Blank & Jones
Encyclopedia
Blank & Jones is a Cologne
, Germany
based Trance
duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank (born June 15, 1971), known as Piet Blank; René Runge (born June 27, 1968), better known as DJ Jaspa Jones; and the producer Andy Kaufhold (N*D*K) (born December 17, 1969). They have released eleven albums and more than 16 singles since their first single release "Sunrise" in 1997.
" by Kim Wilde
, had his first experience in spinning a record on a turntable at age 16. René Runge, on the other hand, who resides in Düsseldorf
and who is better known as Jaspa Jones had his first experience as a DJ at age 19. Together with help from Andy Kaufhold they formed the trance production team Piet Blank & Jaspa Jones (which would later become simply Blank & Jones) after meeting at the Popkomm
music conference.
Even though they had been together for a few years, they did not release their first single, "Sunrise", until 1997. Their first album, In the Mix, was a studio production that came out in 1999. As of 2008, thirteen of their singles have made it into the German Top 50, and three into the Top 20. Each album made the Top 50, including two which reached the Top Ten.
Blank & Jones have teamed up with Robert Smith from The Cure
, Anne Clark
, Sarah McLachlan
, Claudia Brücken
from (Propaganda), and Delerium
. They have also contributed to the Café del Mar compilation series and produced their own chill-out albums, Relax, Relax (Edition 2), Relax (Edition 3), Relax (Edition 4), Relax (Edition 5) and Relax (Edition 6).
The album was also released in Limited Edition format, in which The Singles are complemented by a DVD, bringing together all Blank & Jones videos on one disc for the first time. The videos feature people such as Estella Warren and Til Schweiger in "Beyond Time", the latter having also directed the clip. The DVD was produced and designed by Thomas Jahn, scriptwriter and director of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and also responsible for "The Hardest Heart", "Mind of the Wonderful", "Perfect Silence" and "Desire". The video for the single "Catch" was directed by Conchita Soares and Toni Froschhammer which features TV actress Nadine.
When asked about the key to their success, their response is:
Blank & Jones perform at major festivals and raves in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia. They also travel further afield on a regular basis, to Canada, Mexico, South America and Australia.
They released their latest single entitled "Miracle Cure" on May 30, 2008, off their new studio album The Logic of Pleasure which is a collaboration with New Order
's frontman Bernard Sumner
. This collaboration was realised with the help of renowned Berlin based record producer Mark Reeder
who is a long term friend of Sumner's. Blank & Jones invited Reeder to remix "Miracle Cure" and this in turn, brought about their collaboration with him and a new project was conceived. This resulted in Reeder completely reworking most of the Blank & Jones vocal tracks for the successful and highly acclaimed 2009 album "Reordered".
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
2009
2010
2011
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, 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...
based Trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
duo, consisting of the members Jan Pieter Blank (born June 15, 1971), known as Piet Blank; René Runge (born June 27, 1968), better known as DJ Jaspa Jones; and the producer Andy Kaufhold (N*D*K) (born December 17, 1969). They have released eleven albums and more than 16 singles since their first single release "Sunrise" in 1997.
History
Piet Blank, who recognized the great desire in him for music after purchasing his first record "Kids in AmericaKids in America (Kim Wilde song)
"Kids in America" is a New Wave song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the US in 1982. It has famously been covered by many artists from different genres.-Background:...
" by Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
, had his first experience in spinning a record on a turntable at age 16. René Runge, on the other hand, who resides in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
and who is better known as Jaspa Jones had his first experience as a DJ at age 19. Together with help from Andy Kaufhold they formed the trance production team Piet Blank & Jaspa Jones (which would later become simply Blank & Jones) after meeting at the Popkomm
Popkomm
Popkomm is an international trade show for the music and entertainment business, and also integrates a congress and festival. It is held in Berlin but has had entries from at least 55 other countries. Popkomm is organised by Popkomm GmbH, Berlin.- History :...
music conference.
Even though they had been together for a few years, they did not release their first single, "Sunrise", until 1997. Their first album, In the Mix, was a studio production that came out in 1999. As of 2008, thirteen of their singles have made it into the German Top 50, and three into the Top 20. Each album made the Top 50, including two which reached the Top Ten.
Blank & Jones have teamed up with Robert Smith from The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, Anne Clark
Anne Clark
Anne Clark is an English poet and songwriter. Her first album, The Sitting Room, was released in 1982, and she has released over a dozen albums since then....
, Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, Claudia Brücken
Claudia Brücken
Claudia Brücken is a German singer who fronted the synthpop groups Propaganda and Act. Since 1996 she has been working with OMD member Paul Humphreys, first without a name, since 2004 as Onetwo...
from (Propaganda), and Delerium
Delerium
Delerium is a band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, formed in 1987, originally as a side project of the influential industrial music act, Front Line Assembly...
. They have also contributed to the Café del Mar compilation series and produced their own chill-out albums, Relax, Relax (Edition 2), Relax (Edition 3), Relax (Edition 4), Relax (Edition 5) and Relax (Edition 6).
The Singles
In 2006 Blank & Jones and their long-standing production colleague Andy Kaufhold collated their finest material on one release, The Singles, which also included two new tracks:The album was also released in Limited Edition format, in which The Singles are complemented by a DVD, bringing together all Blank & Jones videos on one disc for the first time. The videos feature people such as Estella Warren and Til Schweiger in "Beyond Time", the latter having also directed the clip. The DVD was produced and designed by Thomas Jahn, scriptwriter and director of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and also responsible for "The Hardest Heart", "Mind of the Wonderful", "Perfect Silence" and "Desire". The video for the single "Catch" was directed by Conchita Soares and Toni Froschhammer which features TV actress Nadine.
Current activities
The chart success of Blank & Jones is partially based on their club-gigs, radio shows and other live-performances including events such as Love-Parade, StreetParade and Mayday. The success is further boosted by their activeness as moderators on Eins Live-TV and by being the Co-host on Viva-Clubrotation.When asked about the key to their success, their response is:
Blank & Jones perform at major festivals and raves in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia. They also travel further afield on a regular basis, to Canada, Mexico, South America and Australia.
They released their latest single entitled "Miracle Cure" on May 30, 2008, off their new studio album The Logic of Pleasure which is a collaboration with New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
's frontman Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
. This collaboration was realised with the help of renowned Berlin based record producer Mark Reeder
Mark Reeder
Mark Reeder grew up in Manchester, England. He is a musician and record producer. At a young age, Reeder became interested in progressive rock and especially early electronic music. In his teens, he worked in a small Virgin Records store in Manchester city centre.Reeder has been living and working...
who is a long term friend of Sumner's. Blank & Jones invited Reeder to remix "Miracle Cure" and this in turn, brought about their collaboration with him and a new project was conceived. This resulted in Reeder completely reworking most of the Blank & Jones vocal tracks for the successful and highly acclaimed 2009 album "Reordered".
Albums
- In Da MixIn Da MixIn Da Mix is a debut studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 1999.-Track listing:#"On A Journey" – 1:52#"Cream" – 7:00#"Flying To The Moon" – 5:53#"Wake Up" – 4:56#"Strong" – 6:15#"B-Boy-Style" – 5:02...
(1999) - DJ CultureDJ Culture (Blank & Jones album)DJ Culture is the second studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2000.-Track listing:#"A New Culture Is Born" – 3:14#"The Nightfly" – 7:21#"La Luna" – 5:45#"DJ Culture" – 6:07#"Sundowner" – 5:15#"Sound of Machines" – 5:15...
(Limited edition with 2 CDs. Disc 2 includes bonus tracks and The Nightfly video) (2000) - NightclubbingNightclubbing (Blank & Jones album)Nightclubbing is the third studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2001.-Track listing:#"Invocatio" – 1:43#"Beyond Time" – 7:03#"DJs, Fans & Freaks" – 5:01#"Nightclubbing" – 5:29#"Le Grand Bleu" – 4:34#"Fragile" – 5:27...
(Limited edition with 2 CDs including ambient tracks) (2001) - SubstanceSubstance (Blank & Jones album)Substance is the fourth studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2002.-Track listing:#"Substance" – 2:42#"Desire" - 6:42#"Watching the Waves" – 7:17#"Coming to Life" – 5:49#"Elve's Cry" – 5:17#"Suburban Hell" – 5:36...
(Limited with 2 CDs and bonus tracks) (2002) - RelaxRelax (Blank & Jones album)Relax is the fifth studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2003.-Track listing:#"Breezin'" – 3:26#"Unknown Treasure" – feat. Claudia Brücken - 5:49#"Beyond Time" – 5:23...
(Limited edition in a different package) (2003) - MonumentMonument (Blank & Jones album)Monument is the sixth studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2004.-Track listing:#"Monument" – 0:47#"What You Need" – 3:34#"City Of Angels" – 4:49#"Mind Of The Wonderful " – 9:18#"Zero Gravity" – 5:35...
(Limited edition with 2 CDs including bonus tracks) (2004) - Relax Edition 2Relax Edition 2 (Blank & Jones album)Relax Edition 2 is the seventh studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2005.-Track listing:CD1 - Sun#"Balearic Blue" - 6:32#"Closer To Me" - with Elles - 6:31#"Cruisin'" - 5:26#"Revealed" - with Steve Kilbey - 5:55...
