Hello,
Today's artists are playing a hybrid of punk to advance their liberal socialist agenda (serving as the rough equivalent of a Dutch Crass), the Ex put out reams of records and propaganda during the '80s -- each released on a different Dutch label -- but in the '90s began to embrace industrial forms of percussion and improvisation more in line with Einstürzende Neubauten and Test Dept. Formed in the late '70s, the group debuted at the turn of the decade with Disturbing Domestic Peace. Two more LPs appeared during the mid-'80s, after which the group formed their own Ex label .........N'Joy
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The Ex are an underground band from the Netherlands that formed in 1979 at the height of the original punk explosion. Initially known as an anarcho-punk band, they have since released over 20 full-length albums of musical experiments and numerous collaborations blending punk and free jazz with styles of folk music from all over the world. The Ex's music has undergone significant evolution over the years from their beginnings as a punk band. Founded by singer Jos Kley (better known as G.W. Sok), guitarist Terrie Hessels, drummer Geurt and bassist René, the band debuted with a song titled "Stupid Americans" on the Utreg-Punx vinyl 7" compilation released by Rock Against records in Rotterdam. The release of their first 7" All Corpses Smell the Same followed shortly after that, in 1980. Through the decades their music has gradually developed into its current form of highly intricate, experimental punk/post-punk/no wave-inspired work.
Expanding beyond punk rock, The Ex have incorporated a wide array of influences, often from non-Western and non-rock sources. Some include Hungarian and Turkish folk songs, and more recently music from Ethiopia, Congo and Eritrea (the independence song of Eritrea is covered by The Ex to kick off their 2004 album Turn). Other examples of branching out stylistically include the improvised double album Instant and a release under the moniker Ex Orkest, a 20 piece big band assembled for performances at Holland Festival.
Throughout the early 1980s The Ex went through many line-up changes before settling on the core quartet of G.W. Sok on vocals, Terrie on guitar, Luc on bass and Kat on drums. In the early 1990s, Andy became the band's permanent 2nd guitarist. In 2003 Luc left the band after 19 years, to be replaced by double bassist Rozemarie Heggen.[3] In 2005 Heggen in turn left the band and Colin (formerly of the Dog Faced Hermans) served as the band's bass player for recordings and tours with Ethiopian saxophone legend Getatchew Mekuria before becoming The Ex's sound board operator. Guitarists Andy Moor and Terrie Hessels have since filled in bass parts by switching off on baritone guitar.
The band has collaborated with many disparate artists, including UK anarchist band Chumbawamba (sometimes using the name Antidote), the Dog Faced Hermans (one former member, Andy Moor, has played guitar in The Ex since 1990), and with the late avant-garde cellist Tom Cora in the early 1990s, resulting in the album Scrabbling at the Lock (1991) and the follow-up And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (1993). The album In the Fishtank 5 (1999) was made with Chicago's Tortoise, and on In the Fishtank 9 (2001) they collaborated with members of Sonic Youth and the Dutch improvisers Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (ICP).
The band composes the music for "Two Men Walking", a new short dance film by Dick Hauser, and in February 2003 The Ex goes on tour for the first time with the new line-up and a brand new set of songs. They do shows all over Holland, together with the group Konono No. 1 from the Republic of Congo. In September The Ex tour for three weeks in the USA and visit the East coast, Texas, and Chicago. During that period they record a new album, for the third time in a row with album with Steve Albini, in his Electrical Audio Studio in Chicago.
In March 2004 The Ex once again leave for Ethiopia, for their second three-and-a-half-week tour. In 2002 they visited the North, this time they travel South, through an area where hardly ever any European bands have played before. In November The Ex celebrate their 25th anniversary with a two-day festival at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. At the same time they celebrate the release of "Beautiful Frenzy" on DVD by Blowpipe/Moskwood, containing the original film plus lots of live-extras. The event is followed by a convoy tour with a lot of the festival's artists playing in five French cities and Brussels.
2006 The Ex play Spain in May, followed by some Dutch shows with Zea. Around the Summer they play festivals in Zagreb (Croatia), Roskilde (Denmark), and Lärz (Germany), Nickelsdorf (Austria) and Parthenay (France).
