strings showcasing Deprez’s vulnerable side. The track then fades into “Taxi,” a literal trip as Deprez needs to escape so he can process the bad news. Throughout the album a backdrop of streamlined funk, with thick bass and guitar twangs, adds to the contrast of strings, creating something undeniably slick and suave.
“Don’t Get Me Wrong” once again showcases Bernardt’s unique ability to combine orchestral pop with funk-infused flavours, creating something truly mesmerizing. Talking about the release, Deprez elaborates, “’Don’t Get Me Wrong’ takes a walk-through on communication skills that are not on point, even fed by a sabotaging desire of two people that choose projection rather than self-reflection. It’s an old habit of most of us use to fuel the fire, until it burns the house down.”
Next up is “Last Waltz,” slowing the pace down but by no means the power in Deprez’ stunningly unique baritone. Tracks “Contigo” and “Matter of Time” fall into a similar vein, sounding akin to The Last Shadow Puppets and Jungle.
The pace picks up once more for “Mayday Call”—a song that reflects Deprez’s memory of “virtually a panic attack” with a suitable coda of blasting horns. “I’m The Ghost You Forgot” is quintessential breezy pop before Contigo’s closing two ballads, the sparse “Our Love Was Easy”—tailor made for Sinatra or any number of barflies—and the finale “Free” which builds to one last dramatic sweep of strings and a choir with the powerful parting words, “Are we lonely or are we finally free?”
Although perhaps not groundbreaking in genre, what Deprez does effortlessly is infuse vulnerability with a sense of style and swag. If you’re looking for an album to absorb whilst on your next road trip, then look no further than Contigo.
Contigo is in stores now via Play It Again Sam.
