Solex (band)
Encyclopedia
Solex is the solo
performing name of Elisabeth Esselink, born in Delft
, but based in Amsterdam
. Her music is a light-hearted amalgamation of pop music
, electronica
and sampling
.
moped
manufacturer Solex
.
Utilizing the records in her own record store, she assembled her music on an antique 8-track recorder, singing original lyrics over her musical creations. The first album, Solex Vs. the Hitmeister
, was cobbled together using samples from albums that Esselink had been unable to sell in her store. Later albums would see her assembling tracks with samples she had secretly recorded at live performances in addition to sampling records from her collection. She has appeared on Gerling
's 2001 album Head3cleaner/When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun
and The Go! Team
's 2007 album Proof of Youth
.
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
performing name of Elisabeth Esselink, born in Delft
Delft
Delft is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland , the Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam and The Hague....
, but based in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. Her music is a light-hearted amalgamation of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
.
Overview
After performing as a member of the Dutch indie group Sonetic Vet, Esselink began the Solex project in order to give herself a more complete and fulfilling musical outlet. The name is taken from the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
moped
Moped
Mopeds are a type of low-powered motorcycle designed to provide economical and relatively safe transport with minimal licensing requirements.Mopeds were once all equipped with bicycle-like pedals , but moped has been increasingly applied by governments to vehicles without pedals, based on their...
manufacturer Solex
Solex
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators...
.
Utilizing the records in her own record store, she assembled her music on an antique 8-track recorder, singing original lyrics over her musical creations. The first album, Solex Vs. the Hitmeister
Solex Vs. the Hitmeister
Solex Vs. the Hitmeister is the first full-length album from Amsterdam-based artist Solex. It was released on March 10, 1998 on the Matador Records label...
, was cobbled together using samples from albums that Esselink had been unable to sell in her store. Later albums would see her assembling tracks with samples she had secretly recorded at live performances in addition to sampling records from her collection. She has appeared on Gerling
Gerling
Gerling were an alternative guitar and electronic act from Australia. They formed in 1993, and are based in Sydney.-History:The band formed in 1993 with the line-up of Darren Cross , Presser and Brad Herdson...
's 2001 album Head3cleaner/When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun
When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun
When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun is an album by Gerling, released in September, 2001. It was released in the UK with the presumably less-offensive title Headzcleaner.-Track listing:#"Phazer Kidz in the Windy City" – 4:40...
and The Go! Team
The Go! Team
The Go! Team are a six-piece band from Brighton, England. They combine indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks, double dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars similar to the style of Sonic Youth. Their songs are a mix of live...
's 2007 album Proof of Youth
Proof of Youth
Proof of Youth is the second studio album by Brighton band The Go! Team. It was released on September 10, 2007 in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States.-History:...
.
Albums
- Solex Vs. the HitmeisterSolex Vs. the HitmeisterSolex Vs. the Hitmeister is the first full-length album from Amsterdam-based artist Solex. It was released on March 10, 1998 on the Matador Records label...
, 1998, Matador RecordsMatador RecordsMatador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have... - Pick UpPick Up (album)Pick Up is the second full-length album from Amsterdam-based artist Solex. It was released as follow-up to Solex Vs. the Hitmeister on 14 September 1999 on the Matador Records label...
, 1999, Matador RecordsMatador RecordsMatador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have... - Low Kick and Hard BopLow Kick and Hard BopLow Kick and Hard Bop is the third full-length album from Amsterdam-based artist Solex. It was released on September 11, 2001 and would be Solex's last album released on the Matador Records label.-Track listing:All songs by Solex....
, 2001, Matador RecordsMatador RecordsMatador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have... - The Laughing Stock of Indie RockThe Laughing Stock of Indie RockThe Laughing Stock of Indie Rock is the fourth full-length album by Solex.-Track listing:#"Yadda Yadda Yadda No. 1"#"Round Figure, A"#"The Boxer"#"Honkey Donkey"#"You're Ugly"#"Hot Diggity Dog Run Run Run"...
, 2004, Arena Rock Recording Co.Arena Rock Recording Co.The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:... - In the Fishtank 13In the Fishtank 13In the Fishtank 13 features Solex and the Maarten Altena Ensemble-External links:*...
, 2005, In the FishtankIn the FishtankIn the Fishtank is an ongoing project of Konkurrent, an independent music distributor in the Netherlands. In this project, Konkurrent invites one or two bands to record and gives them two days studio time. The first four albums were recorded by individual bands, but eight of the last ten releases...
, with M.A.E. - Amsterdam Throwdown King Street Showdown! (2010) - Solex vs. Cristina MartinezCristina MartínezCristina Martínez is a Spanish slalom canoer who competed in the early to mid 1990s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, she earned her best finish of 17th in the K-1 event at Barcelona in 1992.-References:*...
+ Jon Spencer (BronzeRat RecordsBronzerat RecordsBronzerat Records are a UK based Record label. The label was created in 2006 to release music by singer songwriter Gemma Ray . The label then signed Seasick Steve who went on to sell hundreds of thousands of records in the UK and Europe and played on...
)
External links
- Official site
- Solex on Keeping It Peel (BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's John PeelJohn PeelJohn Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
memorial site) - Solex at Matador Records
- Solex at Arena Rock Recording Co.
- [ Solex on Allmusic]