By cave 
A striking observation for the month of November: five of the six best-scoring artists trace their origins back to the mid to late seventies (David Byrne a.k.a. Talking Heads #3 / The Saints #4) to the early 80s (James #1 / Chameleons #2 / Men Without Hats #6). Frank Vander Linden (#5), who founded De Mens in 1992, is still the youngster of this group. These musicians have all been shaping modern music history for anywhere between 33 years and over half a century. We have to wait until Rosalía (#7 with “Berghain”) before some relatively fresh blood enters the ring. Although even she gets some help from seasoned veteran Björk. Gudmundsdóttir herself has been stepping onto the stage since the early 80s, first with Tappi Tikarrass and The Sugarcubes, before launching a blooming solo career in the early 90s.
Further down the list, youthful vocal power is equally hard to find. Barely a handful of adolescents managed to make a mark this month. Perhaps it’s time to quietly rename the list the Boomer Top-40 😉. What’s in a name!
A considerable number (7) of local artists earned a badge of honour this month.
We kick things off with the aforementioned De Mens (#5). At #8 we find the charismatic duo Rudolf Hecke and Elsje Helewaut, also no spring chickens making their first attempt, by the way. In sharp contrast stands Alice Mae (#13), who this year went home as one of the three toddlers—so to speak—who won De Nieuwe Lichting of Studio Brussel. Lived-in post-punk appears at #14, courtesy of Fred Angst a.k.a. Aroma Di Aroma’s, a die-hard devotee from day one!
Sons (#16), the garage rockers from Melsele, resurfaced this year with their third album Hallo. Several powerful tracks from that album have already been pushed forward. Long-time-no-hear band Customs delivered a very clear and commendable message this month with “Stop The Killing” (#19), released (pun intended) along with a confronting video. The final Belgian entry can be found at #21: Dressed Like Boys, the artistic alter ego under which we now know Jelle Denturck of dirk. much better. “Pinnacles” is one of the intimate songs on his self-titled debut album.
(Jan VH)
Playlist
- James – Wake Up Superman
- Chameleons – Saviours Are a Dangerous Thing
- David Byrne – T Shirt
- The Saints – Judas
- De Mens – We Zijn Nooit Alleen
- Men Without Hats – If You Try
- Rosalía ft Björk & Yves Tumor – Berghain
- Rudolf Hecke + God = Dog & Elsje Helewaut – Let’s Not Give a Damn
- Palaye Royale – Feels Something, Great.
- Black Lips – Prick
- Amadou & Mariam – L’Amour à la Folie
- Ash ft Graham Coxon – Ad Astra
- Alice Mae – Only the Broken
- Fred Angst ft Elvis Peeters – De Laatste Democraat
- The Divine Comedy – The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
- Sons – Somehow
- Kula Shaker – Be Mercyful
- Tame Impala – My Old Ways
- Customs – Stop the Killing
- Cat Power – Try Me
- Dressed Like Boys – Pinnacles
- Waterboys – Still Raging On
- Sparks – Fantasize
- Gary Numan – Like a B-Film
- The Damned – There’s a Ghost in My House
- Boy & Bear – Roses
- Midlake – Eyes Full of Animal
- Frank Popp Ensemble ft Paul Weller – Right Before My Eyes
- Laibach – Yom Kippur
- Serj Tankian – Apocalyptic Dance
- Bill Callahan – The Man I’m Supposed to Be
- Bear’s Den ft Ciaran Lavery – Nervous Hands
- Geese – Au Pays du Cocaine
- Futureheads – 2000 Miles
- Babyshambles – Dandy Hooligan
- Gorillaz ft Idles – The God of Lying
- Chrissie Hynde ft Lucinda Williams – Sway
- Miles Kane – Sunlight in the Shadows
- Dry Cleaning – Cruise Ship Designer
- Wreckless Eric – Lady of the Manor