Sentimental Fools

Dutch musician and producer Phil Martin has always been interested in the West Coast music scene and distinctive sounds from the late ’70s era. Artists like Steely Dan, Hall and Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles all featured heavily in his diet of music when he was growing up. As a producer and songwriter, Phil has historically been more active in soul and jazz music. He has produced albums for successful projects such as The Jazzinvaders, Laura Vane and The Vipertones and The Soul Snatchers, all busy touring bands with international radio support.

After working on a project with singer Lo van Gorp (Garp) from the Netherlands, Phil found the perfect vocal fit for his own West Coast flavored pop album. Together with other songwriters like Joel Sarakula and Laura Vane he began writing and producing songs. Lo van Gorp is a well known backing singer and saxophonist in Holland, recognized for his work backing many bigger artists like Marco Borsato, Paul Carrack, Roger Hodgson, Chaka Khan, Trijntje Oosterhuis and Al Jarreau, to name a few.

The sound of Martin and Garp can best be described as feel-good, radio friendly melodies romantically looking back to California in the ’70s. Imagine that feel-good record that has to be played loudly in your convertible, recorded by super-pro musicians on original analog equipment. Cruising down the coast with the wind in your hair, darting in and out of the shade created by beach-side palm trees: that’s Sentimental Fools.

Credits: Lo van Gorp (vox), Phil Martin (drums), Edwin in ‘t Veld (guitars), Ton van der Kolk (bass), Govert van der Kolm (keys), Joel Sarakula (keys), Maarten Teekens (backing vox) and Kees Elsman (mouth harp). Recorded, mixed and produced by Phil Martin. Mastering by Edwin in ‘t Veld. Released on Legere Recordings.