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Want to book us? Call +31 (0)6 51992446 or email armpit [at] planet [dot] com. |
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Archived gigs |
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Sticky Entertainment (2010)
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1. Too kind - The enemy within under lock and key.
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2. Festival - Are we enjoying the music or just the get together?
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3. Lost generation - The promised land kills it's own children.
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4. Put on hold - Man, why aren't we famous?
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5. Sale - The US taught me that you can sell everything.
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6. Dance song - Do we love houseparties.
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7. Shut up and make me smile - Hail, hail to the late Radio Reykjavik, Iceland's Spirit of Radio.
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8. Boots - A song about Lemmy's favorite shoes.
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9. Adore the jerk - For those of you who think that image is more important than music.
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10. Ten years after - To all the people that passed away the last decade.
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11. Bass companion - There is beauty in the lack of iron.
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12. Addict - No drugs, just big bottoms.
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Want to buy this cd? Send an email to armpit [at] planet [dot] nl.
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The music sounds like a crossover between King’s X and Sjako!. The songs and the lyrics remind you of Richard Thompson and Joe Jackson from the Joe Jackson Band period. And with a tiny bit of Tool and a slice of Zappa you could say that the sound of Absence is a rather unique one.
The pounding heart of the band is drummer Thomas Calis (... maybe the best drummer of Holland – Music Maker). Together with the superb melodic fretless bass work by Maarten Dekkers, he lays down a musical fundament best described as pure functional and tasteful craftsmanship. With the grooving lower string work played by Dekkers always being the centre of the band.
On top of this wonderful rhythmic layer is the solid voice of Piet van Tienen crying out his cynical lyrics and playing his (modest) role as a guitar god. And above all that you hear some threesome harmony vocals, which completes the picture of this rock trio from Nijmegen.
‘Absence shows you that a good concert doesn’t have to be played by the famous bands we all know. These guys love the job and are great, well rehearsed musicians. Absence has got their own unique sound without the pyrotechnics and the wannabe attitude’. VPRO - 3VOOR12
Bio in Dutch
Absence is:
Piet van Tienen - Guitar and vocals
Maarten Dekkers - Bass and vocals
Thomas Calis - Drums and vocals
Buy a cd or book the band? Call +31 (0)6 51992446 or email armpit [at] planet [dot] com.
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104.5 is already the third album from this hard rockin' threesome Absence from the eastern part of Holland. Since "Gift" (2003) nothing really changed actually. But then again, that is not really necessary. Singer/guitar player/songwriter Piet van Tienen sticks to his guns resulting in an album full of seventies rock. His voice still reminds me of Biff Byford and as a guitar player he likes to put his energy in a couple of classic rock riffs. Roaring rhythm guitar parts in "Toxic" and "Addict" remind me of artists such as Robin Trower and the title of the bluesy instrumental "Ten Years After" again shows the love for bands that where not afraid to take some risks when on stage. Bass player Maarten Dekkers and drummer Thomas Calis also deserve some attention as their contribution fits more than perfectly within the definition of a 'power trio'. The serious and sometimes humorous lyrics are once again great, and as a whole the album "104.5" is even a little bit better than "Gift". He guys, why don't you come over to Flanders to play us a couple of those three hour concerts?
Rock Tribune march 2007
...Of course, there is plenty of space in Absence for the musicians to show us their individual qualities. Thomas Calis shows off in the cold sweaty 'Toxic' and a rotating climax towards the end of the first set. The song 'Bass Companion' is build around a mind-boggling bass solo played by Maarten Dekkers. Lead singer / guitar player Piet van Tienen on the other hand (who also has a pretty good voice by the way) every now and then acts like a (modest) guitar God. No pyrotechnics or poses but tasteful and functional musicianship...These guys love their job and are skilled musicians...
Maarten Wagemakers, 12 March 2008 - Full review
...Mit dem Opener "Shut Up And Make Me Smile" ist Absence kein Freund von langen Vorreden. Das geht stante pede ins Bullseye und mit den beiden folgenden Nummern bleibt die Gruppe diesem Rezept treu. Was gut rüberkommt kann ruhig wieder benutzt werden. Die Verwendung der Gewürze wird natürlich nuanciert eingesetzt....
Joachim 'Joe' Brookes for www.rocktimes.de / Dutch translation (by Ivana Winterman)
Wow, jetzt macht man richtig Stimmung. Absences "Festival" ist ein Festival des guten Tons. Es rockt und zwischendrin findet das Trio Zeit für eine wunderschöne Ruhephase. Mit dem zum Teil im Jazz verwurzelten verspielt-langen Gitarrensolo setzt man andere Maßstäbe für die Hard Rock-Ohren. Piet van Tienen zieht alle Register seines Könnens und im Gesamtklang ist jedes Instrument glasklar zu hören. Mit einem Shuffle-Groove als Rhythmuswechsel bringt man das Lied nach Hause. Nach einem straighten Rocker namens "Lost Generation", in dem man zeigt, wie gut die drei Musiker im Chor singen können geht es mit "Put On Hold" auf einen etwas längeren tonalen Ausflug.
Joachim 'Joe' Brookes for www.rocktimes.de
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More pictures on Flickr.
Download bandfoto.
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