Belgian punk (and anything slightly similar)

Cafe Society
1

For reasons concerning my defence of the Belgian nation (great frites, by the way), and an unrelated offer to make someone a mix CD on a subject of their choice, I am looking for anything that could conceivably be defined as Belgian punk, or punk about Belgium, or alternative rock songs set in Antwerp, or anything similar.

Does anyone know any quality Belgian music in the punk/rock/indie genre? I’ve slightly heard of dEUS and Front 242, but don’t know what’s good by them. Aside from that it’s strictly Eurovision and Scott Walker Sings Jacques Brel.

Also, since I’m not sure how easily I’ll find Belgian tracks, if you know any songs about waffles or the Common Agricultural Policy or with cover art in a Paul Delvaux style. Or cover versions of/by Belgian bands. Anything like that would help pad the thing out, because at present the track listing is pretty much:

  1. “Ca Plane Pour Moi” by Plastic Bertrand.
  2. “Sister” by Sergio and the Ladies (Belgium’s Eurovision entry a few years ago, and a damn fine rock song).
  3. Something by dEUS.
  4. A desperate attempt to find a punk cover version of Seasons in the Sun.

(Note: if you are Belgian, I promise I’m not taking the piss and apologise if you’re offended. My friend may be indulging in mockery, but please prove her wrong.)

(And any information on the Belgian death metal band called Festering Christc**t would be… probably passed over very quickly.)

2

Personally, I’m more into the likes of Univers Zéro, Présent, and X-Legged Sally; but try here.

3

That’s as far as my knowledge of Belgian music goes. They did have two very good albums, though. What song you gonna use?

4

As far as punk/rock/Indie is concerned, you can’t really go wrong with dEUS. I’d also recommend K’s Choice (particularly “Not an Addict”) and perhaps Moondog Jr., which ventures far more towards the brink of artsy alternative without ever really crossing the line.

dEUS songs I’d recommend are Roses and Suds ‘n’ Soda, though basically all of it is worth listening to.

I confess I’ve never heard of Festering Christc**t, though.

5

Back in 1984 Roir release a cassette compilation called World Class Punk which contained tracks by punk bands from just about everywhere (other than England or the US)… Australia, Columbia, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Iceland… and of course, Belgium…
Zyklome - Scapegoats

It’s recently been re-released on CD, and is a very interesting compilation/time capsule.

Check out the site
(no direct link, unfortunately)

6

Antler-Subway was (is?) a Belgian-based record label featuring mostly postpunk and EBM bands. Some of the better-known Belgian groups on this label: Praga Khan, Lords of Acid (of which Praga Khan was a member), A Split Second (EBM stuff, not too dissimilar to Front 242), and Siglo XX (goth rock in the vein of Sisters of Mercy or Joy Division)

7

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I’m putting together a good playlist. K’s Choice are good, and Moondog interesting, if somewhat “experimental”.

dEUS are a band I’ve been meaning to check out for years. Normally I rush out to buy any CD by any band who’re compared to the Pixies (even though, as with dEUS, they seldom sound anything like the Pixies.)

I’d also like to take this opportunity to point out that Blink 182’s cover version of Seasons In The Sun is the worst thing in the universe. They don’t even do it in a cheesy pop-punk style, but in something altogether more bizarre and rubbish and oddly upbeat. I wonder if it’s supposed to be emotional or moving.

8

I dunno about any Belgian punk bands, but the Swedish band The Peacocks are great.

9

A friend put some dEUS on a mix CD he made me – their song “Put the Freaks Up Front” from The Ideal Crash is really good.