On cd Blimey! is a one-man-project by Martien van Bergen; The Dutch hometaper takes care of all instruments, vocals and mixdown. His music was described by the press as eclectic superlo-fi pop, magical soundexperiments and arty indie. Names like Ween, dEUS, Syd Barret and The Velvet Underground were mentioned.
In 1998 the Belgian record company 62 TV records released his album Contradictory nature and the struggle within and an EP called Mike and Johnny(Exhibit A) .The songs were recorded on 4 and 8-track in van Bergen's homestudio Favourite Room. The extremely diverse tracks make them courageous and highly interesting pieces of work. Reactions of press and public were overwhelming and van Bergen played with his band at several prestigious clubs and festivals in Europe (Lowlands, Crossing Border and Noorderslag). In clubs the band mainly headlined but also supported acts like 22 Pistepirkko, Pere Ubu, Calexico and Zita Swoon. Soon television appearances followed and Blimey! got national airplay in Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Sweden, France and Canada.
His second full length album Less summer than some (2002) was again difficult to define: van Bergen is influenced by a few decades of popmusic and he is against the grain as far as arrangement and sound are concerned. Despite the diversity, the album was not seen as a mere mishmash; everything is carefully thought over and well-balanced, resulting in a tempting mosaic of sound. Some tracks got international airplay e.g. in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Scotland. The 3rd Cd When she s in your head got great reviews and history repeated itself.
In 2008 (happy anniversary!) there s a new album, called Are you with me? which will not be promoted by gigs. A film is made by director/artist Maureen Prins and 6 songs of the Blimey!-album can be heard (not fragments, but entire songs). The film is shown in cinemas, theatres, venues and on festivals. Funny thing about it: During the film there will be a live-dancer near the screen. A crazy popadventure. Let's have a look at the trailer:
Hee M, Toevallig ben ik bezig met het maken van een (4 sporen) demo tje met nieuwe liedjes. Dat gaat niet heel snel, maar leuk om te doen. En ik heb helaas geen label meer....Maar verder alles uitstekend, hopelijk met jou ook! Groet, M P.S. En op 9 september een akoestische gig samen met mijn compaan Erwin Wolters, in Amsterdam.
2009 WILL be a MUSICYEAR! Happy new year ♥Blimey♥ ! First of all, let it be a healty new year, so you can be with your family and go out with your friends, let there also be peace all around the world, so everybody can party and be what they want to be. That's my wish for this year. Let your wishes com true around you and you will see the world's a better place. Let there be a light for all of us, it's there for al of us to see, just look outside at the sun, the moon or look inside your heart or the eyes of your loved ones. Use the fire of your energy, 2009 will be a flaming year full of energy! Lovelight, Elenore xxx
hey we want to put on/organize some shows in may/ june. do you have space for us on any of your bills or would you like to put together something with us?
nieuwe plaat! Goed zeg; ik ga nu even luisteren wat voor moois je er weer van gemaakt hebt! ook een dikke kus aan Esther en Igmar natuurlijk :-) liefs Natascha
Dag schoonheid, tot onze verbazing staat 'Superfuck Fried Big Bang' in de playlist van Studio Brussel. Zou je de goedheid en warmte kunnen vinden om het in de afrekening te stemmen en onze jeugddroom waar te maken? http://www.stubru.be/node/613 Je kan het ook op onze pagina komen beluisteren. Het ga je goed op deze prachtige zondag!
