As people, we can often find ourselves in conflict – or quandary – regarding what it means to be a man of a woman in today’s society.  Particularly when societal views and perspectives are an ever-evolving process, it can be hard quantifying what the expectations you have for yourself are and marrying those with the expectations of the family, friends and communities around you.

Such self-explorative analysis serves as the very essence of Rob de Boer‘s debut full-length release which finds its home with Bridge the Gap.

It’s certainly a project that feels as though has been in the works for some time now with de Boer having accumulated a steady array of promising standalone singles dating back to 2018.

De Boer’s music since that time has consistently showcased a versatile take on contemporary sounds.  While his past singles have captured various aspects of his own musicianship, like the disco-esque ‘Costa’ or the electronica-tinged ‘State of Mind’, de Boer sounds most at home on tracks like ‘Little Big Brother’, ‘The Looking Glass’ and ‘Pages’ – bolstered by a sublime vocal and understated instrumentation, de Boer proves to be at his profound best while conveying his organic-sounding affection for contemporary soul music paired with nuanced song writing.

Ultimately, all the things that make ‘Man to You’ such a delight to listen to.

Spearheaded by the boundlessly brilliant single ‘Our Own Way’ – which boasts such a compelling and infectious energy that is translated perfectly through to the song’s accompanying video – the album’s eleven tracks explore a variety of themes and subject matter rooted within the framework of quintessential soul music.

‘Our Own Way’ sets the bar incredibly high but its standard is met by tracks like the glorious neo-soul lament of ‘212 Hours’, the undeniable groove of ‘Autumn Haze’ and ‘Shine on Me’ and the rousing blues of ‘Downpour’.  ‘Man to You’ is a genuinely beautifully conceived and executed album, and one that is a testament to de Boer’s vision along with the talents of the album’s co-producers, Alex Borwick and Pete Brien.

While the question of what it means to be a man may remain an ongoing journey for de Boer, in music, he has already found his resolution.