Scott's Song by Song #44: Han Uil - I Am
Originally posted to Facebook on Sept. 8, 2025
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Today I’ll be returning to the Netherlands (see my Spotlight on Silhouette) to review the latest solo album from Dutch guitarist/vocalist/composer/producer Han Uil, Titled “I Am”. Han has been a professional musician since the 1990s and has been a member of various bands such as Antares, Seven Day Hunt, and TumbleTown, of which Eric Laan of the aforementioned Silhouette is also involved. This is the sixth of Han’s solo albums. I have heard some TumbleTown, I believe, but this is my first time checking out Han’s solo material (See what I did there?….sorry I’ll go in the corner for a while). When I say solo album, I mean SOLO album, as Han handles vocals, guitars, synths, and programing with only one guest on track 4 being someone named Elpida who provides vocals.
Disclosure: I was provided with a digital download of this album to review by AnneClaire Baddog Promotions, but am free to express my views and receive no additional compensation for doing so. I am always free to choose which albums I review of those she sends me.
This is mostly a cold listen with the exception of the slightly creepy preview video for the album on YouTube, and a portion of the “Won In a Landslide” music video. The album will be released on September 25, 2025. All pertinent links will follow the review.
Let’s jump in!
Track 1 - I Am
The title track is one of the shorter ones on the album at 3:27. We begin with a smooth organ riff at a moderate tempo kept by the rhythm section. The vocal melody is engaging. He sings in a baritone, somewhere in the neighborhood of Jim Morrison or Eddie Vedder but mixed with a bit of Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings. There is a bridge in the middle of the song. The bridge concludes with some slide guitar work that reminds me slightly of Steve Howe’s slide playing on Yes’ “And You And I”. I believe that this song is supposed to be from the perspective of an AI presence. Cool track, I like it.
Track 2 - We Are Connected
This one is one of the longer tracks on the album at 6:24. The vocals begin immediately with synth backing. The underlying rhythm is upbeat and syncopated. Nice crescendo around 1:30. There are interesting synth effects in the background, which I believe represent the cosmic nature of the album. There is a synth feature at 2:20, followed by a clean, jazzy guitar solo, once again reminding me of Steve Howe’s guitar style. At 3:22, some power chords join the soundscape. There is another synth feature as we cross 4 minutes, this one longer. It’s not virtuosic, but it's effective. He starts rockin’ harder at around 5 minutes. This time, the following guitar is with a distorted rock tone. Great track, I like how it kept building throughout, keeping the listener engaged.
Track 3 - Strings of Freedom
Piano and a subtle drum beat start this off with some synth. A guitar melody follows, leading up to the first verse. His “Strings of Freedom” are his guitar strings, nice! Wonderful guitar solo at around 2:30. The rhythm parts add nicely to the solo. Key change at around 3:30 for another solo. This would be a nice single, as it is very catchy!
Track 4 - Forcing out the Silence
This is the second longest track at 6:30. It is also the only song with another performer, as noted in the introduction. We are at a moderately quick tempo. The verse is in a minor key. A big power chord heralds the chorus. This is where Elpida enters on vocals joining Han’s voice in a countermelody. There is a brief guitar solo at around 1:20. Another verse and chorus cycles through before an instrumental break, first featuring guitar then keys. A bridge follows. There are some interesting textures here. Elpida’s operatic soprano almost functions like the bowed saw in Supertramp’s “Hide in Your Shell”. Another guitar solo follows, and once again, I feel a Steve Howe influence. Just after 4 minutes, the music suddenly changes and synth takes over, backed by a rhythm that reminds me of military music. Following that, Han’s voice is backed by subtle accompaniment, and Elpida returns. Another guitar solo follows, this one with a bit of whammy bar and more vibrato. Wonderfully proggy track, with several changes that kept me guessing. Each track seems to get stronger than the one before it.
