In 2007, AB launched ◄◄ REWIND: a timeless series in which Belgian artists perform their classic again in its entirety. You could call them the albums that are – though not always – etched in collective memory. 

◄◄ REWIND is all about the milestones in musical careers, the key albums of Belgian pop music, the anchor points in the Belgian musical landscape. Each pièce de résistance is performed in its entirety: exactly in the order that the artist wanted to tell their tale at the time – and sometimes still do. Soon it will be Admiral Freebee’s turn.

Admiral Freebee plays Admiral Freebee (2003)

Rags ‘n Run (that harmonica!), Ever Present, Einstein Brain (all together now: “You can’t milk a cow with your hands in your pants”) and Mediterranean Sea: no less than four successful singles spawned from Admiral Freebee’s timeless 2003 debut. Exactly 20 years later, the album has not lost an ounce of relevance or listening pleasure.

Admiral Freebee – a name plucked from Jack Kerouac’s book On The Road – pretty much won Humo’s Rock Rally twice in 2000: as finalist behind Mintzkov in ‘The Holy Top 3’ and as worthy winner of the audience award. Frontman Tom Van Laere immediately stood out as an animated songwriter in the guise of an obsessed and wholesome preacher. One with a rare sense of humour even.

On his debut, he was surrounded by particularly fine folk like Nathalie Delcroix (Laïs), Lars van Bambost (Noordkaap), Gert Bettens (K’S Choice) and Lazy Horse (Flip Kowlier). The album was inundated with rave reviews. And because to measure is (sometimes) to know: this instant classic was parked in the Ultratop album charts for no less than 70(!) weeks, this achievement crowned by a spot right at the top.

Anything else to add? Yep, most definitely: “We want the Admiral for President!”

More about ◄◄ REWIND

With ◄◄ REWIND, AB is doing its bit to activate Belgium’s musical heritage. Already passed in review: The Ideal Crash (dEUS), From Here To There (Girls in Hawaii), The Kids (The Kids), Op Zoek Naar Romantiek (Guido Belcanto), Jonge Helden (Arbeid Adelt!), Gorky (Gorki), 1981-1984 (The Neon Judgement), Royalty In Exile (The Scabs), Nooit Meer Drinken (Raymond Van Het Groenewoud), De Mens (De Mens), The Ship (Luc Van Acker), Un Ball Dans La Tête (De Puta Madre), Hè Hè (Jan De Wilde), Laïs (Laïs), Mud Stories (An Pierlé) and Struggle for Pleasure (Wim Mertens).

Concert pictures © Saan Van Elsen