Moving and contemplative masterpiece
The NNM series has actually been my favorite category to write for for years. It seems like a narrow genre to focus solely on music from Dutch soil, but it has actually proven to be one of the most varied over the years. This is also evident with the Amsterdam musician and composer Stephen Emmer.
He is the son of the iconic Dutch news anchor Fred Emmer (1934-2019), whom the somewhat older generation among us will still remember. Stephen himself started out in the legendary Minny Pops and also appeared in The Lotus Eaters, but emerged as a gifted composer and producer, appearing alongside Lou Reed, Julian Lennon, Midge Ure, and more. He began releasing his own work in 1982, with one more in 1991. However, his solo career did not really take off until 2007, after which works by his hand appeared irregularly. From his new wave beginnings to a cinematic continuation, these works increasingly moved between jazz noir, minimal music, electronica, and neoclassical music. He was rightly knighted for his achievements. But most importantly, of course, is that his music is distinctive.
He is now presenting his ninth solo work, Asymmetrical Dot. This has turned out to be extremely personal and intimate, which is actually always characteristic of his music. His background, particularly that of his parents and grandparents, has always played a major role. After all, they brought together worlds that at first glance seemed far apart: namely, Dutch and Indonesian, European harmony and Eastern rhythms, order, and asymmetry.
Stephen learned early on that identity is ambiguous and to think outside the box; excluding nothing, but including what suits you. An open mind, one might say. That has already led to many great albums, but this one takes on an extra layer of weight and ambiguity due to the fact that his mother has passed away and his first grandchild has been born. Death, just like birth, is part of life, but it creates a mixed feeling; happiness embraces grief and makes things somewhat logical and bearable.
Emmer (piano, guitar, bass, keyboards, electronics) has composed 14 pieces here, which navigate between minimal music, jazz noire, neoclassical and world music. He collaborates with musicians from Armenia, Venezuela, Peru, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. The music is extremely melancholic, a feeling that can arise from both sadness and happiness, and hits home hard; perhaps also because I recently lost my own mother this year and became an orphan.
Stephen surrounds himself here with guest musicians on cello, violin, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and vocals (Beth Hirsh, Arpi Alto, Courtney Swain, Maria Alejandra Quintanilla), who are sometimes wordless but always meaningful. It really produces music that appeals to the imagination, which I don't think will leave you unmoved. It goes from highlight to highlight, even though you are sometimes in the depths in terms of feeling.
He pays tribute to Mark Hollis and David Lynch, which also characterizes the breadth of his music. You should think of a kind of cross-pollination of Robert Moran, Zbigniew Preisner, Henryk Górecki, Pablo Casals, Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore, Iva Bittová, Dead Can Dance Michel Banabila and Machinefabriek.
It has truly become an awe-inspiring, moving and contemplative masterpiece that embodies life in all facets.
[De Subjectivisten - Jan Willem - May 18, 2026]
Listen to Asymmetrical Dot here on your favorite streaming platform
Or click here to buy the Asymmetrical Dot album on CD