Belgian experimental indie rock group Balthazar have released their fifth album, with the evocative title ‘Sand.’ The band has been together since 2004 and they have continued to improve their composition abilities, getting better and better with each subsequent release. While they have a large following in their home town of Antwerp and across Europe, but have yet to break into the UK music consciousness, although they definitely should.
Their most recent LP is an example of the stories that can be weaved into 40 minutes of music. With each track, symbolism is built up and connected to create a seductive story of obsession and love. From the first line in the opening track ‘Moment,’ the melodies and meanings begin to captivate the listener. The album artwork shows the twisted, surreal nature of the themes being explored, as though the character sitting on the cover is waiting to be healed.
With sounds ranging from industrial techno to almost New Orleans blues, a vivid picture is painted both lyrically and sonically. ‘Losers’ is reminiscent of walking through a dark alleyway, alone at the end of the night, hoping to see someone you love. The lyrics share the obsession that inspired this story: “I’ve been writing songs every day.” There’s a vintage disco feel, empathising the feeling of being okay with not feeling good enough: “losers on the verge of something great.” The song pays homage to the classic Italian singer Paulo Conte, a clear influence for this track. Vocalist Maarten Devoldere has an essence of Mick Jagger in much of his singing, along with clear similarities to Nick Cave and Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme.
‘On a Roll’ utilises layered brass instruments to add a dramatic edge, representing the decision to to avoid the unavoidable:
“Oh I know you seen it coming telling me I should stop running from it all / Letting go of control / Ain’t no remedy”
The pain of unrequited love comes through, telling the story of someone who can’t help returning to what hurts them and conjuring scents of leather, Old Spice and alcohol. The sounds of the album are clearly all born out of a dark night of the soul. Midway through the LP, ‘I Want You’ comes in with a laid back sound, juxtaposed to haunting minor chords. The solo guitar on this track gives it a deeply seductive quality. ‘You Won’t Come Around’ is sexy yet forlorn:
“I’m in love and it’s hurting me it’s not with you / Looking for anagrams in everything you said”
So much emotion is mixed up in these lyrics, from the feeling of paranoia in the dark of night, to the confusion which comes from letting go of someone who once had a fortress in your heart. It shows how pain can sound so funky and be so captivating.
‘Hourglass,’ the standout track, brings in the titular reference “breaking the hourglass to see what’s there – only sand” and the sardonic “maybe I’m not a friend of patience,“ where Devoldere’s singing is joined by a beautiful female chorus. This adds to the natural groove of his vocals, although with an engaging guitar riff, developing a deep and dramatic quality to the sound and arc of the album. ‘Passing Through’ utilises haunting violins, adding to the theatrical feel, as though you could be in a basement jazz club draped with red velvet, trailing smoke through the air:
”You can’t help what you’re made of / Every-time I take a misstep I turn back to you”
Again, the haunting violins join, almost reminiscent of Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic,’ but with a more mature tone. The album ends on ‘Powerless,’ a gorgeous and triumphant finish: “Power, it’s the reset of the heart.” There’s a clear catharsis that comes from hearing this struggle to overcome desires, which from the sounds of it, would be better left in the past.
There’s a progression from the techno and industrial sounds in the first track, though to the jazz style of the later songs. This gives the album an arc of looking at things with a greater sense of clarity, as in the first track, Devoldere sings “Free your mind.” This sentiment does come full circle in ‘Powerless,’ creating a comprehensive narrative throughout.
The album is captivating from start to finish, definitely a sonic journey worth going on.
