Blimey! | en

On cd Blimey! is a one-man-project by Martien van Bergen; The Dutch hometaper takes care of all instruments, vocals and mixdown. His music was described by the press as eclectic superlo-fi pop, magical soundexperiments and arty indie. Names like Ween, dEUS, Syd Barret and The Velvet Underground were mentioned. In 1998 the Belgian record company 62 TV records released his album Contradictory nature and the struggle within and an EP called Mike and Johnny(Exhibit A) .The songs were recorded on 4 and 8-track in van Bergen's homestudio Favourite Room. The extremely diverse tracks make them courageous and highly interesting pieces of work. Reactions of press and public were overwhelming and van Bergen played with his band at several prestigious clubs and festivals in Europe. Soon television appearances followed and Blimey! got national airplay in Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Sweden, France and Canada. His second full length album Less summer than some (2002) was again difficult to define: van Bergen is influenced by a few decades of popmusic and he is against the grain as far as arrangement and sound are concerned. Despite the diversity, the album was not seen as a mere mishmash; everything is carefully thought over and well-balanced, resulting in a tempting mosaic of sound. Some tracks got international airplay e.g. in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Scotland. The 3rd Cd When she s in your head got great reviews and history repeated itself. In 2008 (happy anniversary!) there s a new album, called Are you with me? which will not be promoted by gigs. A film is made by director/artist Maureen Prins and 6 songs of the Blimey!-album can be heard (not fragments, but entire songs). The film is shown in cinemas, theatres, venues and on festivals. Funny thing about it: During the film there will be a live-dancer near the screen. A crazy popadventure.

DISCOGRAPHY BLIMEY!:
- EP Mike and Johnny (Exhibit A) 1998 [62 tv records/Bang!]
- CD Contradictory nature and the struggle within 1998 [62 tv/Bang!/Zomba Rough Trade)
- EP Emily or other girls 2000 [62 tv records/ Bang!]
- 7" Blimey! versus JWSM :Flying Time 2001 [Octane Foil- UK]
- CD Less summer than some 2002 [Partners in Crime/PIAS]
- CD When she's in your head 2004 [Partners in Crime/PIAS]
- CD Are you with me? 2008 [PP-records/Konkurrent]

Blimey! is also available on compilations: Nieuw Nederlands Peil 7, Overstuurd.doc, Dutch Rock 99, Bijna boven 4, New Veins (cd-rom), en Hometaping is illegal (and it's killing music!), But you don't really care for music, do you, More than a woman, Playing the Indie Game etc.
 
 

 
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