Bernthøler
Bernthøler | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Belgium |
| Genres | Pop, new wave |
| Years active | 1981–1985 |
| Labels | Putovsky, Blue Feather, Blanco y Negro, LTM, Starman Records |
| Past members | Drita Kotaji Simon Rigot Manuel Poutte Pol Fourmois Pierre Sorvil |
Bernthøler was a pop/avant garde band formed in Brussels, Belgium, active between 1981 and 1985.[1]
History
[edit]Originally just a "musical experiment" named after a line in a Virna Lindt song, the band found surprise success with their single "My Suitor"/"Emotions", recorded in August 1983. Championed in the UK by DJ John Peel and appearing in his Festive Fifty for 1984,[2] the group signed to the UK label Blanco y Negro. The band released one more record, a long version of "My Suitor" with additional parts by Wim Mertens and Drita Kotaji and, despite occasional gigs, disbanded in 1985.[3]
In 1999, radio station Studio Brussel chose "My Suitor" for its Bass-tard remix competition, won by Buscemi - who later released his version as a single and on the album Our Girl in Havana - and the song was nominated by DJ Chantal Pattyn as "one of the classics of Belgian new wave".[3] The song was also covered by Kahimi Karie on her 2001 album of the same name. In 1997, Simon Rigot put together a compilation of studio, live and other tracks covering the group's whole career, A History of Bernthøler 1981-1985, issued as a limited release. An official issue was published in 2004 by LTM.[4]
A 12" vinyl issue was published in 2015 by Starman Records including the UK EP, the first single, demos from 1984 and the never-before released song "Heartbeat" from 1983.
Several other artists have covered "My Suitor", including the following:
- 1998: Figurine on Moshi Moshi compilation
- 1999: Buscemi on Our Girl in Havana
- 1999: Das Pop on Electronica for Lovers EP
- 2001: Kahimi Karie on My Suitor EP
- 2002: De Flandriens on De popklassiekers live CD
- 2011: The Arch on Engine in Void CD (with Drita Kotaji on vocals)
Post-breakup
[edit]Keyboard player Manuel Poutte later became a film director, winning the Palme d'Or for a short film in 1992.[5]
Singer and writer Drita Kotaji is running a solo career and is also involved, amongst other projects, in the INK. duet.
Composer, guitarist and keyboard player Simon Rigot played and recorded with many bands (Les Cactus, Resurrection),[6] learned the sitar in the '90s and now plays synthesizer, Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano with Belgian band the Narcotic Daffodils.[7]
Bass player Pol Fourmois is working as an electro-technician at the cinema.[8]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Merry Lines in the Sky CD (2004), LTM - 15 songs including My Suitor EP
- My Suitor Vinyl (2015), Starman Records - 12 songs including My Suitor EP
Singles and EPs
[edit]- "Japanese Garden/The Others" (1982), Putovsky
- "My Suitor/Emotions" (1983), Blue Feather
- My Suitor EP ("My Suitor"/"Pardeon Up Here"/"Lunacies"/"Emotions") (1984), Blanco y Negro
Compilation appearances
[edit]- 1992: Witlof from Belgium, Volume 4: 80's, Part 2 - "My Suitor"
- 1998: Was Het Nu 70 of 80? Vol 7 - "My Suitor", EVA
- 2005: Various - Bel 80 (Het Beste Uit De Belpop Van 1980-1989) - "My Suitor", Universal
- 2007: Les Inrockuptibles présentent: 100 trésors cachés: chansons rares & indispensables - "My Suitor", Les Inrockuptibles
- 2008: Expo 58 - De soundtrack - "My Suitor", ARS Entertainment
- 2010: Underground Belgian Wave Volume 2 - "Toys", Walhalla Records
- 2011: Belpop. De eerste 50 jaar CD5 - "My Suitor", EMI
- 2013: 80s Compilation EP - "Images", EE Tapes
- 2014: Studio Brussel - Eigen Kweek - 30 jaar Studio Brussel - "My Suitor"
- 2014: Insane 80s [EV01>EV10] - "Images - Exterieur Nuit", EE Tapes
- 2015: 100 Op 1 - De Beste Belgen (Radio 1) - "My Suitor", Warner
- 2016: Nostalgie - Belpop Classics - "My Suitor", Sony Music
References
[edit]- ^ "Simon's Bernthøler". Home.base.be. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Festive 50s - 1984". BBC. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ a b "Bernthöler - The Belgian Pop & Rock Archives". Houbi.com. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ "Berntholer | Biography". LTM Recordings. 1985-04-30. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ fr:Manuel Poutte
- ^ "The resurrection "Black Dream"". YouTube. 2007-04-20. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ "The Narcotic Daffodils". The Narcotic Daffodils. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
- ^ "Pol Fourmois". IMDb.
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