Bastian

Four years after the last release, Bastian is breaking the silence with a new album called ‘IV’, also to be released by Supertracks Records. It is the third Bastian album, preceded by ‘Ready’ (2000) and ‘It’s all downhill from here’ ST1010 (2003). Amongst previous chart entries were: ‘You’ve got my love’ (with worldwide imitated video) Paper love (about self-love and pictorial pleasures) and ‘Downers’ (One of the first commercial tracks to be made available for free on the internet, with the label providing for an empty sleeve containing all the information).‘‘IV’, the new album, has gained even more depth than itspredecessors, keeping the songs contagiously radio-friendly, while on the other hand lacking the always annoying ‘meant to be a hit’-formula, making them feel easy and loose. The sound is somewhat sturdier than before, containing more rock-influences, and is this time put down by the entire band instead of the album being a solo effort of Bas Bron. But is ultimately still danceable and funky as hell. The funk just seems to come from more sources than before.From Thin Lizzy, through Kraftwerk to Bobby Brown, influences are countless. Also, the other projects Bron worked on in between Bastian albums seem to have rubbed off on the IV production, making for an infectious ‘album’ album. Accompanying the release of IV will be a mini-tour of a revamped Bastian (who already had quite a live reputation), which is likely to take them abroad, meaning outside of their native Netherlands. The first single of the album, the infectious ‘Groceries’ was accompanying a promotional action by beer-brewer Heineken, which enabled fans to ‘win’ the mp3 by remixing a Bastian-tune themselves through a website.