The debut became "I'm seeking something that has already found me", in 1996. The record was recorded in the "Ozark Henry Living Room", but was produced in the Synsound studio's by another electronic guru: Telex-man Dan Lacksman. The result was a multi-layered cd that was received well in the press. The originality of the music was proven by the multitude of comparisons that were found to classify it in the press: Tricky, Scott Walker, The The, Soul Coughing, Bowie, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, Moby, Gavin Friday (perhaps nowadays Dead Man Ray would also have been mentioned ...)
In Knack, Jan Delvaux reviewed the record as follows : "Ozark Heny fits in the series of clever belgian recyclists (dEUS, Evil Superstars, Vaya Con Dios ...) that surprise the world more and more often. The mission of this duo is situated in dance-related areas, although the apparent traces of rap, acid jazz, jungle, triphop and techno are nothing but a vague first coating. On top of this come strange noises and very complicated song-structures full of surprising twists and turns. It makes this record a turbulent document with a filmic bias. The steadiest element in all this is the voice of Piet Goddaer ... Despite the many layers, the entrance gate is wide open. "I'm seeking" is, albeit a very unusual, a very impressive pop-album."
In the summer of 1997, material for a second album was recorded. This cd never has seen the light (only the song "Summer Junkie" made it to the second album), because the first one was released in France by Sony and started doing very well over there. (eg. from Les Inrockuptibles : "Ozark Henry : c'est du triphop Zappien mariné dans le formol du jazz experimental et drappé dans les fantômes de la new wave."). As Piet Goddaer said in de Morgen : "In the meantime, the record had been lying there and felt like an old thing when we came back from France. I want to release a cd when it's still fresh. That's why we made a new record."
The second cd eventually became "This last warm solitude", released in October 1998. Noticeable changes are that the songstructures have become much more "simple", that Piet Goddaer now sings more than he raps, and that quite a lot of melancholy has crept into the lyrics and songs. The "layered-ness" of the music, the richness of the sound and the electronic programming of the songs have remained. The production was in the hands of Goddaer himself, aided by Roy Spong and Mark Phythian, the left- and right-hand of Gil Norton (Pixies ...).
The melancholic single "Radio" (about an incurably ill friend) received a lot of airplay, and the reception of this more easily accessible record has been very promising so far : (vb. Teek : "This last warm solitude is like a labyrinth lying in the sun, with every new junction sounding off an inviting welcome" - vb. De Morgen : "Musically this colorful jigsaw of triphop, eighties wave, experimental pop and minimal music has everything to make a lasting impression, far beyond the Belgian borders."
On stage, the group gives a lot of attention to the visual aspect. Piet Goddaer in De Morgen : "For me, sound and vision always come together. The record is also a soundtrack to a non-existing film for me. On stage, we make the images live, an organic process where image and sound feed each other. A lot can go wrong in that chain, but if there were only secure things, I wouldn't be interested in being up there." At the end of 1999, "This Last Warm Solitude" was re-released, with an extra cd containing a live-show in Paris.
In March 2000, Ozark Henry did a contribution to the "Glittering 2000" project, on which belgian bands covered songs from the glamrock era, by doing a version of David Bowie's "Suffragette City". Under the nickname Sunzoo Manley, a pseudo which emerged for the first time on the single "If This Is Love" of LaTchak (a sideproject of Front 242), he then proceeded onto a totally different project. In the band Sunzoo Manley, he joined forces with drummer Stéphane Galland (Aka Moon) & saxophone player Frank Deruytter (Wizards of Ooze). The debut CD "To All Our Escapes", a fine exercise in crossing jazz with (break)beats, was released in March 2001.
Also in 2001, he released his third album as Ozark Henry, this time with the title "Birth Marks" (thus, Piet Goddaer found himself twice on the same day at Pukkelpop, with both his projects: Ozark Henry and Sunzoo Manley). The actual CD-release was for September 10, but there was already a promo-single "Rescue" at the end of August, distributed through the website of Studio Brussels.
For the recordings of "Birthmarks", Ozark Henry got the support of the Audrey Riley Octet, an ensemble that has a track record including work for Blur, The Cure, Muse, Coldplay and Smashing Pumpkins. Started with no less than 90 songs for the choosing, only 10 tracks made it to the actual album (which was released in a limited edition, wit 5 bonus tracks). As the bio says : "10 songs that can only be described as "rich": gospel choirs, brass sections, strings, and the newly discovered Voice. The sum of all these parts: pop music with brains and emotions, adaptable to every possible biorhythm".
In 2004 "The Sailor not the Sea" is released. It features Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit and again Audrey Riley. It is very well received and hits gold in no time.
