RAD RELEASES 18 – LA JUNGLE (PART 1)

It’s that time once again, as the countdown to the end of 2018 rapidly approaches we take a personal look back on familiar names, features and musicians’ best releases of the past 12 months. In what has been another crazy year of highs and lows- it’s the releases that have pulled a lot of people through the year. Now in it’s 8th year, Circuit Sweet will be hosting takeovers from the featured artists/musicians/labels and promoters of the site with their personal top releases of the year.

Kick starting our annual end of year tradition; we let our favourites take over the site to tell us the records that have made their end of year lists. Telling us their favourite events/gigs and what we can look forward to from them next year.

In the first of a 2 part special, we hand over the site to the incredible duo La Jungle. Described as a duo with six strings and four barrels in deep trance- they create unruly math rock. We speak to drummer Rémy to discover more about his last 12 months in music and memorable releases on his playlist…

TOP 5 RELEASES

1 / POLYGRAPH HEARTBEAT by Brecht Ameel (Be)

My top top top release of this year. A solo experimental and really quiet album released on one of the best belgian labels, Kraak. 

2 / SMOTE REVERSER by Thee Oh Sees (Us)

The artwork is fuckin’ disgusting but Oh Sees have a privileged place in my heart since they released this album. 

3 / LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO by OCS (Us)

One of the Dwyer’s (Thee Oh Sees) side projects. Quiet, acoustic and high quality folk with violin, cell and jazzy drum stuffs. Something like 8 artists on stage. Hope they will tour in Europe soon, can’t wait to see this. 

4 / BODIE by Veence Hanao (Be)

Maybe you have an idea of what is happening with belgian hip-hops that last 3 years. Huge hype and success for some bands. Veence Hanao is probably the most underrated rapper in Belgium, but this is changing for sure. Bodie is a really interesting release after a 5-year-break. 

5 / BIRTHMARKS by Teen Creeps (Be)

Supernice 90’s pop band from north part of belgium. I listened this album something like 100 times at my office since they released it a few month ago.

Best show played
Wow.. really hard question. First in mind : Paris at Le 23, Liège at Kultura, Paris again at Supersonic, Bristol at Arctengent Festival, Charleroi at Eden.
I could give you ten more places and venues where it was really incredible 🙂 What a year ! Maybe the best one was in Rock Herk, a good fest in north belgium. We performed on the ground with something like 300 people around us. Wooow ! 

Best gigs attended and highlights
Part Chimp at ArcTenGent Fest (Bristol)
Death Grips at Ancienne Belgique (Brussels)
Nah at Brasserie Atlas (Brussels)
Steve Gunn duo at Atelier Claus (Brussels)
Dirk. at Beurs (Brussels)
Sleaford Mods at Ancienne Belgique (Brussels)

I also promote gigs in Charleroi (Be) in an art center called Vecteur..
Here are the best acts I got the chance to book and support : 

L’Ocelle Mare (Fr) experimental solo performance
The Thing (No/Si) jazz-noise-punk
Deux Boules Vanille (Fr) noise-electronic drum duo
Èlg (Be) electro-experimental solo
Bob Log III (Us) the best rock’n’roll one-man-band of all times, what a party
Avec Le Soleil Sortant de Sa Bouche (Ca) something like positive spiritual instrumental music
Snapped Ankles (Uk) the best trancy band on earth
Jozef Van Wissem (Nl) solo playing luth
France (Fr) incredible transe trio from.. France

Artist to watch
I really would like to welcome BEAK> in my venue. One idea among 100 others 🙂

Plans for the new year
Release an album with Mat, we are workin’ on it, tour as much as possible together with La Jungle. Also release our first EP and play our first gigs with All Caps (our first vinyl is pressing now, can’t wait!), another band I started a few month ago with my mate Pierre (from hardcore belgian band Mont-Doré).

A huge thank you for participating in our end of year special. 

Having made our 2018 by catching your standout show at ArcTanGent in the summer. We can’t wait to see what comes along for you guys in 2019 

https://lajungleband.com/