Beta-Lactam Ring Records
Brunnen : The beekeeper’s dream (NL,rec.1992-2005,iss.2006)***°
Some years ago I was amazed to see how Nijmeghen (in the south of Holland, an area still in the Flemish language border) seemed to be hometown both of Use Of Ashes as well as Legendary Pink Dots/Edward Ka-Spel, and I found similarities of sounds in the subtle songs remarkable. Freek Kinkelaar, composer for this project, seemed to have produced something of a comparable quietness and gentleness. He produced these thirteen songs in thirteen years, including “Trust in me” by Sherman Brothers (composed for the Jungle Book movie), which I knew before in a very good more recent version by Siouxie and the Banshees. Some of the tracks found already publications on cdr’s of limited quantities.
The style is reminiscent to a simplified Use of Ashes but even more the calmest Edward Ka-Spel, which isn’t entirely coincidental. Late 1988 long time friend Edward Ka-Spel invited Freek for a support act, which he did with Frans De Waard, as Beequeen, a band which recorded several discs. The year after the group Brunnen was born. The idea was to create abstract soundscapes with songs, also resulting in three more LP’s, two singles and a tape. In 1995 they performed with Ryan Moore on bass (Legendary Pink Dots). This is a kind of well compiled and very nice compilation album, with 800 copies on cd, andh 200 more with a bonus picture disc, with two long harmonium pieces, and 400 on LP. Strangely enough on the cd cover the name Brunnen is nowhere to be found.
Those who like already Use Of Ashes and the calmest Edward Ka-Spel I'm sure will also like this album.