(2 CDs) (Limited edition includes bonus tracks) (2005) - The SinglesThe Singles (Blank & Jones album)The Singles is a singles compilation album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2006.-Track listing:#"A Forest " - 3:34#"Perfect Silence " - 3:20#"Catch " - 3:19#"The Nightfly " - 3:54...
(Limited edition includes DVD with singles clips and some bonus) (2006) - Relax Edition 3Relax Edition 3 (Blank & Jones album)Relax Edition 3 is the eighth studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2007.-Track listing:CD1 - Sun#"Roots" - 3:17#"Nothing Can Come Between Us" - 3:50...
(2 CDs) (2007) - The Logic of PleasureThe Logic of Pleasure (Blank & Jones album)The Logic of Pleasure is the ninth studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released in 2008.Regular edition Soundcolours #SC 0002.-Track listing:#"Consequences" - feat. Vanessa Daou - 6:52#"Miracle Cure" - feat. Bernard Sumner - 3:49...
(2008) - Relax Edition 4Relax Edition 4 (Blank & Jones album)Relax Edition 4 is the tenth studio album by Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released on 17 April 2009. Soundcolours # SC 0109, Double CD, Digi-pak.-Track listing:CD1 - Sun#"Face À La Mer" - 6:25...
(2 CDs) (2009) - Eat Raw for BreakfastEat Raw for BreakfastEat Raw for Breakfast is the eleventh studio album by German Trance duo Blank & Jones. It was released on 18 December 2009. Soundcolours #SC 0309.-Track listing:#"Menue " - 2:20#"The Night Starts Here - With Stars " - 7:43...
(2009) - Reordered (Blank & Jones, Mark ReederMark ReederMark Reeder grew up in Manchester, England. He is a musician and record producer. At a young age, Reeder became interested in progressive rock and especially early electronic music. In his teens, he worked in a small Virgin Records store in Manchester city centre.Reeder has been living and working...
) (2009) - Relax Edition 5 (2 CDs) (2010)
- Chilltronica No 2 (2010)
- Relax Edition SixRelax Edition Six (Blank & Jones album)-Track listing:#Souvenir 4:28#Only Your Love 6:23#After Love 7:30#Love Conquers All 5:28#Nighttime Lovers 6:09#Pura Vida 3:36#Sundazed 5:16 N...
(2011)
Singles
- Sunrise (1997)
- Heartbeat (1998)
- Flying to The Moon (1998)
- CreamCream (Blank & Jones song)"Cream" was a 1999 single released by Blank & Jones which reached #24 in the UK Charts.- Single :UK & French Single#"Cream " - 7:19#"Cream " - 8:15Australian & Swedish Single#"Cream " - 3:18...
(1999) (UK #24 and #1 in Dance Charts) - After Love (1999) (UK #57)
- The Nightfly (2000) (UK #55)
- DJ Culture (2000)
- Sound of Machines (Released in Italy and Netherlands as Single) (2000)
- Beyond Time (2001) (UK #53)
- DJs, Fans & Freaks (D.F.F.) (2001) (UK #45)
- Nightclubbing (2001)
- Desire (2002)
- Watching the Waves (2002)
- Suburban Hell (2002) (Released only in Vinyls)
- The Hardest Heart (feat. Anne Clark) (2002)
- A Forest (Feat. Robert Smith) (2003)
- Summer Sun (2003) (Released only in Vinyls)
- Mind of the Wonderful (feat. Elles de Graaf) (2004)
- Perfect Silence (feat. Bobo) (2004)
- Revealed (with Steve Kilbey) (2005) (#3 Guatemalan Charts)
- Catch (Vocals by Elles de Graaf) (2006)
- Sound of Machines 2006 (2006)
- Miracle Cure (2008) (#90 Germany)
- California Sunset (2008)
- Where You Belong (feat. Bobo) (2008)
- Relax (Your Mind) (feat. Jason Caesar) (2009)
- Lazy Life (feat. Jason Caesar) (2009)
- Miracle Man (with Cathy Battistessa) (2010)
- Pura Vida (with Jason Caesar) (2011)
Remixes
1998- Basic Connection – Angel (Don't Cry) (Blank & Jones Remix)
- Sash! – La Primavera (Blank & Jones Mix)
- Syntone – Heal My World (Blank & Jones Mix)
- Dario G – Sunmachine (Blank & Jones Mix)
- Humate – Love Stimulation (Blank & Jones Mix)
- United Deejays – Too Much Rain (Blank & Jones vs. Gorgeous Mix)
- Dune – Electric heaven (Blank & Jones Club Cut)
- Yello vs Hardfloor – Vicious Games (Blank & Jones Mix)
1999
- Liquid Love – Sweet Harmony (Blank & Jones Mix)
- Mauro Picotto – Iguana (Blank & Jones Remix)
- Storm – Love is here to stay (Blank & Jones Mix)
2001
- Perpetuous Dreamer – The Sound of Goodbye (Blank & Jones Mix)
- Fragma – You are Alive (Blank & Jones Remix)
- Die Ärzte – Rock'n Roll Übermensch (Blank & Jones Mix)
2002
- Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
– Home & Dry (Blank & Jones Dub) - Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
– Home & Dry (Blank & Jones Mix)
2003
- Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
– Love comes quicklyLove comes quickly"Love Comes Quickly" is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the third single from their 1986 album Please, and the last of its singles to be released before the album itself. Although a Top 20 hit in the UK, and cited as one the band's own favourite songs, its chart performance was...