In September they're flown over to Chicago to play at the 25th anniversary festival of their US record-label Touch And Go. It is the 13th time they visit the USA. In the autumn they play again in Spain and then tour France, Italy and Austria, together with the Mohammed Jimmy Mohammed trio from Ethiopia. The album "Moa Anbessa", by Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex & Guests, is released in December on their sub-label Terp Records. At the same time The Ex is back in the USA for a ten-day East coast tour together with DJ Rupture.
The DVD "Building A Broken Mousetrap" by filmmaker Jem Cohen is released in November 2007, featuring 9 songs from The Ex recorded during their concert at the Knitting Factory, New York City on 11th September 2004. In 2008 Drummer / singer Katherina and guitarist / singer Jon Langford (Mekons) make an album full of folk punk songs under the name Katjonband.
In 2009, after 30 years with the group, singer and co-founder G.W. Sok announced his departure from the band. Sok did so, believing he lacked sufficient enthusiasm to continue with the group, having decided to focus on writing and graphic design as well as singing in new musical projects with several other bands. His replacement is Arnold de Boer from the Dutch group Zea, with whom The Ex have toured and collaborated. In addition to singing, De Boer plays guitar and utilizes samples with The Ex.
The Ex is the subject of a documentary, Beautiful Frenzy (2004) by Christina Hallström and Mandra U. Wabäck, and the concert film Building a Broken Mousetrap (2006), directed by Jem Cohen. In 2008 the band was also featured in the film Roll Up Your Sleeves, directed by Dylan Haskins. In 2011 The Ex were chosen by Caribou to perform at and co-curate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Minehead, England.
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This is prime stuff. It's primitive when compared with their current wide-ranging output, but even then they were embellishing their their scratchy politico-punk with some interesting instrumental touches. Morse code keyboards, a chipped-flint guitar sound, distorted vocals, and the rhythm section's implacable forward motion make this worth a listen even if you don't care what they had to say. "What makes them interesting, is their original musical approach, not hindered by technical ingenuity."
The Ex - Disturbing Domestic Peace (flac 196mb)
01 The Sky Is Blue Again 2:01
02 Map 1:14
03 Outlook-Army 0:39
04 Sucking Pig 1:58
05 A Sense Of Tumour 4:00
06 Meanwhile 3:54
07 Rules 1:41
08 Squatsong 1:51
09 Warning-Shot 2:55
10 New Wars 2:46
+ Live-Skive:
11 Introduction 2:21
12 Human Car 1:48
13 Punk 1:47
14 Horse 1:12
(ogg mb)
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It's caustic. A real burner. (...) While still retaining an all important relevant edge to their musical comment , they've introduced elements of tunesmithing, attack, decay and composition that places them head and shoulders above their contemporaries. Well-known venom, but the music becomes more experimental (i.e. slower, richer, more stirring, fed by yet rather remarkable set of instruments) with every new release. It was the first of The Ex's albums to feature Luc playing bass guitar and he would remain as the band's bass player for 20 years. The album also featured many guest musicians, a notable trend in The Ex's discography that would provide musical elements unique to each of their albums.
The Ex - Blueprints For A Blackout (flac 373mb)
01 Streetcars Named Desire / Animals Harm (Medley) 2:39
02 Blueprints For A Blackout 3:54
03 Rabble With A Cause 2:19
04 Requiem For A Rip-Off 2:52
05 Pleased To Meat You 4:17
06 A Goodbuy To You 3:39
07 The Swim 1:48
08 Boohoo 2:29
09 U.S. Hole 2:41
10 (Not) 2B Continued 1:10
11 Grimm Stories 4:52
12 A Plague To Survive 5:22
13 The Rise Of The Dutch Republic 3:53
14 Kidnap Connection 2:17
15 Fire And Ice 4:41
16 Jack Frost Is Innocent 2:53
17 Love You Till Eh 2:48
18 Food On 45 3:17
19 Scrub That Scum 8:18
The Ex - Blueprints For A Blackout (ogg 159mb)
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Their 6th full length is a collection of new songs the group had performed on an anti-military tour. "The Ex, with 'Pokkeherrie' have produced a masterful killer weapon of raw power that rattles up the spine into numbed pink brain cells and fills the vacuum with social issue. " "They've done it again. While they maintain melody, dissonance, moodiness, and a hard edge, they continue to grow and encompass many styles. (...) Their integrity is rock hard and dependable." "Subtleties, intricacies, complexities, repetitions, basic noise."
