It started in 1997 with their debut single Sunrise, the first step towards producing their own tracks. Nowadays, one cannot imagine the electronic elite without BLANK & JONES. 13 of their singles made it into the German Top 50, and three into the Top 20. Each and every album hit the Top 50, including two which climbed into the Top 10. They also scored a spectacular triple whammy by occupying the Top Ten album, singles and compilation charts simultaneously with Substance, Desire and The Mix respectively.
BLANK & JONES have teamed up with a number of top international stars in their career to date. The Cure mastermind Robert Smith, Bernard Sumner (New Order), Anne Clark, Sarah McLachlan and Claudia Brücken (Propaganda) have been immortalized on BLANK & JONES tracks, giving them a certain credibility way beyond the boundaries of dance music. Further evidence of their versatility can be seen in their contributions to the Café del Mar compilation series and their own chill-out albums, Relax and Relax (Edition 2). Next up, the people behind the Buddha Bar series have also made enquiries..
The release of the A Forest single and the accompanying album Monument in the USA last year also laid the foundations for BLANK & JONES to create a solid fanbase across the Atlantic.
Seven albums, 3 mix albums (The Mix 1-3) and 15 singles later, BLANK & JONES and their longstanding production colleague Andy Kaufhold have chosen this moment to collate their finest material on one release - The Singles. Comprising the best tracks and greatest successes of BLANK & JONES plus two brand new tracks, recorded exclusively for this album. “We felt the time had come to put all our singles together on one CD, “ Piet and Jaspa explain. “We prefer to see it as one step along the way, rather than a mere retrospective. A little breather before we move on to pastures new.“
Over 20 tracks were in the reckoning for The Singles collection, most of them penned by BLANK & JONES themselves. From the first single Sunrise via chart smashes such as Desire, DJ Culture and Beyond Time all the way to entrancing collaborations with the like of Elles DeGraaf on Mind Of The Wonderful, Claudia Brücken on Unknown Treasure and Steve Kilbey (The Church) on Revealed, the album is packed with original material. One of the few covers is, of course, A Forest with Robert Smith of The Cure on vocals.
An absolute must for fans is the all new WMC Retouch version of Nightfly, direct from the Miami Winter Music Conference (WMC), where BLANK & JONES headlined in March of this year. So new, the track was hot to the touch as it made its way onto the album, having been premiered to rave reactions at the dance convention. BLANK & JONES’ Nightfly WMC Retouch was the talk of the town the following morning on various online sites and blogs.
The album also features two completely new tracks. One is Somebody and the other is Catch, the newest single, based on Kosheen’s 1998 tune. Vocals supplied once again by the fantastic Elles DeGraaf.
BLANK & JONES have taken the utmost care in getting the sound right. Tracks have been remastered but not remixed. “Our aim was to retain the flair of each original track“ Piet and Jaspa elucidate. “We wanted them to sound just as they did when we made them, but clearer, in the same way as one restores a painting. You don’t paint it from scratch, you just bring out the colours again.“ Such loving attention to detail is typical of BLANK & JONES, making them the artists they are today, ready and able to see the bigger picture.
The album is also being released in Limited Edition format, in which The Singles are complemented by an additional DVD, bringing together all BLANK & JONES videos on one disc for the first time. The BLANK & JONES clips are something worth seeing, with a artistic quality rarely seen in such a genre. BLANK & JONES’ dramatic credentials are matched by their sense of humour. Numerous famous names have featured in their videos, including Estella Warren and Til Schweiger in Beyond Time, the latter having also directed the clip.
The DVD was produced and designed by Thomas Jahn, renowned as scriptwriter and director of “Knocking On Heaven’s Door“ and also the man responsible for The Hardest Heart, Mind Of The Wonderful, Perfect Silence and Desire.
The video for the latest single, Catch, was directed by Conchita Soares and Toni Froschhammer and features the thespian talents of TV actress Nadine. The piece will not only be presented on the music channels, but will also be shown at short film festivals over the summer.
BLANK & JONES’ roots are firmly placed in DJ culture. Year after year, millions of ravers around the globe feel the heat of their sensational sets at major events like Mayday, Nature One and Love Parade as well as in clubs all over the world. BLANK & JONES mix DJ and live, making the most of today’s technology. “We do everything digitally, on the basis of Final Scratch, which allows us to use our own edits and mixes, nothing comes straight from tape. Every set we play is unique, not only sound-wise but also in terms of what we play and how we play it. Roughly 60% of our set consists of our own repertoire, as where better to present our own material than via the DJ decks.“
BLANK & JONES are global players in the best sense of the word, with a worldwide reputation to match. They are more than welcome guests at the major festivals and raves in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia. At the beginning of the year, they played to 15,000 fans in St. Petersburg! They also travel further afield on a regular basis, to Canada, Mexico, South America and Australia.
2005 saw BLANK & JONES spend a lot of time in the USA, where A Forest proved to be a big success. Electronic music is growing and growing Stateside, so BLANK & JONES will return to LA, San Diego, San Francisco and many more cities in North America this year. Overwhelmingly positive reactions to Catch on the initial installment of the BLANK & JONES tour mean that the American fans can hardly wait for The Singles to be released. This will be the third BLANK & JONES US album.
