Belgian alternative/post-rock supergroup Takh releases their self-titled debut album, out now via Consouling Sounds

Ghent, Belgium based alternative/post-rock supergroup Takh has just released their self-titled debut album this Friday, May 12th, 2023 via Consouling Sounds. Featuring former members of now-defunct The Black Heart Rebellion and Annelies Van Dinter (Echo Beatty, Naga Ghost).

Tracklist:
01. Salomonne
02. Unabashed And Knowing
03. Drôme
04. Azure Blue
05. Hair Of A Horsetail

Courtesy of Discipline PR:

The debut release of a collaborative project (feat. the members of The Black Heart Rebellion and Annelies Van Dinter) is available now.

The fruitful collaboration between The Black Heart Rebellion and Echo Beatty’s Annelies Van Dinter on the People album was the beginning of a new musical story. After the end of TBHR Alexander, Annelies, Emeriek and Pieter went deeper in their quest to write music reflecting the true emotions of the musicians. After about one year of free improvisation, Takh created something truly unique. The idea was very simple: to release the result of the collaboration without pre-orders and announcements. As organically as their collaboration came together, according to the band.

Consisting of five tracks with textures ranging from deep bass drones to vocal harmonies. By using an extensive set of instruments such as an Indian harmonium, Irish buzuki and native percussion, they succeeded in creating their own musical world. All songs are written simultaneously so that a general atmosphere can prevail throughout the record. Without the intention of writing a concept album, there is a recurring theme present on this record of rebirth.

Photo by Stefaan Temmerman

“Based on films such as The Sea Of Trees, Infinity Pool, Apocalypse Now and You Were Never Really Here, the paintings of Bosch and the work of Jim Jarmusch we find themes that delve deeper into the various developments in a person’s life.” – explain the collective talking about the conceptual component: “The question of how to deal with a new identity and of how it relates to the old one and its known environment are subjects that have found a place in the melancholic sound and lyrics on the album.”

Thanks to the references and inspirations mentioned earlier, it has also become a record that evokes many images in the listener. When referring to the lyrics these images can be “gentle as the waves that hit the sand” (»Drôme«) or hopeful (a sky of azure blue to start anew and crow under – »Azure Blue«), but also frightening and lonely (All rise, come to feast the filth has been released. Come see and feel the downfall with me – »Hair Of A Horsetail«).

The image on the cover of the album is a photo of the Ratitovec mountain ridge in Slovenia, made by D. Appeldoorn on behalf of Takh. The image was later edited by Corbin Mahieu to create a feeling of Unheimlichkeit. A place that feels familiar but alienating at the same time.

Takh originally came together back in 2015 when The Black Heart Rebellion brought in vocalist Annelies Van Dinter as a guest performer. There was an immediate connection forged through a shared passion for moody, gloomy music, and now in TBHR’s wake, Takh have come forth to turn the page with Van Dinter on board as a full time member.

Their aim is to craft atmospheric, slow-burning doom-influenced music that reaches into the listener’s soul, but also embraces experimentalism and allows the band to explore whatever it is that moves them, wherever that may lead.

Order »Takh« othrough Consouling Sounds here: store.consouling.be

Recorded and mixed by Michael Neyt at Jetson Studio.
Mastered by Frederik Dejongh at Jerboa Mastering.
Art direction by Corbin Mahieu.

Takh is:
Annelies Van Dinter – Drums / Vocals
Alexander Maekelberg – Guitar
Emeriek Verhoye – Bass
Pieter Uyttenhove – Keys / Vocals

Strings on »Drôme« by Patricia Vanneste.

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well