This is Belgian

[photo via The Wack Attack Barrack]

Of course there is a lot of great music coming from abroad, from across the Channel or across the Atlantic. One of my most recent discoveries in this department would be Archie Bronson Outfit, a ferocious-looking, bearded trio from London whose recently released "Derdang Derdang" album did not only get excellent reviews, but has managed to blow me off my socks at times. Especially live does their sometimes feverish sound, which combines swampy blues riffs with great hooks and frantic rhythms, leave a lasting impression (thank you for programming them, Cactus!).

But it is also a good thing we are now and then reminded of the fact that our little country produces some great stuff too. If you'd like to get your fortnightly free peak into the treasure chest of Belgian pop, rock or dance music, you should check out The Bootleg Bar from time to time.

The Bootleg Bar is a podcast from the The Wack Attack Barrack, Belgium's first independent e-label, which offers a global digital distribution via iTunes. Every fortnight they invite a Belgian artist or band to air a selection of their finest tracks that, for some reason, never got released before. Unpublished tracks, demos, remixes, live outtakes and " totally off-the trolley-shit" (sic) are accompanied by personal stories and first-hand behind-the-scenes commentary by the artists themselves.

This week, The Bootleg Bar features CJ Bolland, probably one of Belgium’s most renowned DJs and producers. His career skyrocketed in the mid-nineties after becoming one of the first Belgians to reach the number one position in the US dance charts with the highly excitable single “Sugar Is Sweeter”.

His track record also includes remixing for Orbital, the Prodigy, Sven Väth and Tori Amos, among others, meanwhile building a massive DJ career all over the world. Lately Bolland has been focusing on collaborations with other artists, the most notable being  Magnus, together with Tom Barman from dEUS, for whom he also produced the latest album ”Pocket Revolution”.

Thank you Marc at Clubcircuit for the tip. Recently, Clubcircuit has also launched its own podcast, called Podcircuit. It's a monthly online guide to what is going on in the nine clubs of Clubcircuit. Definitely worth a listen (especially if you understand Dutch, but if not: the music is universal...).

Comments

[Sam Smith]

Thanks for the tip about the Archie Bronson Outfit Serge. I'll check out the Belgian stuff while I'm working this afternoon (will hopefully distract me from the fact I'm stuck indoors when it's sunny)

Asked the boss, again, about the conference next month and she winced and mumbled something about money. Will keep trying though.

[Serge Cornelus]

Money mumbling? Sounds familiar... :-)

[marc]

Archie Bronson were supposed to play at Cactus this summer, but Pukkelpop claimed the exclusivity. Sad case...

[Frederik Clarysse]

Their previous album called "Fur" is also excellent!

[Serge Cornelus]

Frederik: so I have been told before. But thanks for reminding me! I guess I really should check it out myself...