Not content to rest on their laurels, Piet and Jaspa are already preparing an exciting, new and unusual project. On May 26th, BLANK & JONES will perform together with the Robert Schumann Kammerorchester conducted by Alexander Shelly in the Tonhalle Düsseldorf. The definitive electro-classical crossover extravaganza!
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A New Culture Is Born
Blank & Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you ready now?
In the world of machines
- virtual machines -
Dominated by software
Everything is cold
Cold as ice.
The quintessential synthesis of silence
A vibrating galaxy
An invisible spectrum of waves
And hidden behind a gigantic
Shadow of alpha centauris
Signs of galertic light
And life
Figures finding form
Culture
Dance culture
A manifesto of cult
Dj cult
Blank and jones
The druids of rave
Warm – suddenly warm
Dancing molecular structures creating human bodies
Awakening human minds
Silent suns turning purple
Orange
Red
Blank and jones
A pulsating universe beyond time and space
The perception of sound – human forms
And then
Rhythm
Eyes wide open drinking from the light of rave
A new culture is born
Dj culture
Move your body
Find yourself
The beginning of the song asks the listener if they are ready for what is to come. The lyrics then move on to describe a world dominated by machines and software. This world is cold and seemingly emotionless, as represented by the description of everything being "cold as ice". However, amidst this vast and impersonal world lies signs of hidden life, represented by "galactic light and life", waiting to be discovered.
The lyrics then transition into the introduction of dance culture and the manifesto of cult. The duo Blank and Jones are referred to as the "druids of rave", a symbol of their connection to the music and the power it has to awaken the minds and bodies of those who experience it. As the music begins to play, the molecular structures of the human form start to dance, creating a new culture fueled by the rhythm of the sound. The perception of sound and human form come together, bringing forth a new era of DJ culture.
The song ends with a call to action, encouraging the listener to move their body and find themselves within the music. The lyrics suggest that through dancing to the beat of the music, individuals can tap into a new culture and discover a new part of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you ready?
Asking if the listener is ready for what is to come.
Are you ready now?
Repeating the question to emphasize its importance and urgency.
In the world of machines - virtual machines -
Referring to the dominance of technology and virtual reality in modern society.
Dominated by software
Alluding to the idea that technology controls our lives and actions through software.
Everything is cold
Describing the emotional detachment and lack of warmth in a technologically-dominated society.
Cold as ice.
Emphasizing the emotional chill of modern society, likening it to ice.
The quintessential synthesis of silence
Referring to the importance of silence in music and art, and how it can create a powerful effect.
A vibrating galaxy
Metaphorically describing the energy and movement of the universe.
An invisible spectrum of waves
Referring to the range of energy waves that exist beyond the visible spectrum, such as radio waves and microwaves.
And hidden behind a gigantic
Suggesting that there is something massive and mysterious behind the universe, beyond our understanding.
Shadow of alpha centauris
Referring to the constellation Alpha Centauri, which is one of the closest to Earth.
Signs of galertic light
Alluding to the beauty and wonder of the stars and space.
And life
Acknowledging that life exists beyond Earth, and possibly beyond our current comprehension.
Figures finding form
Describing the process of creating something from nothing and giving it a shape or form.
Culture
Referring to the shared beliefs, customs, and practices of a group of people.
Dance culture
Referring specifically to the culture surrounding dancing and music.
A manifesto of cult
Suggesting that the culture of dance and music is a powerful and life-changing movement.
Dj cult
Referring to the DJs who are at the forefront of this culture.
Blank and jones
The artists singing the song.
The druids of rave
Describing Blank & Jones as leaders of the dance culture movement.
Warm – suddenly warm
Describing the change in atmosphere when the music starts and people start dancing.
Dancing molecular structures creating human bodies
Metaphorically describing the effect of the music on the dancers and how it brings them to life.
Awakening human minds
Suggesting that listening to the music and dancing can have a profound effect on human consciousness.
Silent suns turning purple
Describing the beauty and wonder of the universe as it is experienced by those who dance and listen to music.
Orange
Referring to the wide variety of colors and sensations that dancers experience.
Red
Continuing to describe the diverse range of experiences dancers have when listening to music and dancing.
Blank and jones
Reiterating the artists who are the creators of the music and the leaders of the culture.
A pulsating universe beyond time and space
Suggesting that dancing and listening to music can take one beyond the limitations of time and space and into a transcendent experience.
The perception of sound – human forms
Describing the power of music to affect human beings and change the way they feel and behave.
And then
Connecting the previous ideas to what is about to happen.
Rhythm
The driving force of music and dance culture.
Eyes wide open drinking from the light of rave
Metaphorically describing the experience of being fully immersed in the dance culture scene and letting oneself be affected by the music and community.
A new culture is born
Describing the impact and transformative power of dance culture.
Dj culture
Reiterating the importance of the DJs who create the music that drives this culture.
Move your body
Encouraging the listener to participate in the dance culture movement and let themselves be affected by the music.
Find yourself
Suggesting that by participating in the dance culture movement, one can discover new things about themselves and the world around them.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREAS KAUFHOLD, DIETER MEIER, PIET BLANK, RENE RUNGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind