It’s no secret that CONE are big fans of Personal Trainer. Fronted by Willem Smit, the indie outfit shines live and on record, with his impassioned yet witty songwriting hitting both the head and the heart. So when word got out that he’d teamed up with fellow Dutch alt-favorite (and partner) Pip Blom under the banner of Long Fling, we didn’t hesitate to check out what the duo had cooked up. Unsurprisingly, their collaboration is playful, intimate, and disarmingly lo-fi. The project that somehow feels both tossed-off and carefully considered at once.
With titles like “Pig,” “Weird Place,” and “Shoes,” the duo dissects the less glamorous sides of being in a relationship—socks on the floor, nights spent staying in, and the little habits that grate. Early writing sessions often ended in arguments, with the two carving out recording time between tours and their main projects. Sonically, they lean into electronic drums and new wave textures, evoking a cozy conversation on the couch rather than a grand romantic declaration. The result is an authentic record: understated in its intimacy yet peppered with the quirky, erratic signatures.
One of the album’s great strengths is how it layers adventurous sonics over skeletal backings. Take “Mouse House:” basic punk drums and bass bounce steadily while screeching vocals and jagged guitars leap in out of nowhere, grabbing the ear. It’s part Le Tigre, part Beck—a frenzied ball of energy that feels poised to combust at any second.
Standout track “Weird Peace” delivers the record’s most melancholic and restrained moment. Smit leans into nostalgia, sifting through scrapbooks and regrets, while Blom’s backing vocals and a wistful acoustic guitar add an eerie, spectral layer. It’s the kind of song Kurt Cobain might have written had he been an indie kid armed with a four-track and a sharp sense of irony.
Then there’s “Cool Bottle Water Park,” where Blom and Smit spar lyrically over a propulsive beat. Their back-and-forth chemistry crackles, making it the clearest example of their energies fully locking in. Confident, rocking, and undeniably catchy, it’s the track that lingers longest after the record spins out.
While there aren’t any outright duds, a few cuts— “Flung” and “Waste Line” in particular—meander slightly and don’t quite reach the same high bar. They’re still brimming with creativity and charm, but the execution occasionally stumbles. That said, as a debut outing, Long Fling is a strong addition to both the Pip Blom and Personal Trainer catalogs. Fans will find the off-kilter observations and original melodies they’ve come to expect from both camps, now filtered through a looser, more homegrown lens.
An enduring collaboration with genuine warmth, it’s bound to please lovers of DIY aesthetics and wiry guitars. Crucially, the pair sidestep self-indulgence, delivering wonky, wonderful tunes about life, love, and the messiness that comes with both. Imperfect, heartfelt, and surprisingly addictive, it’s the kind of record that sneaks up on you and demands a replay.