7 February 2026
Artist: BERANG
Who: Dedicated and emotive Belgian
singer-songwriter Bert Janssens.
Album: DOES IT EVER GET BETTER.
His sophomore, following debut
Eternal Friend released in 2023.
Janssens: “It’s a protest record for anyone who’s lost their bearings due to the world’s
woes and finds it sad reading the newspaper. But the message remains: find warmth in
your surroundings and believe that everything will turn out alright in the end.
Just like always, I still play indie folk with a punk soul, but punk rock is more prominent on this album. Think of something like The Weakerthans and Elliott Smith, or Bob Dylan on steroids.”
Artwork by Jolien Wilke
TUTV: Does It Ever Get Better balances between Evan Dando & The Lemonheads‘ energetic, guitar-pop rapture (The Last Fortunate Timeline / Specific Ways Of Being / Does It Ever Get Better / Valere and my favorite track, closer Support Of Any Kind) and Father John Misty‘s dreamy intimacy (Don’t Keep Your Soul So Close / Safe And Satisfied / Fair Winds And Following Seas / You’ll Be Alright).
Janssens strums his 6-string with fervid flair and bouncy bravura on the fast
tunes and with gentleness on the slow musings. A galvanising balance that
offers a varied ear-pleasure. His hearty voice adds a sonic warmth and fits
his songs like a pair of new gloves.
Does it ever get better? Maybe, maybe not. We’re in the middle of intolerant times,
which is reflected in his stories. But there’s no sense in carrying all the world’s problems on our shoulders all the time. As somebody used to sing, There’s Is A Light That Never Goes Out. Friends and family will help to keep that light shining.
One thing is obvious. Berang is getting better on this new full-length.
Enjoy.