American response to Below Freezing at 14th Street -Union Square Station (2025)
“Art about a subject that is woefully under discussed.”
JASON WOODBURY
Aquarium Drunkard (USA)
“A recording artist profoundly engaged with the lyrical and spiritual possibilities of his craft.”
GOAT PALACE (USA)
(For English translations, please scroll down)
De Nederlandse pers over: Accidental Pictures – Ruud Houweling (2023)
“Even wankelde Ruud Houwelings geloof in muziek en liefde. Hij bezingt het prachtig in de louterende eerste single van zijn nieuwe album. Het geloof in beide is terug.”
VOLKSKRANT (Menno Pot)
“Een pure singer-songwriter met een internationaal geluid, stilistisch ergens tussen Tom Waits en Randy Newman in. Wat verder opvalt is de muzikale rijkdom. Onderscheidt zich ruimschoots van de talloze meer-van-hetzelfde singer-songwriterplaten die wekelijks uitkomen. Accidental Pictures is een met tastbare liefde gemaakt album dat een groot publiek verdient.”
LUST FOR LIFE **** (Robert Haagsma)
“Een typische fijnproevers-muzikant, zoals je ook fijnproevers-auteurs hebt.”
HAARLEMS DAGBLAD (Peter Bruyn)
“Ondanks het sombere onderwerp swingt deze plaat van passie, intensiteit en diepgang, een universeel statement creërend over liefde, verlies en loslaten.”
GOAT PALACE (USA)
“Een geboren verhalenverteller”
HEAVEN (Michael Struis)
“Een prachtige rootsplaat met internationale allure.”
MUSIC MAKER (Sam van Vijfeijken)
“Even geïnspireerd als gelouterd en verzoend met wie hij geworden is.”
KIPPENVEL.NET ***** (Ruud Heijjer)
“Ruud weet klassieke instrumenten zo te gebruiken dat het hedendaags klinkt en dat is kunst met een grote K ”
3VOOR12 (Jaap Koper)
“Wie het vermogen heeft om met de ogen gesloten en met volledige aandacht te luisteren naar ‘Accidental Pictures’ krijgt een heldere inkijk in de bijzondere verbeeldingswereld van Ruud Houweling, een goed beeld in de inzichten van een authentieke singer/songwriter die de kunst verstaat om met zijn gevoelige folk-klanken heel dichtbij te komen en er daarbij soms zelfs in slaagt om ‘onder de huid te kruipen’.”
BLUES MAGAZINE (Jeroen Bakker)
“Met groot vakmanschap geschreven en opgenomen. De teksten zijn persoonlijk en uit het leven gegrepen, inleefbaar en herkenbaar. Dat alles maakt Accidental Pictures tot een zeer prettig beluisterbaar album.” MANIA (Luc van Gaans)
English translations:
Dutch press on: Accidental Pictures – Ruud Houweling (2023)
“For a brief moment, Ruud Houweling’s faith in music and love wavered. He sings about it beautifully in the cathartic first single of his new album. Faith in both is back.”
VOLKSKRANT (Menno Pot)
A pure singer-songwriter with an international sound, stylistically somewhere between Tom Waits and Randy Newman. What is striking is the musical richness. Easily distinguishes itself from the countless more-of-the-same singer-songwriter records that are released every week. Accidental Pictures is an album made with tangible love that deserves a wide audience.
LUST FOR LIFE **** (Robert Haagsma)
“A typical connoisseurs musician, just like there are connoisseurs authors.”
HAARLEMS DAGBLAD (Peter Bruyn)
“A born storyteller”
HEAVEN (Michael Struis)
“A beautiful roots record with international allure.”
MUSIC MAKER (Sam van Vijfeijken)
“This record, although somber in its subject matter, swings with passion, intensity, and purpose creating a universal statement about love, loss, and closure.”
GOAT PALACE (USA)
“As inspired as he is purified and at peace with who he has become.”
