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!
www.blankandjones.com
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Glow
Blank & Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try to relax
Enjoy the intermission
I'm here, stuck in my mind
Sometimes it's like a prison
Feel a little bit weary
Tunnel vision
It's a little bit scary staring at
You might be looking at them too
Now if you stand too close
You'll have to hear them sing
Why did they take you so soon
We leave on the lights because we miss you
There's no love lost
But you're dragging me through hell
Some things will never change
They'll always stay the same
It's hard enough without you breathing down my neck
Write my thoughts out in the night beneath a low glow
Before you know, it seems the pages overflow
It leads me back to the place I said I wouldn't go
The place that's filled with the parts of me I won't show
Some things will never change
They'll always stay the same
I'd rather die and go to hell than live the life of someone else
Why did they take you soon soon
We leave on the lights because we miss you
Here comes the tunnel vision
Why did they take you so soon
We leave on the lights because we miss you
There's no love lost
But you're dragging me through hell
Some things will never change
They'll always stay the same
It's hard enough without you breathing down my neck
Why did they take you so soon
We leave on the lights because we miss you
They took you from us
Kill the bell
Your secret's safe
I'll never tell
Some things will never change
They'll always stay the same
It's hard enough without you breathing down my neck
The lyrics of Blank & Jones's song "Glow" encapsulate a profound sense of longing, grief, and inner turmoil. The lines convey a sense of being trapped in one's own mind, feeling imprisoned by thoughts and emotions that refuse to let go. The mention of tunnel vision and the feeling of weariness evoke a sense of being stuck in a cycle of repetitive thoughts and emotions, unable to break free.
The imagery of staring at constellations and the idea of feeling a connection with someone who has passed away adds a layer of melancholy and nostalgia to the song. The reference to leaving on the lights as a way to cope with missing someone suggests a sense of searching for comfort in familiar habits and routines in the face of loss.
The repeated questioning of "Why did they take you so soon" reflects the raw pain of losing someone prematurely and grappling with the unfairness of it all. The singer seems to be wrestling with their emotions, feeling torn between grief and a desire to hold on to their memories of the departed.
The final lines of the song reveal a sense of resignation and acceptance that some things will never change, and that the pain of loss will always be present. The refusal to live a life that does not feel authentic or true to oneself, expressed through the line "I'd rather die and go to hell than live the life of someone else," underscores the deep emotional weight carried by the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of "Glow" by Blank & Jones paint a poignant picture of grief, longing, and the struggle to come to terms with loss and find a way to move forward while still holding on to the memories of a loved one. The song explores themes of authenticity, inner turmoil, and the enduring impact of losing someone dear, resonating with listeners on a deeply emotional level.
Line by Line Meaning
Sit back
Take a moment to rest
Try to relax
Attempt to calm your mind
Enjoy the intermission
Appreciate the break from reality
I'm here, stuck in my mind
Feeling trapped in my thoughts
Sometimes it's like a prison
My mind feels like a confined space
Feel a little bit weary
Experiencing fatigue
Tunnel vision
Focused on a narrow view
It's a little bit scary staring at
Feeling frightened while looking at
Constellations, if I'm not mistaken
Groupings of stars, if I am correct
You might be looking at them too
Perhaps you are also observing them
Now if you stand too close
If you get too close
You'll have to hear them sing
You will hear their melody
Why did they take you so soon
Why were you taken from us early
We leave on the lights because we miss you
We keep the lights on as a remembrance of you
There's no love lost
Our love for you remains strong
But you're dragging me through hell
Your absence brings me great pain
Some things will never change
Certain aspects will always remain constant
They'll always stay the same
Those things will never alter
It's hard enough without you breathing down my neck
Dealing with life is challenging without your presence
Write my thoughts out in the night beneath a low glow
Expressing my thoughts under a dim light in the night
Before you know, it seems the pages overflow
Soon enough, the pages are filled to capacity
It leads me back to the place I said I wouldn't go
Guides me to a location I tried to avoid
The place that's filled with the parts of me I won't show
A space containing my hidden aspects
I'd rather die and go to hell than live the life of someone else
I prefer death to living a life that is not my own
Here comes the tunnel vision
Once again, focused on a limited perspective
They took you from us
You were taken away from our lives
Kill the bell
Put an end to the sorrow
Your secret's safe
Your confidential information remains protected
I'll never tell
I will never divulge
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Cullen King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Cachovan
its 20 years that i Love the music of Blank & Jones ,cheers from Slovakia :-)
magic 17
and me ❤❤ blank & Jones - Masters!
Glasser Mike 13
Peter Cachovan me too bro 😁
Roshan
Blank & Jones always comes up with amazing melodies <3 Been a fan since the past 10 years :)
RESURECTION
Отличное видео и музыка.
MedGriri
Amazing music.
Thank you Blank & Jones 😊
otherworld
beauty :) love it! after almost 20 years, blank & jones still rock my world with their amazing music :)
Alexander Los
как всегда музыка и видео великолепны. Удачи!
nav m
I haven't heard a Blank and Jones tune i haven't liked! Every track is amazing!
Greetings from Australia!!
The Karenator
Such a euphoric feeling when I hear this. The stress just leaves my body .