What is Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung?

BUNI LENSKI Violin (25)
SIMON LENSKI Cello (23)
ADRIAN LENSKI Piano (28)
HAN STUBBE Clarinet (25)
ROEL VAN CAMP Accordion (27)

Formed in Antwerp in 1992 by Roel Van Camp, Han Stubbe and the Lenski brothers while attending the conservatoire, having taken their name from a passage from 'Steppenwolf' by Hermann Hesse.

All four members also worked together with Think Of One on their album 'Juggernaut', and formed a close alliance with David Bovee in particular, which would resurface later on 'We Need New Animals'.

De Anarchisten (as they became known throughout the Lowlands) were quickly signed to the same management company as dEUS, Moondog Jr, and all of Rudy Trouve's musical (ad)ventures, Musickness, and toured widely with Moondog Jr throughout 1995/6. They released their eponymous debut LP in 1995 on Jack&Johnny Records, to much critical acclaim. However, the (by now) infamous naked photographs of the band on the sleeve insert caused so much eyebrow-raising within the record company that, when the LP was re-issued by Columbia a year later, the artwork was completely changed.

After a heavy tour schedule of over 2 years, in 1997 DAAU eventually released their second album 'We Need New Animals' having signed to Sony Classical. On this album, they broke new ground by introducing live drummers, bassists and singers (notably An Pierle, and Angelique Willkie (ex-Zap Mama)), and incorporating new styles such as reggae and trip-hop into their sound, working again with David Bovee on 'Waltz Delire' and 'Lady Delay', and issuing a remarkable CD single of remixes of 'Gin&Tonic' mixed by such luminaries as Cinerex and Dr. Olive.

Many reviewers have attempted to sum up their fusion of styles using invented phrases like 'clasjazz'. But after the sell-out to Sony, Daau's music is certainly something else than many people think it is..

Having by now completed his 7-year-long study of composition and gaining his Master's degree, Adrian Lenski has joined DAAU permanently on the piano, bringing in his formidable writing and performing skills and experience.

The third album, 'Life Transmission' was released earlier in 2001 to critical and public acclaim. It is a natural successor to 'We Need New Animals' and has moved further in dub/reggae and electronica directions, whilst still retaining a lot of the elements which have stood them in good stead since their debut album. Indeed, on 'A Sin So Nasty' in particular, Simon's once-quoted desire to make "gypsy-music with bleeps" seems to have been completely realised.

DAAU also toured a great deal in 2001, playing the Montreux Jazz Festival, De Nachten, Lokerse Feesten, Robodock in Holland, Boterhammen in 't Stad, and many other dates throughout France, Belgium and Switzerland, and many venues in the Netherlands.

Early in 2002, the band parted company with Sony for good, and began their own independent record label, Radical Duke Entertainment. The first release from this new label was a mini-album entitled "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain", featuring music written by DAAU for a dance piece by Thierry Smits with his dance company Thor, and includes studio versions of performance tracks including the live favourite 'Orange', along with film clips of the dance piece. You can see photos of this modern dance theatre extravaganza at http://www.limburg.be/dansinlimburg/richardofyorkfoto.html and at the dance company's own website, http://www.thor.be...

Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain features six DAAU tracks composed and recorded for the modern dance play of the same name, and shows DAAU going in a completely new direction (again). The CD also features three computer video files that show excerpts of the dance play, as performed by Compagnie Thor. Also, this release marks the launch of the band's own record label, Radical Duke Entertainment.

arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)