The Ex - Pokkeherrie (flac 362mb)
01 Nurse! 6:09
02 Soviet Threat 7:08
03 Mmm Crisis 3:29
04 1,000,000 Ashtrays 9:15
05 Pock 0:15
06 White Liberals 5:42
07 Everything We Never Wanted 4:28
08 Friendly Neighbours 4:20
09 Hit The Headlines 5:47
10 Rumours Of Music (The Original Soundcrack) 6:29
The Ex - Pokkeherrie (ogg 143mb)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
"The Ex create music that's abrasive, driving and challenging, much of it recorded live between 16 and 26 October 1986, shards of guitar, bass and drums coalescing like jagged pieces of a puzzle, pumped up by influences that introduce the post-punk jar of Gang of Four, The Fall and Sonic Youth, and the spirit and experimentation of Crass, albeit more accessible. Intelligent, intriguing and well-executed."
The Ex - Too Many Cowboys (flac 485mb)
01 Red & Black 5:47
02 White Shirts 3:53
03 Adversity 0:30
04 People Again 4:12
05 Knock 2:46
06 Hands Up, You're Free 3:06
07 Ignorance 2:54
08 Butter Or Bombs 4:11
09 Dumbo 3:18
10 How Can One Sell The Air 5:46
11 Business As Usual 5:56
12 Olympigs 4:19
13 Choice 2:58
14 A Job / Stupid 2:40
15 Oops 6:32
16 No Fear 5:04
17 Vivisection 1:19
18 A Piece Of Paper 6:37
19 They Shall Not Pass 3:28
The Ex - Too Many Cowboys (ogg 185mb)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Today's artists are playing a hybrid of punk to advance their liberal socialist agenda (serving as the rough equivalent of a Dutch Crass), the Ex put out reams of records and propaganda during the '80s -- each released on a different Dutch label -- but in the '90s began to embrace industrial forms of percussion and improvisation more in line with Einstürzende Neubauten and Test Dept. Formed in the late '70s, the group debuted at the turn of the decade with Disturbing Domestic Peace. Two more LPs appeared during the mid-'80s, after which the group formed their own Ex label .........N'Joy
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
The Ex are an underground band from the Netherlands that formed in 1979 at the height of the original punk explosion. Initially known as an anarcho-punk band, they have since released over 20 full-length albums of musical experiments and numerous collaborations blending punk and free jazz with styles of folk music from all over the world. The Ex's music has undergone significant evolution over the years from their beginnings as a punk band. Founded by singer Jos Kley (better known as G.W. Sok), guitarist Terrie Hessels, drummer Geurt and bassist René, the band debuted with a song titled "Stupid Americans" on the Utreg-Punx vinyl 7" compilation released by Rock Against records in Rotterdam. The release of their first 7" All Corpses Smell the Same followed shortly after that, in 1980. Through the decades their music has gradually developed into its current form of highly intricate, experimental punk/post-punk/no wave-inspired work.
Expanding beyond punk rock, The Ex have incorporated a wide array of influences, often from non-Western and non-rock sources. Some include Hungarian and Turkish folk songs, and more recently music from Ethiopia, Congo and Eritrea (the independence song of Eritrea is covered by The Ex to kick off their 2004 album Turn). Other examples of branching out stylistically include the improvised double album Instant and a release under the moniker Ex Orkest, a 20 piece big band assembled for performances at Holland Festival.
Throughout the early 1980s The Ex went through many line-up changes before settling on the core quartet of G.W. Sok on vocals, Terrie on guitar, Luc on bass and Kat on drums. In the early 1990s, Andy became the band's permanent 2nd guitarist. In 2003 Luc left the band after 19 years, to be replaced by double bassist Rozemarie Heggen.[3] In 2005 Heggen in turn left the band and Colin (formerly of the Dog Faced Hermans) served as the band's bass player for recordings and tours with Ethiopian saxophone legend Getatchew Mekuria before becoming The Ex's sound board operator. Guitarists Andy Moor and Terrie Hessels have since filled in bass parts by switching off on baritone guitar.
The band has collaborated with many disparate artists, including UK anarchist band Chumbawamba (sometimes using the name Antidote), the Dog Faced Hermans (one former member, Andy Moor, has played guitar in The Ex since 1990), and with the late avant-garde cellist Tom Cora in the early 1990s, resulting in the album Scrabbling at the Lock (1991) and the follow-up And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (1993). The album In the Fishtank 5 (1999) was made with Chicago's Tortoise, and on In the Fishtank 9 (2001) they collaborated with members of Sonic Youth and the Dutch improvisers Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (ICP).
The band composes the music for "Two Men Walking", a new short dance film by Dick Hauser, and in February 2003 The Ex goes on tour for the first time with the new line-up and a brand new set of songs. They do shows all over Holland, together with the group Konono No. 1 from the Republic of Congo. In September The Ex tour for three weeks in the USA and visit the East coast, Texas, and Chicago. During that period they record a new album, for the third time in a row with album with Steve Albini, in his Electrical Audio Studio in Chicago.
In March 2004 The Ex once again leave for Ethiopia, for their second three-and-a-half-week tour. In 2002 they visited the North, this time they travel South, through an area where hardly ever any European bands have played before. In November The Ex celebrate their 25th anniversary with a two-day festival at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. At the same time they celebrate the release of "Beautiful Frenzy" on DVD by Blowpipe/Moskwood, containing the original film plus lots of live-extras. The event is followed by a convoy tour with a lot of the festival's artists playing in five French cities and Brussels.
2006 The Ex play Spain in May, followed by some Dutch shows with Zea. Around the Summer they play festivals in Zagreb (Croatia), Roskilde (Denmark), and Lärz (Germany), Nickelsdorf (Austria) and Parthenay (France).
In September they're flown over to Chicago to play at the 25th anniversary festival of their US record-label Touch And Go. It is the 13th time they visit the USA. In the autumn they play again in Spain and then tour France, Italy and Austria, together with the Mohammed Jimmy Mohammed trio from Ethiopia. The album "Moa Anbessa", by Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex & Guests, is released in December on their sub-label Terp Records. At the same time The Ex is back in the USA for a ten-day East coast tour together with DJ Rupture.
The DVD "Building A Broken Mousetrap" by filmmaker Jem Cohen is released in November 2007, featuring 9 songs from The Ex recorded during their concert at the Knitting Factory, New York City on 11th September 2004. In 2008 Drummer / singer Katherina and guitarist / singer Jon Langford (Mekons) make an album full of folk punk songs under the name Katjonband.
In 2009, after 30 years with the group, singer and co-founder G.W. Sok announced his departure from the band. Sok did so, believing he lacked sufficient enthusiasm to continue with the group, having decided to focus on writing and graphic design as well as singing in new musical projects with several other bands. His replacement is Arnold de Boer from the Dutch group Zea, with whom The Ex have toured and collaborated. In addition to singing, De Boer plays guitar and utilizes samples with The Ex.
The Ex is the subject of a documentary, Beautiful Frenzy (2004) by Christina Hallström and Mandra U. Wabäck, and the concert film Building a Broken Mousetrap (2006), directed by Jem Cohen. In 2008 the band was also featured in the film Roll Up Your Sleeves, directed by Dylan Haskins. In 2011 The Ex were chosen by Caribou to perform at and co-curate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Minehead, England.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
This is prime stuff. It's primitive when compared with their current wide-ranging output, but even then they were embellishing their their scratchy politico-punk with some interesting instrumental touches. Morse code keyboards, a chipped-flint guitar sound, distorted vocals, and the rhythm section's implacable forward motion make this worth a listen even if you don't care what they had to say. "What makes them interesting, is their original musical approach, not hindered by technical ingenuity."
