◄◄ REWINDIn ‘07, AB launched a timeless series: ◄◄ REWIND. Central to this series are Belgian musicians who perform ‘their classic’. Call it a milestone in th...

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◄◄ REWIND
In ‘07, AB launched a timeless series: ◄◄ REWIND. Central to this series are Belgian musicians who perform ‘their classic’. Call it a milestone in their career or go a step further: a key record for popular Belgian music. Often, but not always, we're talking about albums that are etched into collective memory. Let's just say: points of reference in the landscape of Belgian music. So each season a number of performers play their entire ‘pièce de résistance’. Entirely? That's right, in the exact order that they want to tell their story now or wanted to tell it at the time of its success.

With ◄◄ REWIND AB also contributes to the activation of Belgium's musical heritage. Those who have already passed in review: ‘Royalty In Exile’ (The Scabs), ‘Gorky’ (by Gorki), ‘1981-1984’ (The Neon Judgement), ‘The Kids’ (The Kids), ‘Nooit Meer Drinken’ (Raymond Van Het Groenewoud), ‘Op Zoek Naar Romantiek’  (Guido Belcanto) and also ‘Jonge Helden’ by Arbeid Adelt!
The three Belgian classics pivotal to this new issue: De Mens who present their effervescent debut ‘De Mens’ from ’92, Luc Van Acker who picks up the thread of ‘The Ship’ from ’84, and also Wim Mertens with his under-appreciated album ‘Struggle For Pleasure’ (’82).
Just as previous performers, they too will be honoured with an official stone-laying ceremony in the Steenstraat next to AB: in recognition of their contribution to Belgian (pop) music.

◄◄ REWIND: Luc Van Acker plays ‘The Ship’ (1984)
Luc Van Acker's ‘The Ship’ is quite simply the chef d’oeuvre on the musical résumé of Belgian pop's enfant terrible. ‘The Ship’ was the successor to his ’81 debut ‘Taking Snapshots’, an album without song titles and a blank back cover (listeners were presumed to invent their own song titles). The period: electronica. Front 242 released their breakthrough album ‘No Comment’ that same year and The Neon Judgement had just put ‘1981-1984’ on the market.

‘The Ship’ – produced by Jean-Marie Aerts and with Luc Van Acker in sailor suit on the cover - was above all an international sounding album. But then the line-up was also impressive, containing the likes of Anna Domino, Dave Allen (Shriekback), David Rhodes (Peter Gabriel), Ian Caple (later producer for Tricky) and Blaine L. Reininger (Tuxedomoon). There were no less than 3 singles taken from the album: ‘Heart And Soul’, ‘The Ship’ and also the fabulous ‘Zanna’ (with a starring role for Anna Domino) - let's just say: Van Acker’s worldwide hit that never was. ‘Zanna’ also adorns the ‘100 to 1’, the chart containing the 100 Best Belgian Songs according to Radio 1.
‘The Ship’ even received a rave review – in those days, unheard of for a Belgian act – in England's Melody Maker. They wrote: “Luc Van Acker's eponymous album is a minor masterpiece”. Van Acker then went on to tour Europe following the album's release and played no less than 65 concerts. In ’04, Focus Knack compiled a list of the most important Belpop albums. ‘The Ship’ was included in it with the following words of praise: “a feast of rhythm-‘n-grooves and chique songs.”
To close, more good news: Anna Domino, Jean-Marie Aerts, Johannes Verschaeve (Van Jets)  and David Rhodes will be arriving especially for ◄◄ REWIND.

◄◄ REWIND: Q&A
Afterwards, now true to ◄◄ REWIND tradition, Luc Van Acker will be interrogated in the AB Club by De Standaard journalist Wouter Van Driessche and Jan Delvaux (author of ’97 publication and reference work on Belgian pop music ‘Big In Belgium. Het Verhaal Van De Belgische Pop’). Delvaux is currently working on a sequel (working title: ‘Belpop. De eerste vijftig jaar. 1960-2010’) that is to be released at the end of the year.

◄◄ REWIND FACTS
Luc Van Acker is also a part of curio-collection Arbeid Adelt! They played their entire debut ‘Jonge Helden’ in ◄◄ REWIND in ’11 .
‘The Ship’ was produced by Jean-Marie Aerts (TC Matic). Aerts also sat behind the dials for ‘Jonge Helden’ by Arbeid Adelt!
The photography for ‘The Ship’ was by the famous Danny Willems. He was also responsible for the photography for – again - ‘Jonge Helden’ but also for ‘Royalty In Exile’ by The Scabs.