On TOUR: 11/20/08
Groningen, The Netherlands - Vera w/ Chad VanGaalen Als tweede headliner (kom dus op tijd!) komt de nieuwe Canadese band Women mee, waar Niek in de vorige Verakrant al zeer enthousiast over was. Hij roemde de band om hun “schurende noise, gruizige gitaren, soundscapes en dromerige zanglijnen, waarbij je moet denken aan hetgeen gelijkgestemden als Deerhunter, No Age en Times New Viking doen”. De debuutplaat van Women is ook nog eens geproduceerd door niemand minder dan onze grote vriend Chad VanGaalen. De vier mannen van Women mochten bij oom Chad in de kelder komen spelen met alle mogelijke apparatuur om daarmee een fantastisch album op te nemen. Jammer alleen dat het album maar een half uur duurt.
My thoughts exactly!Or, try some Ingrish, courtesy of BabelFish:
There is something strange to the hand with Chad VanGaalen. You it negative are able approach by saying that Canadian singer/songwriter want too much. I hou it rather that he is of all markets at home. And Chad VanGaalen are on so much areas really talented, choose which he does not have also. Vangaalen are beside bandsman, in whatever quality he is here vanavond of course, expressive artist. Illustrator for exact to be. The one which are interested gladly refer I by to the Crossing festivalfestival festival in The Hague, where on the podium VanGaalen to not only admire is, but where also an exhibition has arranged with its illustrations. He the poster for the festival has tevens devised. Still a must is the video clip that he himself made for its current forty-five at Light.
Now I have then nevertheless made this bruggetje to its music, I can tell right that VanGaalen are also within its music a thousand leg. Chad VanGaalen have constantly spent the past fifteen years such a smattering in its cellar, which he has filled with instruments and equipment. To own say he material has for that taken more than eighty albums. god they thanks is he no Robert Pollard that each scheet brings out, but he only its állerállerbeste songs has selected for the three albums that he so far brought out.
Nice of its albums, but especially newest `soft Airplane', are that it zomaar a random collection songs is not, but that is it well reflected concerning advancement and environment. Thus there of course spot for the weirde electronics is which seems VanGaalen themselves make kindest, but in the meantime he sings also it one after the other splendid song. But correctly if you feel that it becomes time stock a they track, or new sounds or instruments to use, VanGaalen do that also.
From its songs becomes clear that VanGaalen do not face the future really rosy. That he in its texts calls the pictures do now and then think of the work of dooming thinker such as Orwell, Huxley or more recent Michel Houellebecq. Or he now sings concerning a coma patient, who can dream only still (`Clinically Dead'), underworlds in which their heart has coupled people to a blood machine (`Blood Machine'), in fire put of its body after its dead (`Willow Tree'), or concerning sounds which he hears in the cellar but not weet or its neighbour man its dog maltreats or simply complete trumpet plays (`Cries badly or the Dead'), lively is its subject choice never. However, weet he continuously back and forth you to swing of admiration for its inventive songs and instrument to tenderising by its beautiful, sometimes what infirm voice. In fact you can define Chad VanGaalen still best as what you would get if you Neil Young for 15 would lock up years in a cellar full musical toy. Brilliant moving music therefore! And then that to consider music for VanGaalen came many years' on the second spot. For this reason, and also because he is rather timid, the arriving European tour is just is very first. And since this action is the first of the tour, is see Chad VanGaalen vanavond official for the first time in Europe. Furthermore he only plays Border in the Netherlands on already sold off Friday of Crossing.
As second headliner (bowl therefore on time!) the new Canadian link Women comes along, where Niek in the previous Verakrant were already very enthusiastic concerning. He praised the link their scouring noise, gruizige jet ears, soundscapes and thoughtful song lines, where must think you of what gelijkgestemden as Deerhunter, No Age and Times New Viking to do. The debut plate of Women has been also once more produced by nobody less than our large friend Chad VanGaalen. The four men of Women could come play Chad at uncle in the cellar with all possible equipment to take a fantastic album with that. Only moan that the album but a half hour lasts.
RECENT PRESS & PHOTOS
Album review on
Tiny Mix tapes
Even the CD sleeve – a creepily synchronised group tai chi exercise in a communist state – appears to have been designed to maximum disruptive effect and with minimal regard for mass appeal. A bit of a cranky review on
Guardian online. A New Amsterdam sez:
“Dude, I’m about to rip off my shirt.”
The Beach Boys, Cosmic Rough Riders and now Women, yep at last we have a beautifully formed hat-trick of bands with which to soak up anything the summer can throw at us. ‘Black Rice’ is undeniably retro but so honed with ripe melody it ends up with no black marks. Inextricably linked with Chad VanGaalen (he was involved in the recording) the Canadian 4 piece are due to release their eponymous debut in July. Keep reading
It has to be said that this record does not look particularly inspiring from the outside. In fact I would go as far as to say this is probably the worst record sleeve I've seen all year (and believe me I've seen some shite). Still, you know what they say about books and covers and all that, well it seems the same applies to records and sleeves because once you've got past the sleeve and the band name and actually listened to the record you'll find that it's actually a pretty damn fine noise. 
