PRICE:
$161.50
IN STOCK
ARTIST
TITLE
Zwarte Doos
FORMAT
6LP BOX/7"

LABEL
CATALOG #
OS 047-053LP OS 047-053LP
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
12/9/2022

Comprehensive box-set of six LPs/EPs and Aroma Di Amore first rare 7". Aroma Di Amore is/was Belgian's premier cult band. Since the early eighties ADA innovatively combined electronics with rock. With a mix of razor-sharp Flemish lyrics and unconventional song structures the group earned a cult status in Belgium and abroad. 40 years later they conclude their career with a few last concerts and a vinyl box set spanning the years 1983-1987. Frontman Jos Verlooy adopted the stage name Elvis Peeters. His companion Gerry Vergult -- who very much determines the sound with his metallic riffs, somewhat indebted to Jean-Marie Aerts -- adopts the stage name Fred Angst. On a bed of post-punk and cold wave (Joy Division, Wire and Sisters of Mercy are the main influences), they initially let out playful, minimalist, and nonsensical slogans such as "Doe De Mafia" (1982) and "Gorilla Dans De Samba" (1983). Later on, the tone becomes more serious, although Peeters's choice of words continues to show a penchant for absurdism and sarcasm. In the 1980s, an arms race is underway. When the Belgian government decides to install nuclear missiles in 1981, Aroma di Amore asks for one minute of silence in the hall during performances. In Lauwe Oorlog (1983), Peeters exposes the core of his unrest. In 1984 Aroma releases Koude Oorlog on the new and independent Brussels label Play It Again Sam. Encouraged by modest success in the alternative circuits, the group returns to the studio for a 12" single. With new group member Frits De Cauter on sax, they record "Voor De Dood". To this day, "Voor De Dood" remains the most popular AdA song. AdA goes to the Netherlands to record their next album, De Sfeer Van Grote Dagen. The people from Nasmak have built a new studio in Eindhoven and one of the members, Theo Van Eenbergen (later Henry Rollins), will be the producer. De Sfeer Van Grote Dagen is the group's most adventurous album. PIAS proposes to recruit Chris Reed of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and record a new single with him. "Zonder Omzien" is recorded at the prestigious Pyramid Studio. However, PIAS is waiting to release the album, and in the meantime, AdA is recording a number of extra tracks with producer Ludo Camberlin, including "Koekoek In De Stad". Towards the end of the year, Lo and Elvis travel to Africa for a few months and as a result the group comes to a standstill. In this period, Zonder Omzien is released. At the beginning of 1986, Peeters and Meulen return, and Andrea Smits leaves the group. Luc Pillards is hired as a replacement, and when Ludo Camberlin presents himself as a new label boss and producer (Anything But Records), they start recording their first full album for the label. Harde Feiten kicks in immediately, and the group is back up to cruising speed. At the beginning of 1987 the recordings for the second album start, this time in a production by Peeters and Angst themselves. Shortly after the shooting, AdA goes to Switzerland for a short but successful tour, with Men 2nd and Cas & Organized Crime as support act. Koudvuur is published in the autumn and considered to be their strongest record so far by the group, the reactions are rather low. Both the reviews in the press and the sales are disappointing and put a damper on the joy.