Ancienne Belgique

Brussels' Stilll label (indeed 3 x l!) was established in 2004 by Jérome Deuson (aka aMute) and Alain Lefebre. Their noble (in these times) goal: ‘simply’ releasing music that they ...

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Brussels' Stilll label (indeed 3 x l!) was established in 2004 by Jérome Deuson (aka aMute) and Alain Lefebre. Their noble (in these times) goal: ‘simply’ releasing music that they like to hear. Stilll has meanwhile released about 15 albums including those of aMUTE, de portables, Arden (the first release and also Jérôme Deuson's band), A Perfect Friend,... all finely designed by Deuson. Stilll offshoot Off – established in ’07 – is inspired by Alain Lefebre and focuses on avant-rock, experimental jazz and new classical music. The label already possesses about ten releases, all finely designed by Kiekebiche (or rather: Bruno Jacqmain).

7:00 pm SOUNDTRACK BY… STILLL/OFF DJ’s

8:00 pm COMFORT
Italian trio Comfort guarantee instrumental rock with a subtle jazz sound laced with electronica. Their second album ‘Sleep Talking Shared’ will soon be released via Off.The band also often engages in manifold musical projects aside from their own work. So it was that they contributed to a King Crimson project and made a soundtrack for Buñuel's famous cult film ‘Un Chien Andalou’. Also: ready for some research work? You have to interpret the band's name considerably contradictorily, like in the ‘Theory of Harmony’ from composer Arnold Schoenberg. Let the googling begin.

9:00 pm BABILS
Brussels' quintet Babils arose from the duo The Joint Between (also the title of Babils’ debut), who dealt in hypnotic grooves, primal song and shrieking trumpets. They create an entirely own universe with their blend of industrial electronica and noise. We read somewhere: "Babils’ music sounds like leftover scraps from the Can discography and all those Japanese psych bands". You certainly don't have to look long for the link with the Japanese psychedelica annex acid-rock of Acid Mothers Temple…

10:00 pm de portables
If it was up to us, then de portables would have broken through long ago… Stronger still: we reckon their album ‘Girls Beware!’ belongs to the unknown best of what Belgium has ever produced. This collective from Ghent has been around for more than ten years, is as stubborn as an mule, ultra-active, but too lazy (sorry Portables, we're just trying to give you a push in the right direction) to present their gems to the outside world. De Morgen in a four-star review of their most recent album: "Following classics like ‘Rosegarden’ and ‘Girls Beware!’ de portables still couple exciting guitar music with inventive electronica.". That quintet (yup, humour is their fifth band-member) – still with Jurgen ‘Kôhn’ de Blonde – has already visited the AB twice. This third time is only a modest start.

11:00 pm aMUTE
What would life be without surprises? Too comfortable. Now we wouldn't want to infringe upon Arnold Schoenberg's ‘Theory Of Comfort’ ... The headliner of this Stilll/Off label night shall be announced in the course of the month March. One thing is certain: this (a)SURPRISE aCT is definitely directly linked to Stilll/Off.