Key figure in Sukilove and Broken Glass Heroes releases his own work with raw blues and hot gospel influences

Sjoerd Bruil is the key figure and songwriter for the group Black Cassette (whose untitled debut album has just been let loose on the world). In Black Cassette Sjoerd has surrounded himself with a rhythm section: on bass Pascal Deweze, of Sukilove, Mauro, Broken Glass Heroes and ex-Metal Molly. Jeroen Stevens, of I Love Sarah and Laïs, plays the drums (including wok) like a maniac. Sjoerd himself has played with Sukilove since 2004; in 2008 he tore up the stage with Tim Vanhamels solo-project and since then he has been creating glorious confusion during sporadic concerts with Mauro Pawlowski. He also works regularly with Gregory Frateur/Dez Mona and since 2010 he has been in Broken Glass Heroes with Tim Vanhamel and Pascal Deweze.

‘We think that Black Cassette ties in perfectly with the trend of reinventing old musical styles in pop, with raw riffs, a warm analogue sound and songs that tell a story’. (De Standaard)
‘The sensuality of a Prince against the dark and brooding atmosphere of a Nick Cave or Raveonettes; loud and heavy guitars set to an almost disco beat: the alchemy is perfect (almost intimidatingly so for a first album)’. (Rifraf Fr)
‘Pop rock with a tinge of blues and gospel, catchy refrains, economic drums and raw vocals. Not too much in the way of frills or overdubs. The way grandma used to do it’. (Rifraf Nl)

For their latest effort Maxon Blewitt and producer Peter Obbels slinked off to a studio on a mountain in the lonely Ardennes. Chief character Bjorn Eriksson turned the clock back 30 years and dug into a place where memories and dreams melt together, back in the abstract, uncertain world of a five-year-old boy who has under his bed a nameless and naked exotic woman, posing on a garish Polaroid. This mysterious woman still lives in the (im)mature mind of the singer and in 'June '81' he now sings an ode to her. The warmth of the music rests on a palette of golden-orange sounds, crafted with extreme care. A beautifully dreamy record, and an atmosphere that draws you in … to a Polaroid from 1981. In 2002, songwriter and guitarist Bjorn Eriksson settled in among his best musical friends and the group Maxon Blewitt was born. This 'newly-made family' recorded their first LP 'Maxon Blewitt' in 2004, and in 2005 released the quirky 'When The Moon Winks'. After this, Bjorn became something of a free agent; he was seen with the likes of Admiral Freebee, Partchesz and Tom Pintens and wrote the music for the new Felix Van Groeningen.

In the last two seasons, with sell-out concerts by Customs, Balthazar, The Tellers, Addicted Kru Sound feat. Selah Sue and Intergalactic Lovers, we presented a few Coca-Cola Sessions that got people talking. In the autumn of 2011 we present Sunday Bell Ringers and Black Cassette.

Latest tracks by blackcassette.