I
Bløf

About:

The group was founded in 1992 by Peter Slager who was inspired by the album 'Open' from 'The Scene'. The band consisted by that time of Paskal Jakobsen, Peter Slager, Bas Kennis and Henk Tjoonk. In the fall of 1994 the group recorded in one week their first album, 'Naakt onder de hemel', which was distributed by themselves. This had much to do with the fact that drummer Henk Tjoonk had a mind for business. The album was well-received by critics and the band made a contract with EMI Music, who distributed the album nationwide. The single 'Aan de kust' becomes the new anthem of Zeeland, when national radio stadions never air the record. Bløf gets an award for 'Best New Talent' for the album. The money that was included with this award was used for recording of their second album, 'Helder'. This album was released in September 1997.

The first two singles, 'Helder' and 'Zeven nachten' didn't make it to the charts. In the end of 1997 the group almost fell apart, so eventually they decided to remove Henk Tjoonk from the setting. With the help of ex 'Doe Maar' manager Frank van der Meijden they got a full contract with EMI. The new drummer of the band is Chris Götte. The changes in the group seem to work as the first single released after this, a piano ballad called 'Liefs uit Londen', becomes a huge success. On March 10. 1998, Bløf records live-material in 'The Nighttrain', a discotheque in Middelburg. This material appears on an extra edition of 'Helder'. The next two singles are songs from this live-record, a new version of 'Aan de kust' and 'Wat zou je doen'. The original version of both songs appeared originally on 'Naakt onder de hemel'. Both songs became huge hit singles.

In the summer 1998, the group performed many concerts and they received several awards. Meanwhile, they record the album 'XXL live met het Zeeuws Orkest', a live album recorded with an orchestra from Zeeland, and a new album called 'Boven'. This album was recorded with the help of Peter Bauwers ('2 Unlimited') and Ronald Vanhuffel. This album shows more rock than before and the single 'Harder dan ik hebben kan' became a single in less than a month. In the start 2000, the band received an Edison Award for Best Dutch Band. Before the release of 'Watermakers', the group released the singles 'Dansen aan zee' and 'Hier'.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the group gave a concert for the Dutch olympians and their crew. In October 2000, 'Watermakers' was finally released and became an incredible success. The band gave a huge concert in Ahoy in 2001 and they received that year again an Edison for Best Dutch Band. On March 17 2001 drummer Chris Götte died in a motorcycle accident. The band remains quiet for a long time after the incident until they release the live album 'Oog in oog - live In Ahoy', the last concert of Götte. Eventually, the group decided to go on and their new drummer becomes Norman Bonink, who used to play in band of Frank Boeijen. In 2003 the album 'Omarm' appears. Bløf traveled to Kenya in 2003 to perform concert with local artist, which they would later use as an inspiration for their seventh studio album. The band performed internationally after this and made a single together with the Counting Crows in 2004 called 'Holiday in Spain'. In 2005 Bløf started traveling all over the world for inspiration for their new album, 'Umoja', which was eventually released in 2006. From their travels a documentary is made later released under the title 'Een manier van thuiskomen'. In 2008 they perform three nights in the Heineken Music Hall with the Japanese percussion group Kodo. Later that year they release their new album called 'Oktober', followed half a year later bij 'April'. Critics aren't to positive over the duo project and the more acoustic style they adapted. In 2011 they return to their usual poprock sound.

In 2012 the band celebrated its 20th anniversary with a compilation album (Hier - The best of 20 years BLØF) and a corresponding band biography. On October 28, 2012 the band received the Radio 2 Milestone Award.

In the spring of 2016 singer Paskal Jakobsen is doing a solo tour of the Dutch theaters under the title "Stedentrip". In the same period bassist and lyricist Peter Slager records his first solo album album Slik in the dialect of his native village of Dreischor (Schouwen-Duiveland). The bands twelfth studio album called ´Aan´ is released in April 2017. An unexpected hit was the song "Zoutelande" (a Dutch translation of the song "Frankfurt Oder" from German band Bosse)

Since 2006 the band also organises a yearly festival at the Brouwersdam (a sea-dam in the southwest of the country called Concert at Sea. Over the years the festival grows to a crowdpleaser with national and international guests lining up next to the band.

On the web:

- Bløf's official website: http://www.blof.nl
- Bløf fansite: http://www.blofbabbel.nl
- Bløf startpagina: http://blof.startpagina.nl

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Herbert Grönemeyer (Germany)

What do we think:

DB: Bløf is a very professional band which almost grew out to be the Edison awards houseband. Never too miserable to play the guys were always there to give it their best. Paskal's lyrics can come across as a bit pretentious which gives some Dutch listeners the chills (and I don't mean in a good way). But musically there is nothing wrong with the band so it would be a nice experiment to see how music lovers who don't speak Dutch interpret them. The American band Counting Crows are big fans (and friends) but I hardly feel that's a recommendation. Bløf walks the thin line between pop, rock and kleinkunst and in doing so comes close to the German liedermacher tradition. But then in a Dutch variety.

PR: I understand their popularity in Holland, but, helas, this is not really my cup of tea. (Therefor I did not participate in the album ratings below; it is all DB's judgement.)

Albums:

♪♪♪ - Blauwe ruis - 2002

♪♪♪♪♪ - Omarm - 2003

♪♪♪ - Umoja - 2006

♪♪♪♪ - Oktober - 2008

♪♪ - April - 2009

♪♪♪ - Alles blijft anders - 2011

♪♪ - Midden van alles - 2014

♪♪♪ - Aan - 2017

Further listening:

Naakt onder de hemel - 1995; Helder - 1997; Boven - 1999; Watermakers - 2000; In het midden van alles - 2014

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided