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A new compilation album from The Arch to the period between '87 and '92 covers the records "As Quiet As" (EP, 1987), "A Strange Point Of You" (LP, 1988), "Stay Lay ( Maxi, 1989), "The Messier Album (LP, 1990) and" Ribdancer (Maxi, 1991). A total of these plates 17 tracks keep on this compilation Pomeranian and a bonus as 18th track the song "Pride" is still half time in a live performance recorded in Breendonk - home of The Arch - in October 2006.
The Arch - a bit of an unsung band in their own country, except in the new wave crowd - will provide a sublime mix of guitar and wave ebm. The compilation opens with the magisterial and a true killer riff provided "Ribdancer", my personal favorite song is The Arch. Later we find classics like "No Noise", spoke the bitter story of a failed relationship ("Walking in the Rain / Waiting for you in vain / Hoping for a sign / Why will not you be mine / Running and hiding is your game / Hurting me is your AIM / Causing sorrow and complaint / Stealing my heart as a thief) and "Revenge Revival" ('an asshole out of control). If course absolutely not miss: The Arch of the classic "Babsi Tod ist", a song inspired by the book "Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo", the autobiography of the Berlin junk Christiane F., whose girlfriend Babsi at barely the age of 14 died a heroin overdose. As a further highlight, the more ebm-tinged songs "Crawling Crowd" and "Stay Lay certainly be mentioned. And there are many more beautiful songs like "Coward", "All My Trust", it kinda of bands like Bauhaus and Play Dead tributary "Wait" and just too many to mention!
The original material from The Arch is just hard to find and that applies equally to all previous compilations, as published in 1995 by Discordia "Seconds And Centuries', which incidentally is largely (12 to be exact) the same numbers contained . For those who have nothing of The Arch in house, this is an opportunity for this unique Belgian new wave band to meet you! - Dark entries
Discography
Albums
A Strange Point Of You (LP) 1988
The Messier Album 1990
Seconds And Centuries (CD, Album) 1995
In Sofa (CD, Album) 1997
Engine in void (CD, Album) 2011
Singles & EPs
As Quiet As (12", EP) 1986
Stay Lay (12", Maxi) 1989
The Only Thing 1991
Ribdancer 1991
Compilations
Sex - A Compilation Of Six Releases (2xCD)1998
The Arch Of Noise (CD, Album, Comp) 2009
Photos
Bio
Back in the eighties, in a small village called Breendonk, a group of young people tried a new direction with a combination of samples, synths and guitars: The Arch, a four piece, was formed in mid 1986. Their music can be described as a cross between electronic body music and guitar rock with each instrument maintaining its individual sound.
The Arch sent their first demo, "Revenge Revival", to Dirk Ivens' Body Records and the track appeared on the compilation "Expo 87". Ludo Camberlin (Anything But Records) immediately felt the potential of the band too and released a new "Revenge Revival" mix and 3 other tracks on Anything But Records. The first Arch EP, "As Quiet As" was a fact. It was clear The Arch had to focus abroad where their music was called crossover.
It appeared to be the right decision. They had gigs in places other beginning bands could only dream of: Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Zagreb, Belgrade, Budapest etc. The first album, "A Strange Point of You" (1988) was also released on Anything But Records, and then Antler-Subway became their record company. After "The Only Thing" in 1991 The Arch split. Months became years but in 1997 a German label released a new album called "In Sofa" and afterwards a compilation and a double compilation cd was available over there.
The Arch can now look back at a 20 years catalogue of good songs. Some of our favourites are "Revenge Revival", "Ribdancer", "No Noise" and of course – probably their most famous song, inspired by the junk book "Christiane F."- "Babsi Ist Tot".
In 2011 a brand new album called "Engine In Void" will be released through ECHOZONE and again the band demonstrates and celebrates their very own and individual style of electronic based wave/post-punk and indie-electro music. The Arch are back with a powerful, emotional, dark and atmospheric album which sets the standards not only for themselves.
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