Belleruche released a series of three extremely limited 7” records on their own Hippoflex Recording Industries label before signing with Tru Thoughts. These individually numbered 45’s (with hand screen-printed sleeves) quickly sold out in the UK’s independent record stores and attracted a cult following in the UK and Europe, having been hand-distributed by the band at gigs.
In 2007 Belleruche signed to Tru Thoughts and their debut album Turntable Soul Music was released in July of the same year, gaining admiring reviews both at home and abroad and becoming the fastest-selling debut album in the label’s history.
The songs on ‘Turntable Soul Music’ were written in train carriages, dubious minicabs and pub backrooms around the UK whilst the trio gigged everywhere they could. The songs were then forged and reworked in the band’s electrifying live shows. From their initial sunday residency in the Salmon and Compass in Angel, London to gigs all over Europe, Australia and Asia. ‘Turntable Soul Music’ is like a weird trawl through a dusty basement full of the best records you’ve never heard of, whilst a voice you can’t quite pin down sings hooks you can’t forget.
Their live show marks them apart, using only a turntable, sampler, guitar and microphone, they combine to produce something markedly different. Sounding at once both weird and distinctive, but at the same time musical and compelling, they have played at venues as diverse as Montreux Jazz Festival, The Dance arena at Glastonbury, and many underground nightclubs.
In October 2008 Tru Thoughts released The Express, the bands second album. Following on from the live songwriting and broken leads ethic of Belleruche's debut, 'The Express' has maybe a tougher sound.
Their latest album 270 Stories - including the singles Clockwatching, Fuzz Face and 3 Amp Fuse - was released in October 2010. The band will be playing festival dates this summer and touring the new album in autumn.
Kathrin deBoer
Raised on a pirate boat sailing the South Pacific Ocean, with only Billie Holiday and Spanky Wilson records for company, Kathrins voice carries the soul of the wind off the cape mixed with the grit of illegal Polynesian rum bars. Lyrics written in bottles cast into the sea found their way into three continents; Kathrin jumped ship and found London.
Ricky Fabulous
Leo. Baby. Following an adolescence chasing girls and heavy rock bands, Fabulous found himself trapped working for a Maltese gangster in a frozen northern town. Whilst keeping warm locked in a damp basement, he found a stack of quarter inch tapes and discovered the work of Grant Green and Django Reinhardt, which gave him the energy to slip out of town, heading south on a freight car clutching a false identity and a forty-year-old guitar.
DJ Modest
Growing up in the deep south, in engine oil and mud, Modest discovered hiphop on a stolen radio, sneaking into clubs through broken windows to hear more. Building turntables and mixers from scavenged electronic gear and two stroke engines, he created a soundsystem and played unlawful hiphop parties in strange woodlands to farmers. He coaxes twisted Bluenote solos and broken drums from Shure m44-7s whilst drunk on moonshine.
13.6.35
Belleruche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got to make it fit
And if you mess it up
You've got to start
All over all over again
Oh again
Once more
So try to give it up
And listen hard to your heart
And smile at me
Make it short, make it sweet
Well you may complain about your destiny
Not giving you the cards you would like to see
Well you may complain about your destiny
Not giving you the cards you would like to see
So give it up
And you may see
All the gold stars in your skies
Give it up
And you may feel
Tiny little kisses from me
Oh don't be late
Make it quick
I tell you now
I won't wait
Make it up
As we go along
Make it short
But most of all
Most of all make it sweet
So break my heart
As you break it down
And I loose my thought
And we loose motion
In Belleruche's song "13.6.35," the lyrics provide advice on how to handle a situation that needs to be fixed. The singer advises the listener to give up their preconceived notions and listen to their heart. The listener should make an effort to attain a short and concise solution. The song is sang in a soft melodic voice, which encourages the listener to calmly and confidently tackle the situation.
The lyrics mention destiny and how one may complain about what life has dealt to them. However, the focus is not on complaining about the circumstances, but rather on seeking solutions. The advice given is to stay positive and keep trying until the perfect solution is found. Furthermore, the lyrics advocate for taking risks, making it up as you go along, and being creative in finding solutions.
Line by Line Meaning
So listen to it
Pay attention to what is being said next
You've got to make it fit
You need to make it work or match
And if you mess it up
If you make a mistake
You've got to start
You need to begin again
All over all over again
Completely from the start again
Oh again
One more time
Once more
Again
Once more and again
One more time and then again
So try to give it up
Make an attempt to not worry about it
And listen hard to your heart
Pay close attention to your emotions
And smile at me
Show me your happiness
Make it short, make it sweet
Keep it brief and pleasant
Well you may complain about your destiny
You might grumble about your fate
Not giving you the cards you would like to see
Not providing you with the ideal circumstances you desire
So give it up
Stop worrying about it
And you may see
You might notice
All the gold stars in your skies
All the great things in your life
Give it up
Let it go
And you may feel
You might experience
Tiny little kisses from me
Small charming expressions from me
Oh don't be late
Do not be tardy
Make it quick
Do it fast
I tell you now
I am informing you currently
I won't wait
I will not be patient
Make it up
Create it spontaneously
As we go along
Improvising as we proceed
But most of all
Above all else
Most of all make it sweet
Especially make it pleasant
So break my heart
Hurt my feelings
As you break it down
Gradually wearing down my emotions
And I loose my thought
And I lose my concentration
And we loose motion
And we stop making progress
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.