Absynthe Minded
Encyclopedia
Absynthe Minded is a Belgian
rock band
, around frontman, vocalist and guitarist Bert Ostyn. Their tracks have been known to contain a mix of thirties jazz, with a touch of funky soul, Balkan beats and Merseyside pop.
Absynthe Minded originally was a one-man band, being musician-singer-composer Bert Ostyn. He started off in 1999 with recording More Than This on 8-track in a 5 to 4 bedroom in Ghent
(Belgium), with songs in a moderate rock genre.
The opportunity to record some material in a studio brought forth Mushroom Holiday (2000). On that demo other musicians collaborated with Ostyn for the first time, which led later on to the forming of a band called Tao Tse Tse. Ostyn’s third demo, Krankenhaus Hotel, was recorded in a noisy apartment bedroom again, on a Tascam
four track.
The first band-demo was called Sweet Oblivion (2002); the band itself was renamed Absynthe Minded Quartet. Under this name they toured on their own and as support act for several bands and artists (most notably Spinvis
and Zita Swoon
).
2003 saw the release of their first official effort, the History makes Science Fiction EP, released on the Keremos label. The musicians were the same as before: Renaud Ghilbert, Sergej van Bouwel and Jan Duthoy but were joined by drummer Jakob Nachtergaele, playing the drums and woodblocks on one song. 'Quartet' was dropped from the band's name.
Their debut full length album, Acquired Taste
, was released in 2004, on the Keremos label and EMI
Belgium. It was produced by Geoffrey Burton.
New Day was recorded in the end of January 2005 and was produced by producer Jean-Marie Aerts. After touring Belgium and the Netherlands
, they recorded 16 songs and released the album in March in Belgium, Germany
and the Netherlands. That summer, New Day was also to be released in Portugal. From this album came Absynthe Minded’s first single, My Heroics, Part One, which gained much airplay.
In 2007 Absynthe Minded recorded their third album, There Is Nothing.
In august of 2009, the album Absynthe Minded was released in Belgium and The Netherlands. The first two singles from the album were the tracks Envoi
and Moodswing Baby. After the release of Absynthe Minded the band was signed by the French Label AZ (Universal) for releases outside Belgium and The Netherlands.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
rock band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, around frontman, vocalist and guitarist Bert Ostyn. Their tracks have been known to contain a mix of thirties jazz, with a touch of funky soul, Balkan beats and Merseyside pop.
Absynthe Minded originally was a one-man band, being musician-singer-composer Bert Ostyn. He started off in 1999 with recording More Than This on 8-track in a 5 to 4 bedroom in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
(Belgium), with songs in a moderate rock genre.
The opportunity to record some material in a studio brought forth Mushroom Holiday (2000). On that demo other musicians collaborated with Ostyn for the first time, which led later on to the forming of a band called Tao Tse Tse. Ostyn’s third demo, Krankenhaus Hotel, was recorded in a noisy apartment bedroom again, on a Tascam
TASCAM
TASCAM is the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation, headquartered in Montebello, California. Tascam is credited as the inventor of the Portastudio, the first cassette-based multi-track home studio recorders. Tascam also introduced the first low-cost mass produced multitrack recorders...
four track.
The first band-demo was called Sweet Oblivion (2002); the band itself was renamed Absynthe Minded Quartet. Under this name they toured on their own and as support act for several bands and artists (most notably Spinvis
Spinvis
Spinvis is a Dutch one-man project centred around Erik de Jong . Using experimental, lo-fi music, Spinvis became an instant success in his home country, earning two gold records in the process and performing sold-out tours in both the Netherlands and Belgium.-Spinvis:In 2001, Erik de Jong, or...
and Zita Swoon
Zita Swoon
Zita Swoon is a Belgian indie rock group. They entered the music scene of Antwerp in 1993, still under the name A Beatband with the EP "Jintro Travels The Word In A Skirt". The group is typical of the music scene in Antwerp, with members playing in numerous other groups. Best known member is singer...
).
2003 saw the release of their first official effort, the History makes Science Fiction EP, released on the Keremos label. The musicians were the same as before: Renaud Ghilbert, Sergej van Bouwel and Jan Duthoy but were joined by drummer Jakob Nachtergaele, playing the drums and woodblocks on one song. 'Quartet' was dropped from the band's name.
Their debut full length album, Acquired Taste
Acquired taste
An acquired taste often refers to an appreciation for a food or beverage that is unlikely to be enjoyed by a person who has not had substantial exposure to it, usually because of some unfamiliar aspect of the food or beverage, including a strong or strange odor An acquired taste often refers to an...
, was released in 2004, on the Keremos label and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Belgium. It was produced by Geoffrey Burton.
New Day was recorded in the end of January 2005 and was produced by producer Jean-Marie Aerts. After touring Belgium and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, they recorded 16 songs and released the album in March in Belgium, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Netherlands. That summer, New Day was also to be released in Portugal. From this album came Absynthe Minded’s first single, My Heroics, Part One, which gained much airplay.
In 2007 Absynthe Minded recorded their third album, There Is Nothing.
In august of 2009, the album Absynthe Minded was released in Belgium and The Netherlands. The first two singles from the album were the tracks Envoi
Envoi
In poetry, an envoi is a short stanza at the end of a poem used either to address an imagined or actual person or to comment on the preceding body of the poem.-Form:...
and Moodswing Baby. After the release of Absynthe Minded the band was signed by the French Label AZ (Universal) for releases outside Belgium and The Netherlands.
Members
- Bert Ostyn (vocals, guitar)
- Renaud Ghilbert (violin)
- Jan Duthoy (Hammond, piano)
- Sergej Van Bouwel (double bass, bass guitar)
- Jakob Nachtergaele (drums)
Discography
- History makes science fiction EP (2003)
- Acquired taste (2004)
- New day (2005)
- There is nothing (2007)
- Absynthe Minded (2009)