Belgian roots of Electro and Dance

tossit · 08-20-2004, 11:13 AM

A friend of mine has put together some of the roots of modern Dance and Electro-Music. Long live the freaks!

Statik Dancing – Minimal Compact (Crammed Disks 1981)
There was definitely a scene in Brussels in the early eighties. Crammed Disks was a small record company that discovered new horizons. Among their artists: Minimal Compact: a Brussels-Israelian band with an excellent live-reputation. Among the members was Samy Birnbach who later started the sublabel SSR (You probably know the “Freezone” compilations). Bass player Malka Spigel got married to Wire front man Colin Newman and after a few albums it became quiet. For the moment Minimal Compact is playing again. Crammed Disks became an important alternative record company with several sub labels: www.crammed.be
About Minimal Compact: http://www.swimhq.com/artists/Minimal_Biog.html
Kaw Liga – The Residents (1986)
I don’t know 1 band that as been as far ahead of its time than The Residents, both in music and in the visual approach. You’ll recognize “Kaw Liga” ‘cause it has been remixed many times and the sample is a classic. All about The Residents: www.residents.com
Satisfaction – Devo (1978)
Devo was a very headstrong band who made a very headstrong album in 1978 “Are We Not Man ? We Are Devo” It contained the craziest, the most funky and the best cover ever of this Stones classic.
http://www.freedomofchoice.com/devo/
Mongoloid – Devo (1978)
“Love Story” by Layo and Bushwacka was just a new version of Devo’s “Mongoloid”
Jailhouse Rock – The Residents (1982)
Electro-version of this classic; also far ahead of its time.
Rockin’ USA – Suicide (1977)
Punk rock ruled but a few people in the New York avant-garde tried something completely different. Let’s call it a minimalist and experimental electronic approach to rock and roll. Only later their impact on today’s electronic music became clear, but in the late seventies they were often despised which resulted in an incident in the Ancienne Belgique in 1978 that became very famous because the floppy disk with the recording was added with the first album. The public hated Suicide because they were not a “real” band with guitars and drums, took Alan Vega’s microphone and didn’t want to give it back. On “23 minutes in Brussels “ you can hear all the attempts getting it back. “Rockin’ USA” was the first track of the album.
http://www.limbos.org/suicide/suicide2.htm
Mea Culpa – Brian Eno & David Byrne (1981)
“My Life in the Bush of Ghosts” is another landmark in the history of electronic music. Usually they chose “Regiment” as a sample of this album but I went for “Mea Culpa” and “Qu’ran” because of the very deep base (not that evident those days) and the dark sounds.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...=Angjwear04x87

Big thanx to Lou!

thethirdthing · 08-21-2004, 02:33 PM

David Byrne is the dogs nads, the Talking Heads are one of my favourite bands EVER.

Cant believe that Kraftwerk are not mentioned.

tossit · 08-21-2004, 05:08 PM

Well, the point with Kraftwerk is, that everybody knows them. They are like a standard-influence and not really "worth" mentioning.
Don't get me wrong, they sure play a huge part, but there are other interesting influences as well. I personally found Kraftwerk more or less boring; Front 242, Neon Judgement, Anne Clark and Einstuerzende Neubauten are more to my liking...

Check out pt.2 below...

tossit · 08-21-2004, 05:14 PM

Funkhadafi – Front 242 (1985)
Was an excellent example of what was called “body music” and contained some controversial lyrics: “We who are oppressed love those who fight against oppression and the oppressors... Brothers and sisters, it is with great honor and privilege that I present to you the leader of the El Fatah revolution... From Libya, our brother Muhammar El Kahdafi.”
Yu-Gung – Einsturzende Neubauten (1985)
Put a beat in some industrial noise and you’ll get a powerful dance track. “Yu-Gung” is taken from – in my opinion- one of the best Einstürzende Neubauten albums : “Halber Mensch” and is also known as “Futter Meinen Ego”
The Fish Needs a Bike – Blurt (1982)
Wacko track from a wacko guy called Ted Milton, but it’s great!
http://www.tedmilton.com/
Qu’ran – Brian Eno & David Byrne (1981)
See “Mea Culpa”
TV Treated – Neon Judgement -> one and only original version from “No Big Business 2” (1983)
Not only in Brussels things were moving but also in Leuven and Aarschot. One of the key persons was Ludo Camberlin who released “No Big Business 2 ” on his own “Anything But Productions” label. The record did not get the recognition it deserved but became a (hard to find) landmark in Belgian electronic music and Ludo became a driving force behind bands like Neon Judgement, Poesie Noire, Men 2nd, Aimless Device, The Weathermen, The Arch and others.
Poison (Toxic Lipstick Instrumental) – The Weathermen (1988)Nearly a ”classic” dance-track http://<br /> http://houbi.com/belp...weathermen.htm
The Fashion Party – Neon Judgement (Between ’81 and ’84)
Lately rediscovered by Dave Clarke and Patrick Pulsinger
http://neon.grmbl.com/TNJ/index.htm
http://www.swerquin.net/neon.htm
Fisk – A.B.C. (A Blaze Colour Against the Dark Trees Beyond) from “No Big Business” (1981) Before “Anything but records” there was “Kleo”, the label of Roland Beelen (later big boss of Antler Records)
A.B.C. was the band of Ludo Camberlin and if you listen to this track today you will know when “electroclash” was invented.

thethirdthing · 08-23-2004, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Well, the point with Kraftwerk is, that everybody knows them. They are like a standard-influence and not really "worth" mentioning.

