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.
Bought & Sold
Belleruche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For falling in love with you
Looking back I saw so green
I never thought that love could ever be so cruel
Well be that what it may
You know it's not that hard to say
You may be the new Mr Wonder
So don't play that stupid game with me honey
Let me find out for myself
That you've got something going on
Something not with somebody else
And don't play that stupid game with me honey
Let me find out for myself
That you've got something going on
Something not with somebody else
I used to care to know what you were thinking
Used to care to know what was on your mind
I used to see you in my future
Somewhere close or close by
I heard it all before
You just want to be free
Well if that's the case don't becoming here
And asking sweet with me
Don't be coming here now
And ??? sweet with me
Don't be coming here now
And ??? sweet with me
So don't play that stupid game with me honey
Let me find out for myself
That you've got something going on
Something not with somebody else
Yeah don't play that stupid game with me honey
Let me find out for myself
That you've got something going on
Something not with somebody else
I used to care to know what you were thinking
Used to care to know what was on your mind
I used to care to know what you were thinking
Used to care to know what was on your mind
So don't play that stupid game with me honey
Let me find out for myself
That you've got something going on
Something not with somebody else
Yeah don't play that stupid game with me honey
Let me find out for myself
That you've got something going on
Something not with somebody else
The song "Bought & Sold" by Belleruche, is a heart-wrenching account of a woman who regrets falling in love with someone who turned out to be cruel. She expresses her regret and the pain she feels in the opening lines, where she mentions how she kicks herself every day for falling in love with the person in question. The chorus of the song repeatedly asks the person not to play a stupid game with her and not to pretend that everything is okay when she suspects that he is involved with someone else. She wants to find out the truth for herself rather than have him try to deceive her.
The song seems to be more about power dynamics in relationships than the conventional "love hurts" trope. The woman in the song is not a victim; instead, she is trying to reclaim her power and agency by asking her partner to be honest with her. She wants him to understand that he cannot play games with her and that she deserves to know the truth. Furthermore, the woman recognizes that she has been naive and has underestimated the power of love, which led her to believe that everything would be okay.
In summary, "Bought & Sold" is a powerful song that speaks to the complexity of relationships and the need for honesty and transparency. It is also a song that shows how the power dynamics in relationships can be just as important as love, and how often, one cannot thrive without the other.
Line by Line Meaning
I kick myself everyday
I regret my decision every day
For falling in love with you
For choosing to be in a romantic relationship with you
Looking back I saw so green
In retrospect, I was naive and inexperienced
I never thought that love could ever be so cruel
I didn't expect love to be so harsh
Well be that what it may
Whatever the case may be
You know it's not that hard to say
Expressing oneself is not difficult
You may be the new Mr Wonder
You may seem impressive or amazing
But you're going to need a friend when you get there
But you will need support when you face challenges
So don't play that stupid game with me honey
Don't deceive or manipulate me
Let me find out for myself
Allow me to discover the truth on my own
That you've got something going on
That you are involved in something secretive or unfaithful
Something not with somebody else
Something that doesn't involve another person
I used to care to know what you were thinking
I used to be interested in your thoughts and feelings
Used to care to know what was on your mind
Used to be concerned about what was troubling you
I used to see you in my future
I used to imagine a future with you
Somewhere close or close by
In a nearby location or close in terms of relationship
I heard it all before
I'm familiar with your excuses
You just want to be free
You want to be uncommitted or have the freedom to do what you want
Well if that's the case don't becoming here
If that's what you want, don't come back here
And asking sweet with me
And acting charming or polite towards me
Don't be coming here now
Don't return here now
And ??? sweet with me
And pretending to be affectionate or caring towards me
Yeah don't play that stupid game with me honey
Again, don't deceive or manipulate me
I used to care to know what you were thinking
Repeat of line 13
Used to care to know what was on your mind
Repeat of line 14
Yeah don't play that stupid game with me honey
Repeat of line 23
Let me find out for myself
Repeat of line 24
That you've got something going on
Repeat of line 25
Something not with somebody else
Repeat of line 26
Yeah don't play that stupid game with me honey
Repeat of line 23
Let me find out for myself
Repeat of line 24
That you've got something going on
Repeat of line 25
Something not with somebody else
Repeat of line 26
Contributed by Nathan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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