Track 5 - Won by a Landslide
I saw enough of the music video for this one to know it is a Trump satire. It has a bit of a funky, bluesy shuffle. His voice really has a Roine Stolt quality on this one. At around 1:35 there is a nice descending chord progression. There is a nice instrumental bridge after 2 minutes. When the vocals return there is a synth part that gives the impression of a French horn. There is a reggae groove here. I like the interplay between the guitar and vocal parts. The descending riff returns on the words “I came back, stronger than before” giving the impression of falling into the underworld! Great track!
Track 6 - The Isle of Skye
The title is that of a Scottish Island. Let’s see if that is what it’s about. The intro has a bit of an 80’s synth pop feel, with a guitar solo on top. I believe that it is indeed about the island. Nice layered vocals in the chorus. The whole track has a kind of wobbly feel (intentionally, I’m sure) through the vibrato effects on the instruments , as though we are on a small boat going through the waves on the way to the namesake island. There is more great guitar playing in the solo. The song ends a bit abruptly, but not in a bad way. Good track with an earworm chorus!
Track 7 - All in Good Time
This has a slow groove, with some Gilmour vibes, but the rhythm has shifting meters that make it feel like it sometimes skips a beat. So far this is a showcase for Han’s impressive guitar skills. The vocals begin at around 1:45. Some of the keyboard tones remind me of the “ping” in PF’s “Echoes” but the song has a very different feel than that. At around 3 minutes into it, it goes into a 3-4 waltz time. I can discern a bit of high vocals in the background on occasion that make me wonder if Elpida is on this track, too. Lot’s of room for guitar solos on this one. But, it’s all in good time, as the title tells us! There are some interesting twists and turns on this one. Good track.
Track 8 - Grown
A cymbal roll leads us into the song where a subtle rhythm and organ part takes over; it gives me Santana vibes. Han soon begins singing. The second verse picks up the intensity, slightly. After 2 minutes, there is a synth solo. A bridge follows that switching from the minor tonality he was using to a major key. Around 3:45, the intensity increases quite a bit for a guitar break. Following the solo, vocals return and things gradually ease off. Good track with some interesting unexpected turns.
Track 9 - Vegan Love
This is the shortest track at just 3:07. This one also gives me 80s synth pop vibes. After the first verse/chorus cycle, there is a brief, yet engaging synth solo. Another chorus follows, which in turn is followed by a quirky guitar solo. Nice harmonies in the bridge; I suspect Elpida is involved again. This is a quick, energetic, fun track!
Track 10 - Night of Decision
The closing track is the longest at 7:39. A soft, clean electric guitar riff starts off the festivities, but more instruments enter one by one in rapid succession, building an interlocking set of rhythms. Lead guitar eventually takes the spotlight. The funky opening gives way to a 6-8 rhythm as the vocals join in at 1:00. Before long we go back to 4-4 and things get rockin’! At 2.45, we get a prog-tastic synth solo over an odd meter–now you’re speaking my language! The music returns to 6-8 following the synth break for a quieter verse. The rhythm continues into the guitar solo. Another keyboard solo follows. Just after 5 minutes the music double-times. At 5:30 the music explodes! We return to 4-4 then. Another guitar solo happens at around 6:20. The vocals return, keeping that rhythm, and taking us to the end of the song and thus the album. He really saved the best for last! [Apparently this is not on the vinyl version of the album, so take that into account if you purchase this album.]
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Well, that was a lot of fun to listen to! Han Uil shows what a multi-talented guy he is. In listening through the ears of a guitarist, I believe that guitar is his first love, although his keyboard and vocal skills are strong as well. While I understand that he really wanted to do this solo, I think the music would be even stronger than it already is with the addition of a real drummer. The drum machine programming is good, but it seems to be kept low in the mix so it doesn’t draw much attention. That minor point aside, this is a very good, eclectic prog album and Han Uil definitely impresses! I may have to check out his earlier albums and projects. I’ll give this one a solid 4.25 out of 5 stars!
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Prog On!
Scott
Links for Listening:
As I previously mentioned, this album has not yet been released so there are limited tracks available. But here’s what’s out there at the time of this review.
Album Trailer:
“Won by a Landslide” (Official Music Video)
And here is Han’s Bandcamp page where you can pre-order the album and get his previous releases.
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