Band members :
- Piet Goddaer (vocals, sequensing, programming)
- Dick Descamps (bass - on stage only)
- Stef Catteeuw (guitar - on stage only)
- Rik Debruyne (drums - on stage only)
formerly also
- Filip Tanghe (programming)
- Paul Isaac (keyboards - on stage only)
Indian Summer
Ozark Henry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mirror all that we put up with
to be safe from harm
A blood red sky-contrails
every motive I supply
to dance away the sight
Indian Summer
As bare as truth can be
without apologies
I feel the summer
The humming I inhere in
Indian Summer
There's no apology
where a Fantom piano plays- Satie
Would that be the house
where I was born
Run-down and bleached
where the history weighs- on me
Lift me up into your arms
before I pack to leave
Indian Summer
Opiate company
As bare as truth can be
without apologies
I feel the summer
The humming I inhere in
Indian Summer
has no apology
The lyrics of Ozark Henry's song Indian Summer tell a story of reflecting on past experiences and emotions to find a sense of closure and acceptance. The opening lines "all possible details, mirror all that we put up with to be safe from harm" suggest that we all create a facade or a barrier around us to protect ourselves from different types of pain, that in turn, create anxiety and fear. The mention of the "blood red sky-contrails" alludes to a sense of chaos or destruction in the world around us, which can motivate individuals to dance away the sight and try to enjoy the present moment.
The term "Indian Summer" in the title also has metaphoric significance, as it signifies a brief period of unexpectedly warm weather in the autumn, which represents a fleeting moment of happiness, reminiscent of a long-gone summer. The line "As bare as truth can be without apologies" implies that the singer is now accepting the truth about past experiences and emotions without feeling the need to apologize for them, accepting all that is good and bad.
The mention of composer Erik Satie's "Fantom piano" playing in a rundown house that could be where the singer was born shows a nostalgia for the past and deep reflection on one's roots. The weight of the history of the house could be too much to bear for the singer, and hence they seek solace in the arms of a loved one before leaving.
Line by Line Meaning
All possible details
Every aspect of our lives is reflected in the world around us
mirror all that we put up with
The world reflects everything we tolerate and endure
to be safe from harm
We endure these things to protect ourselves from harm
A blood red sky-contrails
The sky is a reflection of the pain and suffering in the world
every motive I supply
Every reason I come up with
to dance away the sight
To distract myself from what I see
Indian Summer
A period of warmth and beauty amidst the change of seasons, representing a hopeful moment in life
Opiate company
The things in life that we use to dull our pain and distract ourselves from reality
As bare as truth can be
As honest as it gets
without apologies
Without regret or remorse
I feel the summer
I experience the warmth and beauty of hope in my life
The humming I inhere in
The constant, calming buzz of the world around me
Indian Summer
A time of hope and warmth, even amidst turmoil
There's no apology
I have no reason to regret or apologize
where a Fantom piano plays- Satie
A place where music is present, invoking the emotions of Erik Satie's compositions
Would that be the house
Is this the place where I belong?
where I was born
The place where I came into existence
Run-down and bleached
In a state of disrepair and decay
where the history weighs- on me
The weight of the past and its influence on my present
Lift me up into your arms
Take me away from this place and situation
before I pack to leave
Before I make the decision to move on from this chapter in my life
Contributed by Sebastian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ricobel
I looooove this beautiful song 💖
If you' like to sing along, here is the lyrics🎶😊💕
All possible details
Mirror all that we put up with
To be safe from harm
A blood red sky-contrails
Every motive I supply
To dance away the sight
Indian Summer
Opiate company
As bare as truth can be
Without apologies
I feel the summer
The humming I inhere in
Indian Summer
There's no apology
Where a Fantom piano plays- Satie
Would that be the house
Where I was born
Run-down and bleached
Where the history weighs- on me
Lift me up into your arms
Before I pack to leave
Indian Summer
Opiate company
As bare as truth can be
Without apologies
I feel the summer
The humming I inhere in
Indian Summer
Has no apology
@michelvandenbosch2985
After so many years this song still moves me.
@tristanvadimterranova8053
This song kills me softly.
Nostalgia...
@ElisaN92
Dit was het eerste liedj dat ik kende van ozark henry , en het is ZO mooi <333
@sounarou
Magnificent. Just beautiful.
@berniparker
La similitude vocale avec chris martin ( coldplay ) , est troublante...............Magnifique chanson
@TheDonnie2
Anybody else is reminded of midsommar when watching this video ?
@Koentinius
Zo hee, ik wist niet dat-ie belgisch was! Kreeg 'm als tip van vrienden, goeie muziek. Goed werk zuiderburen!
@pierresev.183
Ma meilleur amie me l'a fait connaître, une révélation a mes oreilles, j'adore.
@leslierykaert8302
Ik krijg er nog steeds kippenvel van🌻🌻🌻
@airywater6822
Mijn God die piano!!!
Die stem !!!
Die woaaahh!!!