The Black Atlantic
Encyclopedia
The Black Atlantic is the Dutch acoustic pop band formed around singer-songwriter Geert van der Velde, former vocalist for the American hardcore band Shai Hulud
.
. The Black Atlantic released their debut album “Reverence for Fallen Trees” digitally for free (worldwide) on August 21, 2009. It has since been downloaded close to 100.000 times via various torrent websites, the band’s own website and it’s label Beep! Beep! Back Up the Truck
.
About “Reverence for Fallen Trees”
In February, 2008, The Black Atlantic started recording their album in a cabin owned by van der Velde’s in-laws, located in the small town of Saranac Lake
, in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains
of upstate New York
. For this recording, drummer Marcel Wolthof was re-enlisted alongside singer-songwriter Kim Janssen on various instruments. Janssen co-wrote some of the songs for the recording and has permanently settled in and joined the band.
The band took a large part of these recordings back home to the Netherlands where they finished the album over the course of Spring 2009 and early Summer at the (now defunct) Paperboat recording studio in Zwolle.
The title of the album "Reverence for Fallen Trees" is a metaphor for "honour the dead" alluding to van der Velde’s grandparents, three of whom died during the recording process. The album deals with these topics - ‘remembrance’ , ‘grief’, ‘family’, ‘love’, ‘disenchantment’ - in a roundabout way, mostly through the use of natural metaphors .
Musically the album showcases a wide variety of instrumentation with a penchant for ambience and an abundance of melancholy, multi-layered vocal harmonies; inspired by such acts as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and the Beach Boys. Rhythmically the band’s approach is minimalist and percussive rather than expansive; the band tours with only a snare drum, floor tom and ride cymbal.
History & Touring:
The Black Atlantic started as a project of van der Velde in his off time from his philosophy studies. Gradually the project turned more serious after van der Velde recorded his first song - a Valentine’s gift to his then girlfriend, now wife (and sometimes bandmember) - in February 2006.
After posting the song on Myspace van der Velde received some label interest and wrote and recorded ‘Send This Home’ in the early Fall of 2006 with the help of various contributing friends. He eventually abandoned his studies to focus full-time on the band.
The EP documents van der Velde’s very first attempts at writing pop music, and showcases his preferred melancholy and introspective delivery. The EP was released on July 10, 2007 in the US by Five Point Records (NY) ; one of the two indie labels who had initially offered a deal. And, in January 2008, ‘Send This Home’ EP was released in Europe through Midsummer Records (DE).
Shai Hulud (band)
Shai Hulud is an American hardcore punk band with progressive metal influences, originally formed in Pompano Beach, Florida, the band later moved up to Poughkeepsie, New York....
.
History
The Black Atlantic is the Groningen (The Netherlands) based acoustic pop band formed around singer and songwriter Geert van der Velde, former frontman for American metalcore group Shai HuludShai Hulud
Shai Hulud may refer to:*Shai-Hulud , the sandworm in the fictional world of Dune*Shai Hulud , A progressive metal-influenced hardcore punk band*Shai-Hulud, One of many Tuareg names for the Harmattan...
. The Black Atlantic released their debut album “Reverence for Fallen Trees” digitally for free (worldwide) on August 21, 2009. It has since been downloaded close to 100.000 times via various torrent websites, the band’s own website and it’s label Beep! Beep! Back Up the Truck
Beep! Beep! Back Up the Truck
Beep! Beep! Back up the Truck is a Dutch record label based in Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. The Label was founded in spring 2008 and is run by all engaged artists. This way the label created a large network giving the Dutch independent music scene an important impulse. The labels main focus lies...
.
About “Reverence for Fallen Trees”
In February, 2008, The Black Atlantic started recording their album in a cabin owned by van der Velde’s in-laws, located in the small town of Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
, in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
of upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. For this recording, drummer Marcel Wolthof was re-enlisted alongside singer-songwriter Kim Janssen on various instruments. Janssen co-wrote some of the songs for the recording and has permanently settled in and joined the band.
The band took a large part of these recordings back home to the Netherlands where they finished the album over the course of Spring 2009 and early Summer at the (now defunct) Paperboat recording studio in Zwolle.
The title of the album "Reverence for Fallen Trees" is a metaphor for "honour the dead" alluding to van der Velde’s grandparents, three of whom died during the recording process. The album deals with these topics - ‘remembrance’ , ‘grief’, ‘family’, ‘love’, ‘disenchantment’ - in a roundabout way, mostly through the use of natural metaphors .
Musically the album showcases a wide variety of instrumentation with a penchant for ambience and an abundance of melancholy, multi-layered vocal harmonies; inspired by such acts as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and the Beach Boys. Rhythmically the band’s approach is minimalist and percussive rather than expansive; the band tours with only a snare drum, floor tom and ride cymbal.
History & Touring:
The Black Atlantic started as a project of van der Velde in his off time from his philosophy studies. Gradually the project turned more serious after van der Velde recorded his first song - a Valentine’s gift to his then girlfriend, now wife (and sometimes bandmember) - in February 2006.
After posting the song on Myspace van der Velde received some label interest and wrote and recorded ‘Send This Home’ in the early Fall of 2006 with the help of various contributing friends. He eventually abandoned his studies to focus full-time on the band.
The EP documents van der Velde’s very first attempts at writing pop music, and showcases his preferred melancholy and introspective delivery. The EP was released on July 10, 2007 in the US by Five Point Records (NY) ; one of the two indie labels who had initially offered a deal. And, in January 2008, ‘Send This Home’ EP was released in Europe through Midsummer Records (DE).
Members
- Geert van der Velde (lead vocals, guitar, ukulele, piano, percussion)
- Kim Janssen (vocal harmonies, guitar, ukulele, piano, percussion)
- Matthijs Herder (vocal harmonies, guitar, piano, keyboard)
- Simon van der Heide (drums, vocal harmonies)
Past members
- Megan Hoffman (vocals, flute, glockenspiel, melodica, auxiliary percussion)
- Stef Thoen (percussion, piano, vocals)
- Menno Vos (drums)
- Jurgen Hakkeling (bass)
- Sander Bos (piano, keys)
- Dennis Hemstra (bass)
- Arjen de Bock (piano, keys)
- Matthijs Herder (bass)
- Robert Koole (drums)
- Marcel Wolthof (drums)
Discography
- Send This Home (2007) EP
- Madagascar (2007) Digital single
- Reverence for Fallen Trees (2009) Album