INDIE ALBUM REVIEW - BREANG DOES IT EVER GET BETTER? (Track by Track Review)

 DOES IT EVER GET BETTER? 

BY BERANG

REVIEW WRITTEN BY JOE COMPTON

RELEASED: JANUARY 30, 2026

10 TRACKS = 35 MINUTES

INDIE FOLK/ROCK

Right from the start its extremely obvious how incredibly talented Bert Janssens is on the guitar. The mixtures of acoustic and electric, combined with all the other elements, that being percussion, backing vocals, and backing strings, make Berang a very smooth listen. It also highlights the profound effect of a great production.

We are first introduced to the experience in a cascading fashion, with fluttering orchestral strings that quickly jump into the meat of a strong acoustic riff and Bert's piercing vocals in Track 1: "The Least Fortunate Timeline". This is one of the few outliers to what becomes more of the overall sound of this band's footing through this album. It has this kind of Social Distortion/Rockabilly gruffness to it. The stingy vibrato that Bert's voice starts with and then ascends into this higher pitch Indie rocker streamline is nice in transition here. You can totally understand why this song is upfront and first if you choose to listen in chronological order. It sets an aggressive pace, and I like as a listener that we are thrust into it because I know I am going to either be ecstatic that the pace picks up or prepared and settled in for the inevitable slowing. 

While "Specific Ways of Being" does not crawl in exactly; it does seem to temper the tempo a tad to where it feels like a rightful extension to Timeline. I like the echo distortion in Bert's voice behind the fierce strums of another acoustic jam. It is just a tad the same as the opening track, and because of the way it starts, it feels as if you didn't know where one song ends and the other begins. Without an intro here, this is not easy to discern. Not a bad song, especially on its own ina random playlist,  but in a full album listen its misplaced for me.

Where "Valere"  keeps the Rockabilly vibe going, and we transition into electric guitars. I again lean on the vibrato of how Bert starts slower in register and then ascends here. It is very catchy and very headbopping. There is a cool anthem-like riff off in the middle of the song that may be one of my favorite spots on this entire album. You really hear the percussion blister for the 1st time and its glorious.  

Then we get into the more 60s-esque landscaping of "Don't Keep Your Soul So Close"  ethereal sound as it sprinkles a beautiful melody behind an incredible vocal performance. He has an almost Paul Simon twang here that is very beautiful. Also love the zylophone tingles in the backdrop. There is so much strength and poise to this track. This is absolutely one of my favorite songs on the album.  

                                                                

"You'll Be Alright" is a more modern folk song, in the vein of Jason Mraz or Jason Isbell. The strumming here is phenomenal. Some of the best lyrics on the album are here too, "I don't think it's easy to rebel. We've both reclaimed as a sign of Hell. There's a joy in the independence." I love the guitar work at the end, where it is just Bert strumming like a heartbeat or a soft stepping in sand. 

"Does It Ever Get Better?" returns us to a Rockabilly, pop/punk sound. Cool built-in riffs that compliment eahc other well here. Again, there is an anthem-like feel to it. Here, though, I would have liked a little more gruff than angelic vocal from Bert. It almost seems out of place, especially on the pickup turns in the song. This is the rocker on the album though, nice brisk tempo'd, and one of those I think will catch a few of my random playlists.

We get another 60s-esque softer backbeat, where the angelic voice really sounds beautiful in "Safe and Satisified" There are some same/same comparisons I can make to Soul So Close For this listener again in full album concept, it does hurt this song's effectiveness for me, but there is no denying at this point or any point the incredible talent of Bert Janssens. I love the almost spoken word, poetry-esque way Bert sings here. 

"A Form of Encouragement" brings us a more conventional opening riff that sets up a bridge to lyrical rushes. I will thi sis the hardest song production-wise. I feel like Bert's lyrics are kind of lost in the atmosphere of the song, instead of setting or following a tempo. Again, though, great guitar work on display here. 

We go back to the 60s vibe with another very beautiful "Fair Winds and Following Seas". I think the vocals, again with the combination of this nice little echo accompaniment  
has a really powerful strength to it. I love how this song starts with the 60s vibe and rips us into a 90s frenzy. The second half of this song and its pacing are pure magic. We get more of the percussion gold here and a very strong collaboration.

We end the album with a very well-paced, strong effort in "Support of Any Kind". While Bert's vocalizing doesn't change very often, there does seem to be a different twang to it here and its super refreshing. I like the punch of the guitars here in this one. One of the best endings to any song on this album, love the duelling perspectives and how they kind of just meld into one another here.   

 

All-in-All, Berang as a whole is an ambitious project that hits way more than it misses. The musicianship is among the best I have heard this year so far. I do wish there was a bit more expermenting but I also understand why there wouldn't be as Berang looks to cement an established place before going off and doing something that while bold might alienate the fan base they are trying to build, Several of these tracks will be populated in my playlists, I am not sure I would go through the entire album again though.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT BERANG'S "DOES IT EVER GET BETTER" FOR YOURSELF HERE