Steadfast and proudly unembellished, Dawn Brothers has long been a band to depend on. Seeing the Rotterdam foursome live means pinning one's eyes on straight craftsmanship – an unfaltering amalgam of folk rock, blues and soul. Don't expect any stage antics or grandiose singalongs: Dawn Brothers is like a primo piece of furniture, carved from a pure love of music. The same can be said of their newest studio album Cry Alone (March 21, 2025), on which the guys try their hand at new techniques and allow for some darkness to emerge in their ever so zestful, point-blank blend of americana.
In the years since their debut Staying Out Late (2017), Dawn Brothers have toured from Hungary to South Africa, played at both North Sea Jazz and Nashville's Americanafest, provided support for The Black Keys and the Golden Earring, and made several records with their (literal) soul mates DeWolff. After all these escapades, Alpine Gold (2022) was their way of going back to basics, with road-tested virtuosity. Cry Alone charts a similar course.
The devil, however, is in the details. With the same producer (Paul Willemsen) and in the same studio (Electric Monkey), the band sought out new sounds on familiar grounds. New melodies emerged from keyboardist Rowan's rediscovered roots in jazz; a Beyoncé song inspired the title track's bullheaded optimism; and 'Do Me Wrong' and 'Let It Bleed' also found sounds from unexpected influences. With a timeless foundation, Dawn Brothers appears on Cry Alone as a band of inconspicuous adventurers.
Increased experimentation has also allowed for new themes and feelings to emerge. Throughout the album, Dawn Brothers exchanges sundrenched exuberance for nocturnal contemplation. Thinking on mourning, break-ups and loneliness, like on 'I Will Never Hold Your Heart Again', the band leaves behind its predecessor's alpine meadows and heads for the big sleeping city. The corresponding album cover was, once again, designed by Floor van het Nederend.