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)
Out of This World
Ozark Henry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Names and addresses
I remember voices
A shouting match
They don't like you to cry
But what does pride matter
There's not enough to get by
Am I breaking news?
It's out of this world
You did yourself
Thinking in acres
Weighing in stone
Nobody knows
What you have done
Just to belong here
And to carry on
I know it's odd
But there's a gap in memory
You don't remember the downsides
Of these games you've played
There's a crack in your heart
In which I went missing
There's a whole in your arm
It has a sugar tooth
It's out of this world
You did yourself
Thinking in acres
Weighing in stone
Nobody knows
What you have done
Just to belong here
And to carry on
I can't afford to lose you know…
You did yourself
Thinking in acres
Weighing in stone
Nobody knows
What you have done
Just to belong here
And to carry on
It's out of this world
I lose track of the light
I miss every hurdle…
I'm coming down
I'm coming down fast…
The lyrics of Ozark Henry's song "Out Of This World" recount memories that the singer has, including names, addresses, and shouting. The singer refers to the fact that crying is not acceptable and wonders how much pride truly matters in life. The following lines of the song express themes of isolation and feeling out of place, something that is not apparently understood by others. In many ways, the feeling of being disconnected from the rest of the world can arise from a sense of confusion and a loss of memories of past experiences.
The chorus of the song expresses the idea that this sense of isolation and being lost is out of this world. The singer emphasizes that the experience is one that they brought on themselves by thinking in acres and weighing in stone. The feeling of confusion and isolation is furthered by nobody knowing what they have had to do to belong here and to carry on.
Throughout the song, the singer is looking for a feeling of connection and some type of grounding in their life. They feel lost and isolated and are struggling to find a way to reconnect with others. The final lines of the song describe someone who is trying to come back down to earth, trying to reconnect with others and to find a sense of meaning and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember things
I recall specific details and memories
Names and addresses
I can remember people and places
I remember voices
I can remember how people sounded
A shouting match
An argument where people raised their voices
They don't like you to cry
Others do not want to see or hear your emotions
But what does pride matter
Having self-respect and dignity may not make a difference in a situation
There's not enough to get by
The available resources are insufficient to survive
Am I breaking news?
Is this information new or surprising?
It's out of this world
Something is extraordinary or unbelievable
You did yourself
You are responsible for your own actions
Thinking in acres
Evaluating things in terms of size, area or quantity
Weighing in stone
Measuring or assessing something in terms of mass or weight
Nobody knows
Other people are unaware of what you have experienced or accomplished
What you have done
Your actions or achievements are noteworthy, but possibly unrecognized
Just to belong here
You have gone to great lengths to feel accepted or part of this group/place
And to carry on
You have persisted despite difficult circumstances
I know it's odd
I am aware that this may seem unusual or strange
But there's a gap in memory
There is a period that cannot be recalled or remembered
You don't remember the downsides
Negative aspects or consequences are not in your recollection
Of these games you've played
The situations or interactions you have engaged in
There's a crack in your heart
Your emotional state has been damaged or weakened
In which I went missing
I am not valued or prioritized in your emotional state
There's a whole in your arm
A physical or emotional vulnerability exists
It has a sugar tooth
This weakness is intertwined with something enjoyable or alluring
I can't afford to lose you know…
I cannot bear to be without you
I lose track of the light
I become disoriented or lost trying to find my way
I miss every hurdle…
I fail to overcome or meet each challenge
I'm coming down
I am descending from a previous position or state
I'm coming down fast...
I am rapidly declining from my previous state
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vanessa Molle
suis allée le voir à un "piano concert" à Soignies; trop merveilleux......<3
Michael Pellis
damn goood