Martha Bruining – I’ll Love You Wherever You Are
From Martha Bruining – Reflections
Released on CB Records, 1986?, Netherlands

We’ve already introduced the geopolitical history behind the Netherlands-Surinam connection in a previous article about Cynthia and Family. As one can easily guess, Cynthia and her parents’ stories are only one of the few stories that intertwine music and migration between Surinam and the Netherlands. The story of the couple made by Martha Bruining and Jerry Themen is another one.

Since the mid-1970’s Jerry Themen has been writing, arranging and producing music for Surinamese bands, exploring the musical traditions of his country as well as showing his love for US Soul music. If we could clearly hear the historical influence of Indian music on Cynthia‘s record, On Martha Bruining‘s album – as well as on other records on which  either her or her husband worked – it’s more the geographical influence of neighboring West-Indies countries than can be felt – just think about some contemporary Trinidad & Tobago productions, or, of course, Jamaica’s music…

In 1986 the couple moved to the Netherlands (where that album was recorded – probably that same year), but the sound of their productions kept on holding that particular West Indies vibe (we’re probably insinuating a very large definition of what the West Indies are, here) – it’s actually infusing every details on I’ll Love You Wherever You Are, from the way the drums and the voice are recorded, to the melody and the synths used.

just like its title indicated, I’ll Love You Wherever You Are is a heartbreaking slow soul-funk jam and Bruining‘s strong and deep voice is equally moving.