Flemish composer/singer/songwriter Jan Swerts self-released his debut album Weg (Road) in 2010 to considerable critical acclaim in his home country. His deeply melancholy, minimalist piano music, subtly framed by beautiful string and woodwind arrangements, artfully blended the contemporary classical sounds of Sylvain Chauveau, Jóhann Jóhannsson, and Max Richter with the confessional folk-pop songwriting of Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, with the sometimes heart-rending results -- titled in Flemish, but sung entirely in English -- most strongly recalling the work of Dakota Suite. His second album, Anatomie van de Melancholie (Anatomy of Melancholy), was released in 2013 and featured much richer, more detailed arrangements that occasionally ventured into jazz. ~ John D. Buchanan