KIPPENVEL.NET ***** (Ruud Heijjer)
“Ruud knows how to use classical instruments in such a way that it sounds contemporary, it’s art with a capital A”
3VOOR12 (Jaap Koper)
“Anyone who has the ability to listen to ‘Accidental Pictures’ with their eyes closed and with full attention will get a clear insight into the special imaginative world of Ruud Houweling, a clear view into the insights of an authentic singer-songwriter who mastered the art of coming very close with his sensitive folk sounds and sometimes even manages to ‘get under the skin”
BLUES MAGAZINE (Jeroen Bakker)
“Written and recorded with great craftsmanship. The texts are personal and drawn from life, they are empathetic and recognizable. All that makes Accidental Pictures a very pleasant album to listen to.”
MANIA (Luc van Gaans)
De Nederlandse pers over: The Wind Just Blew A Day Away – Ruud Houweling (2019)
“Laat nog eens horen wat voor een groot talent Houweling is.”
LUST FOR LIFE ****
“Dead Again is een bevreemdend, schurend jazzy artpop-pareltje”
MUSIC MAKER
“Nadrukkelijk Europese popmuziek”
HAARLEMS DAGBLAD
English translations:
Dutch press on: The Wind Just Blew A Day Away – Ruud Houweling (2019)
“Let’s us hear once again what a great talent Houweling is.”
LUST FOR LIFE ****
“Dead Again is an estranging, abrasive, jazzy art-pop gem”
MUSIC MAKER
“Emphatically European pop music”
HAARLEMS DAGBLAD
De Nederlandse pers over: Erasing Mountains – Ruud Houweling (2017)
“Hollands Licht, zoals dat klinkt met koperblazers en gitaar.”
DE VOLKSKRANT (Menno Pot)
“Erasing Mountains is een klein meesterwerk. Een avontuurlijke
warme plaat die van begint tot eind boeit.”
MUSIC MAKER *****
“Een heel organisch album, gedragen door Houwelings stem,
zijn gitaar en zijn songs. Internationaal allure.”
LUST FOR LIFE ****
“Rasmuzikant die met Erasing Mountains zijn nek uitsteekt.
Origineel, instrumentaal verrassend en muzikaal hoogstaand.”
OOR
English translations:
Dutch press quotes on: Erasing Mountains – Ruud Houweling (2017)
“Dutch light, as it sounds with brass instruments and guitar.”
DE VOLKSKRANT
“Erasing Mountains is a small masterpiece. An adventurous warm record that will hold your attention from start to finish.”
MUSIC MAKER *****
“Full-blooded musician, sticking out his neck with Erasing Mountains. Original, exciting instrumentation and of high musical standard.”
OOR
“A very organic sounding album, carried by Houwelings voice, his guitar and his songs. International allure.”
LUST FOR LIFE ****
“A well cut diamond. This album will undoubtedly stand the test of time.”
INNER EAR MEDIA
“A very accessible and excellent production with subtle use of brass players, beautiful melodies and exciting muscial combinations.”
PLATOMANIA
“A truly wonderful album that will reveal its beauty completely when you give it your full attention.”
FILE UNDER
Dutch press quotes on: A Gentle Sting – Cloudmachine (2013)
–Independent Music Awards 2014, Vox Populi Award for Best Alternative Album (USA)–
“International standard. Melancholy mixed with optimism and hope, in beautiful poetic songs.”
OOR (Jan van der Plas)
“Very flexible and versatile voice. What I like most about Cloudmachine is the music is not easy to catagorize. Timeless.”
LUST FOR LIFE **** (Robert Haagsma)
“Cloudmachine proves once again to be passionate and highly experienced”
NU.NL ****
“Beautiful record. Live very convincingly performed.”
LEO BLOKHUIS
“Almost every song tells a striking and compelling story.”
MUSIC MAKER
“A Gentle Sting can already be called one of the most beautiful albums of 2013”
MEDIAZINE
“Stunningly good”
IO PAGES
“Life Affirming”
MACFAN
“It refuses to be categorised and is a worthy addition to any one’s music collection”
LADY OBSCURE MAGAZINE (Turkey)
“The band’s music is too well made for Dutch radio”
FILE UNDER
“Full of melancholy, but also positivism”
**** MEDIA TOTAAL
“Beautiful landmark in the band’s discography with a few very radio friendly highlights.”
MUSIC FROM NL
“Cloudmachine is one of the most important contemporary bands in the Netherlands” (9/10)
MUSIC CREDO
Dutch press quotes on: Back On Land – Cloudmachine (2009)
Assisted by the much sought-after engineer Oz Fritz (Tom Waits, Primus), the band has delivered a third CD that is characterized by refined instrumentation. Melancholic without being gloomy, like a misty spring morning. What impresses most on ‘Back On Land are the fragile and emotional ballads.
TROUW (Saskia Bosch)
“Dutch hidden gem. Atmospheric indie pop full of strings, piano and melancholy.”
OOR
“In a just world, Cloudmachine is much better known than it is now. ‘Safe Haven’ is a highlight that I can listen to on repeat for half an hour.”
REVOLVER / LEO BLOKHUIS
“Big in sound. Cloudmachine can easily compare with Coldplay and Muse.”
HEAVEN
“A ripe record”
LEEUWARDER COURANT (Jacob Haagsma)
“Quality of this kind within this genre is hard to find in the Netherlands, but look no further.”
MEDIAZINE
“Intense and honest. Melancholic pop music, on occasion reminiscent of Radiohead in its early days. Songs like Safe Haven, Grace and the beautiful Spit Me out are impressive.”
MUSIC MAKER *****
“Houweling mastered the art of writing sweet songs that still shimmer with tension. Example? The beautiful Fading Picture in which Beatlesque harmony vocals alternate with carefully measured rock outbursts. Pop songs that have been carefully thought out in detail, pregnant with emotion. You can safely leave that to Houweling.”
GLAMCULT (Theo Ploeg) ****
“Back On Land is the best Dutch pop rock release of this year.”
FILE UNDER
“Back On Land manages to fascinate with eleven beautiful pop songs. The songs are rock solid and each exude the same melancholic atmosphere. Back On Land could just be the breakthrough for Cloudmachine that many have anticipated for so long.”
FRET
“The Dutch best-kept secret in pop music is the band Cloudmachine.”
BUMA STEMRA MAGAZINE
“Ruud Houweling from Zandvoort is increasingly emerging as a versatile songwriter. Last year the composer wrote a song for the debut album of former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen. He has also written the music for various television series. On the new CD Back On Land by his band Cloudmachine, Ruud once again shows his versatile qualities.”
3VOOR12
Dutch press quotes on:
Hum Of Life – Cloudmachine (2006)
“Great variety in moods and exciting arrangements. The lyrics of this sensitive soul are sometimes intensely personal.”
OOR
“Cloudmachine is stepping forward as positive addition to the Dutch music scene.”
TROUW
“Excellent indiepop.”
MUSIC MAKER
“Hum Of Life is filled with golden melodies.”
HAARLEMS DAGBLAD
“The spheric rock of Cloudmachine is one of a kind.”
FILE UNDER
“Capable of sweeping away big international acts.”
PLATOMANIA
Dutch press quotes on: Sweater For The Cold World – Cloudmachine (2003)
“The band has so much class that the word recession is the only reason they are not signed by a major label.”
OOR (Willem Jongeneelen)
“Impossible to label. A very pleasant surprise!”
***** MUSIC MAKER
“The album is finally receiving the rightful national attention.”
ALOHA (Jean Paul Heck)
“A four-star pop record from Dutch soil”
DE SLAGWERKKRANT ****
“Firmly rooted in music history, yet pop music that doesn’t sound stolen or copied anywhere. Bowie, Crowded House, Talking Heads, Queen and The Beatles are references that come to mind in no particular order. This may vary for other music lovers, but that is precisely what makes Cloudmachine’s debut album so fascinating.
BN-DE STEM
“Very unique pop sound”
HOME ENTERTAINMENT TODAY
“Exciting, exciting and good”
KINDAMUZIK
Buy that CD. See those concerts. (8/10)
MUSIC MINDED
“It’s just all equally fun and very original.”
FRET