Dutch electro-acoustic ensemble Thu20 was founded in 1986 and is the co-operation between Roel Meelkop, Peter Duimelinks, Sjak van Bussel and Jos Smolders. Guido Doesborg left the band in 1995. The strength varies, their releases are limited and live shows rare. Not a steady thing this THU to say the least.
Despite all of this, all four have firm ideas about music and performances. Thu has a unique sound, established through numerous experiments in recording and collaborating (they've worked on hearplays, spoken word projects, highly conceptual music-making and so on), but still is not a defined thing.. and that's good.
The hearplay-like character of their set/ music is very much imaginative and holds a lot of reminding- but not recognisable- elements. It's almost as if a parallel world of sound is created, making the one it refers to as estranged as well.
The sound of THU20 is a multi-layered whole, compiled of many smaller and bigger happenings, going through the complete range of audible sound and using it in many different ways. From highly digital to dusty acoustics, from very calm to disturbingly hectic. One moment all happens together, a spare moment later there is not much more left than a basic building block. It is exactly this tension and variation which keeps you tuned and fascinated.
The way basic elements like repetition, tonal differences and time-elapse are used is truly original and surprising. Things move around completely free (or that's at least how it's felt), creating a very open and accesable atmosphere. Accesable for one's own thoughts and interpetation, adding to the constantly changing texture. THU20 dashes around sound which gives it a sharp edge, but all is embedded in a very calm stream of undertones and small events, which makes the whole piece perfectly suitable for extended and intense listening...
THU20 has released 6 CDs and a couple of cassettes on labels like Staalplaat, Flenix and Midas Music. More info on their releases can be found at http://www.discogs.com/artist/THU20 . ====================
A new live LP recorded live at the Paradox in Tilburg The Netherlands is now available in a limited edition of 250 copies from Korm Plastics ( www.kormplastics.nl ). ==================== A completely new THU20 studio track of 20 minutes will be released on G.X. Jupitter-Larsen's CD serie "Zelphabet Vol.T" .
Online Now!
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