Two of the Netherlands’ sharpest indie minds—Willem Smit (from Personal Trainer) and Pip Blom (you guessed it, from Pip Blom)—have been a loving couple for years, and apparently that goes well with making sincere songs together. Their self-titled debut full-length as Long Fling is gleefully un-crafted, with lyrics about everyday hassles, sounding like it was made for no one but themselves—and that’s exactly what makes this record so charming.

The two Amsterdam singer-songwriters deliver ten scrappy, witty, lo-fi tracks that bounce between deadpan intimacy and art-school absurdity. Restless experimentation and a knack for melody meet minimal groove and noisy post-punk clatter—the pair’s unmistakable chemistry bubbling up in every half-laughed lyric and offbeat hook (as if Courtney Barnett were writing for Parquet Courts). Slightly out of tune and chaotic, but also catchy and pretty cool. Bonus points for the minimalist cover art.

Long Fling’s eponymous debut album—written, performed, and produced by Willem Smit and Pip Blom—is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp