In the frostbitten world of Dutch coldwave, the duo Desinteresse, comprised of Bart wielding the bass and Sem multitasking on vocals, synth, and guitar, has graced us with their latest EP, Ik Wil Dood Als Ik Het Vergeet (I Want to Die If I Forget). This charmingly bleak little collection comprises a quartet of tracks: two recorded with the endearing simplicity of a four-track and two live pieces from a Berlin concert, which, one imagines, was as bracing as a November dip in the Spree.
The EP is a sort of musical orphanage for songs that didn’t quite fit elsewhere. The band, in a move as practical as it is poignant, decided to house these wandering melodies in a cozy EP, accompanied by a limited run of tapes.
Desinteresse’s sound is a delightful paradox, weaving cold, abandoned, and (let’s be honest) somewhat melodramatically existential feelings into a dark tapestry of stage presence, presented in their Dutch language. They insist the message takes precedence, but don’t be fooled – the sounds and voices play no small part in their theatrical gloom. Clinging to original 1980s equipment, these analogue purists see their self-managed, DIY approach as not just music-making but a statement of art identity.
The EP kicks off with a track that’s a curious cocktail of The Cure’s Pornography era and a nod to Grauzone’s Eisbaer, with elements of Trop Tard and Guerre Froide via “Demain Berlin,” a combination as intriguing as it is unexpected. Following this is an Instrumental, with serves a brisk 1:54-minute journey into the heart of coldwave, complete with a wailing guitar that could very well be lamenting its own existential crisis.
A live performance of Is Er Nog Tijd? (Is There Still Time?) and Ga Weg (Go Away) follow, heavily channeling One Hundred Years with a forlorn guitar and wails. A fair warning: the recordings are period-accurate lo-fi quality. However, the charm of sounding authentically like an unearthed gem from 40 years ago is not lost on us; in fact, it is indeed transportive.
Listen to the EP below:
This latest offering from Desinteresse is a must-listen for those who like their music dark with a side of introspective chill.
Grab it here via Bandcamp.
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