Noooooooo!!!!, there may be more artisitic variation in some of the stuff that is mentioned but the fact that Kraftwerk are so influential BECAUSE everyone has heard of them.

yeah some of it sounds dated, but they were and will remain the daddies of dance IMO.

(Pretty lame these days though

)

08-20-2004, 11:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
tossit Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 63	Belgian roots of Electro and Dance A friend of mine has put together some of the roots of modern Dance and Electro-Music. Long live the freaks! Statik Dancing – Minimal Compact (Crammed Disks 1981) There was definitely a scene in Brussels in the early eighties. Crammed Disks was a small record company that discovered new horizons. Among their artists: Minimal Compact: a Brussels-Israelian band with an excellent live-reputation. Among the members was Samy Birnbach who later started the sublabel SSR (You probably know the “Freezone” compilations). Bass player Malka Spigel got married to Wire front man Colin Newman and after a few albums it became quiet. For the moment Minimal Compact is playing again. Crammed Disks became an important alternative record company with several sub labels: www.crammed.be About Minimal Compact: http://www.swimhq.com/artists/Minimal_Biog.html Kaw Liga – The Residents (1986) I don’t know 1 band that as been as far ahead of its time than The Residents, both in music and in the visual approach. You’ll recognize “Kaw Liga” ‘cause it has been remixed many times and the sample is a classic. All about The Residents: www.residents.com Satisfaction – Devo (1978) Devo was a very headstrong band who made a very headstrong album in 1978 “Are We Not Man ? We Are Devo” It contained the craziest, the most funky and the best cover ever of this Stones classic. http://www.freedomofchoice.com/devo/ Mongoloid – Devo (1978) “Love Story” by Layo and Bushwacka was just a new version of Devo’s “Mongoloid” Jailhouse Rock – The Residents (1982) Electro-version of this classic; also far ahead of its time. Rockin’ USA – Suicide (1977) Punk rock ruled but a few people in the New York avant-garde tried something completely different. Let’s call it a minimalist and experimental electronic approach to rock and roll. Only later their impact on today’s electronic music became clear, but in the late seventies they were often despised which resulted in an incident in the Ancienne Belgique in 1978 that became very famous because the floppy disk with the recording was added with the first album. The public hated Suicide because they were not a “real” band with guitars and drums, took Alan Vega’s microphone and didn’t want to give it back. On “23 minutes in Brussels “ you can hear all the attempts getting it back. “Rockin’ USA” was the first track of the album. http://www.limbos.org/suicide/suicide2.htm Mea Culpa – Brian Eno & David Byrne (1981) “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts” is another landmark in the history of electronic music. Usually they chose “Regiment” as a sample of this album but I went for “Mea Culpa” and “Qu’ran” because of the very deep base (not that evident those days) and the dark sounds. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...=Angjwear04x87 Big thanx to Lou! __________________ Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.

08-21-2004, 05:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
tossit Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 63	Well, the point with Kraftwerk is, that everybody knows them. They are like a standard-influence and not really "worth" mentioning. Don't get me wrong, they sure play a huge part, but there are other interesting influences as well. I personally found Kraftwerk more or less boring; Front 242, Neon Judgement, Anne Clark and Einstuerzende Neubauten are more to my liking... Check out pt.2 below... __________________ Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.

08-21-2004, 05:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
tossit Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 63	Funkhadafi – Front 242 (1985) Was an excellent example of what was called “body music” and contained some controversial lyrics: “We who are oppressed love those who fight against oppression and the oppressors... Brothers and sisters, it is with great honor and privilege that I present to you the leader of the El Fatah revolution... From Libya, our brother Muhammar El Kahdafi.” Yu-Gung – Einsturzende Neubauten (1985) Put a beat in some industrial noise and you’ll get a powerful dance track. “Yu-Gung” is taken from – in my opinion- one of the best Einstürzende Neubauten albums : “Halber Mensch” and is also known as “Futter Meinen Ego” The Fish Needs a Bike – Blurt (1982) Wacko track from a wacko guy called Ted Milton, but it’s great! http://www.tedmilton.com/ Qu’ran – Brian Eno & David Byrne (1981) See “Mea Culpa” TV Treated – Neon Judgement -> one and only original version from “No Big Business 2” (1983) Not only in Brussels things were moving but also in Leuven and Aarschot. One of the key persons was Ludo Camberlin who released “No Big Business 2 ” on his own “Anything But Productions” label. The record did not get the recognition it deserved but became a (hard to find) landmark in Belgian electronic music and Ludo became a driving force behind bands like Neon Judgement, Poesie Noire, Men 2nd, Aimless Device, The Weathermen, The Arch and others. Poison (Toxic Lipstick Instrumental) – The Weathermen (1988)Nearly a ”classic” dance-track http://<br /> http://houbi.com/belp...weathermen.htm The Fashion Party – Neon Judgement (Between ’81 and ’84) Lately rediscovered by Dave Clarke and Patrick Pulsinger http://neon.grmbl.com/TNJ/index.htm http://www.swerquin.net/neon.htm Fisk – A.B.C. (A Blaze Colour Against the Dark Trees Beyond) from “No Big Business” (1981) Before “Anything but records” there was “Kleo”, the label of Roland Beelen (later big boss of Antler Records) A.B.C. was the band of Ludo Camberlin and if you listen to this track today you will know when “electroclash” was invented. __________________ Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.

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08-21-2004, 02:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
thethirdthing Bedroomer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: UK Posts: 23	David Byrne is the dogs nads, the Talking Heads are one of my favourite bands EVER. Cant believe that Kraftwerk are not mentioned.