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Rating: The 4AD, similar to other labels (Factory, Creation, Earache...), specializes in a certain underground circuit with its own unique "genre" style sphere, attributable to the notion of avant-garde minimalist rock/pop, very elaborate and refined, with the leading names represented by true masters such as Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, and Pixies.
The debut of this Dutch band is in line with certain aforementioned sounds. The name, translated from Dutch, means "Bettie to serve", in tennis jargon referring to the moment of the "serve", and cites the Dutch champion Bettie Stove (as revealed in a recent interview).
There is some connection with the band's music in a certain sense. It aligns with the American rock style of Dinosaur Jr-Sonic Youth-Nirvana. The reference to the start of the tennis action is in the singing, resolute and truly brilliant of the vocalist Carol Van Dyck, who manages to master with skill and confidence the high and sharp tones as well as the softer and enveloping moments. Supported by essential guitar patterns and rhythm section, Carol's singing gives life to truly remarkable "sonic" rock songs, such as "Balentine" and "Under The Surface", sometimes more sustained and noise-pop oriented following the school of Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, such as "Palomine", sometimes with a more "opaque" and deliberately "imploded" guitar sound in the Nirvana style, "Incesticide" period ("Brain-Tag").
However, it is in the monumental melodic ballads that recall the guitar-noise of J. Mascis (like "Get Me" for example) that Bettie Serveert reaches the peak of their musical art: "Legs" and "Healty Sick" meet these criteria. Between Kim Gordon and Kim Deal, Carol Van Dyck dominates the scene with skill and awareness of her means. The cited references are a guarantee; the original contribution can only be grasped by listening to this luminous debut, where the voice fits into electric weaves sketching sensual and sculptural figurative drafts where the individual episodes like frames depict it. Hoping that the two components (school-originality) form a consolidated pair, destined to last over time, for now, one can speak of a promising debut.
"Kill Rock Stars"? Better not, there will be (in my opinion) still, and long needed.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Kid's Allright (04:20)
Down in the cellar with Dolly and Sue
Smoking fags and feeling cool
Talking to the guy who lives downstairs
Walking around in ridiculous flares
Back in the bushes, we find a cat
beat'm up with a baseball bat
and grandma says, we'll turn out bad
an go straight to hell, just like dad
But don't you get your hopes up high
the kid's allright
Down in the cellar with Dolly and Sue
Falling in love and feeling blue
Flirting with the guy who lives downstairs
and walking around in ridiculous flares
Playing hooky, pretend we're sick
Mamma don't care if it's just a trick
cause she just wishes she never had
those kids from hell who drive her mad
But don't you get your hopes up high
the kid's allright
now don't you think the kid's allright
05 Tom Boy (04:21)
From where I stand, I can see
they've got the upper hand of me
Reminds me of this world at last
Simply changes much to fast for me
And when they call out, will I hear them
And when they fall out, will I see them
This yellow light, on the crowd
and colours way to loud to see
Reveal their drive, we could change it
try to rearrange it
They call me a Tom Boy and I let them
cause only a Tom Boy could forget them
and simply change it
They call me a Tom Boy and I love it
cause only a Tom Boy could stand above it
by simply changing
08 This Thing Nowhere (03:18)
Sometimes you tend to take the bark off
see what's left inside
Don't tell me, you'll spoil the whole surprise
And I wonder why you call this nowhere
and why d'you tell me not to go there
would you jump into defences, if I do
And as I ponder over this thing nowhere
and the face we disagree, well, who cares
and to hell with common senses, they just won't do
You sure set out to tame my feelings
you bragged, you'd screw them all
now why d'you do that
Don't give the Disenfranchised ceilings
it'll drive them up the wall
yeah, and guess who blew it
For the source of every comprehension
is not the act, it's just the mere intention
I suppose that I forgot to mention that to you
And I guess that's what it is about me
that makes you feel yo're better off without me
cause you never would allow me to choose my rows
And as I ponder over this thing nowhere
a little scared of what I'm gonna find there
but let's take that ride and see how far it goes
09 Healthy Sick (02:23)
No one can stop it all
from crashing down to shit
Push to feel something more
than just the sound of it
Time, time is the magic truth of story
Sometimes magic is so very, very boring.
It's a healthy kind of sick
a slow sort of quick
I'm very sad, I don't feel bad at all
It's a different sort of sane
a crazy kind of sane
A feeling without a name
that they call Love....
Because I have my doubts
I know it must be true
I've watched the dream die every day
I don't know what to do
I know it's only fear that makes me wonder
But I wonder why I'm so afraid
Yes, I wonder why I'm so afraid
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