The Ex - Disturbing Domestic Peace (flac 196mb)
01 The Sky Is Blue Again 2:01
02 Map 1:14
03 Outlook-Army 0:39
04 Sucking Pig 1:58
05 A Sense Of Tumour 4:00
06 Meanwhile 3:54
07 Rules 1:41
08 Squatsong 1:51
09 Warning-Shot 2:55
10 New Wars 2:46
+ Live-Skive:
11 Introduction 2:21
12 Human Car 1:48
13 Punk 1:47
14 Horse 1:12
(ogg mb)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
It's caustic. A real burner. (...) While still retaining an all important relevant edge to their musical comment , they've introduced elements of tunesmithing, attack, decay and composition that places them head and shoulders above their contemporaries. Well-known venom, but the music becomes more experimental (i.e. slower, richer, more stirring, fed by yet rather remarkable set of instruments) with every new release. It was the first of The Ex's albums to feature Luc playing bass guitar and he would remain as the band's bass player for 20 years. The album also featured many guest musicians, a notable trend in The Ex's discography that would provide musical elements unique to each of their albums.
The Ex - Blueprints For A Blackout (flac 373mb)
01 Streetcars Named Desire / Animals Harm (Medley) 2:39
02 Blueprints For A Blackout 3:54
03 Rabble With A Cause 2:19
04 Requiem For A Rip-Off 2:52
05 Pleased To Meat You 4:17
06 A Goodbuy To You 3:39
07 The Swim 1:48
08 Boohoo 2:29
09 U.S. Hole 2:41
10 (Not) 2B Continued 1:10
11 Grimm Stories 4:52
12 A Plague To Survive 5:22
13 The Rise Of The Dutch Republic 3:53
14 Kidnap Connection 2:17
15 Fire And Ice 4:41
16 Jack Frost Is Innocent 2:53
17 Love You Till Eh 2:48
18 Food On 45 3:17
19 Scrub That Scum 8:18
The Ex - Blueprints For A Blackout (ogg 159mb)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Their 6th full length is a collection of new songs the group had performed on an anti-military tour. "The Ex, with 'Pokkeherrie' have produced a masterful killer weapon of raw power that rattles up the spine into numbed pink brain cells and fills the vacuum with social issue. " "They've done it again. While they maintain melody, dissonance, moodiness, and a hard edge, they continue to grow and encompass many styles. (...) Their integrity is rock hard and dependable." "Subtleties, intricacies, complexities, repetitions, basic noise."
The Ex - Pokkeherrie (flac 362mb)
01 Nurse! 6:09
02 Soviet Threat 7:08
03 Mmm Crisis 3:29
04 1,000,000 Ashtrays 9:15
05 Pock 0:15
06 White Liberals 5:42
07 Everything We Never Wanted 4:28
08 Friendly Neighbours 4:20
09 Hit The Headlines 5:47
10 Rumours Of Music (The Original Soundcrack) 6:29
The Ex - Pokkeherrie (ogg 143mb)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
"The Ex create music that's abrasive, driving and challenging, much of it recorded live between 16 and 26 October 1986, shards of guitar, bass and drums coalescing like jagged pieces of a puzzle, pumped up by influences that introduce the post-punk jar of Gang of Four, The Fall and Sonic Youth, and the spirit and experimentation of Crass, albeit more accessible. Intelligent, intriguing and well-executed."
The Ex - Too Many Cowboys (flac 485mb)
01 Red & Black 5:47
02 White Shirts 3:53
03 Adversity 0:30
04 People Again 4:12
05 Knock 2:46
06 Hands Up, You're Free 3:06
07 Ignorance 2:54
08 Butter Or Bombs 4:11
09 Dumbo 3:18
10 How Can One Sell The Air 5:46
11 Business As Usual 5:56
12 Olympigs 4:19
13 Choice 2:58
14 A Job / Stupid 2:40
15 Oops 6:32
16 No Fear 5:04
17 Vivisection 1:19
18 A Piece Of Paper 6:37
19 They Shall Not Pass 3:28
The Ex - Too Many Cowboys (ogg 185mb)
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
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