(Blank & Jones 2003 mix) - RMB – Beauty of Simplicity (Blank & Jones Retouch)
- RMB – ReReality (Blank & Jones Remix)
- Wolfsheim – Wundervoll (Blank & Jones Remix)
- Evolution feat. Jayn Hanna – Walking on Fire (Blank & Jones Remix)
- Chicane – Love on the Run (Blank & Jones Dub Remix)
- Chicane – Love on the Run (Blank & Jones Remix)
2004
- Blank & Jones – The Blue Sky (2004 Update)
2006
- Blank & Jones – The Nightfly (WMC 06 Retouch)
2007
- Delerium – Lost & Found (Blank & Jones Radio Mix)
- Delerium – Lost & Found (Blank & Jones Late Night Mix)
- Delerium – Lost & Found (Blank & Jones Electrofied Mix)
2009
- Johnny Hates JazzJohnny Hates JazzJohnny Hates Jazz is an Anglo-American Pop/Rock band, formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler , Mike Nocito , and Calvin Hayes...
– I Don't Want To Be A HeroI Don't Want to be a Hero"I Don't Want to be a Hero" is a 1987 song by the British band Johnny Hates Jazz. It reached #11 in the UK top 40 in August 1987 spending 10 weeks on the chart. It is taken from their #1 album Turn Back the Clock.-Writing and inspiration:...
(Blank & Jones Remix)
2010
- Daniela KatzenbergerDaniela KatzenbergerDaniela Denise Katzenberger is a German reality TV star, a singer, entrepreneur and model. She released her first single in August 2010, a version of Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now which reached number 19 on the German single charts....
- Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now (Blank & Jones Club Remix) - Daniela KatzenbergerDaniela KatzenbergerDaniela Denise Katzenberger is a German reality TV star, a singer, entrepreneur and model. She released her first single in August 2010, a version of Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now which reached number 19 on the German single charts....
- Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now (Blank & Jones Radio Edit) - Daniela KatzenbergerDaniela KatzenbergerDaniela Denise Katzenberger is a German reality TV star, a singer, entrepreneur and model. She released her first single in August 2010, a version of Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now which reached number 19 on the German single charts....
- Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now (Blank & Jones Dub)
2011
- MedinaMedina (singer)Medina Danielle Oona Valbak , known by the mononym Medina is a Danish pop, dance and R&B singer and songwriter....
- Gutter (Blank & Jones Club Remix) - MedinaMedina (singer)Medina Danielle Oona Valbak , known by the mononym Medina is a Danish pop, dance and R&B singer and songwriter....
- Gutter (Blank & Jones Radio Edit) - MedinaMedina (singer)Medina Danielle Oona Valbak , known by the mononym Medina is a Danish pop, dance and R&B singer and songwriter....
- Gutter (Blank & Jones Dub)
Compilations - DJ Mixes
- Trance Mix USA vol. 2 (2001) (Released in US)
- The Mix volume 1 (2 CDs) (2002)
- The Mix volume 2 (2 CDs) (2003)
- The Mix volume 3 (2 CDs) (2004)
- Peaktime 5 (2 CDs**) (2005) (Released in Australia) **CD 2 Is the album DJ Culture
- Posh Trance (2008)
- So80s (So Eighties) (3 CDs) (2009)
- So80s (So Eighties) 2 (3 CDs) (2010)
- Milchbar Seaside Season, Vol. 02 (2010)
- So80s (So Eighties) 3 (3 CDs) (2010)
- So80s (So Eighties) 4 (3 CDs) (2011)
- RMX - Superstars remixed by Superstars (2011)