Nits (band)

Nits ( until 1988: The Nits, the product was officially filed ) are a pop band from Amsterdam.

The Nits began in 1974 as a guitar pop band, soon turned to the New Wave and to cultivate since an eccentric style, the influences of minimal music, jazz and pop Independent receives. The name ( "lice eggs, nits " ) is regarded as an allusion to a different band name with insect reference provided by the Beatles.

History

The Nits were founded in 1974 by Henk Hofstede, Michiel Peters, Alex Roelofs and Rob Kloet in Amsterdam. Soon they turned to the New Wave, played their first record in 1978 and decided in 1980 to become a professional musician.

In its early days, the music of the nits with the New Wave pop of Talking Heads or early XTC let compare. Henk Hofstede and Michiel Peters profiled itself as an independent songwriter, with just Hofstede sometimes prone to bizarre experiments. The debut of The Nits see the band as a non- independent and did not succeed; until now it has not been officially released on CD.

With the following albums Tent, New Flat and work out the nits were an individual style which also processes influences of Kraftwerk, The Beatles and classical avant-garde. Hofstede found his personal voice; his timbre is often compared to John Lennon and the young Elvis Costello.

With the album Omsk and the entry of Robert Jan Stips they achieved a decisive breakthrough to a unique sound. What is striking is the growing influence of the visual arts, both in the lyrics and in the conditioning of some songs. Some songs (Jardin d' Hiver ) are brought to a standstill as it were, and act as sound sculptures. The sound palette was expanded by the sophisticated sampling technique of Robert Jan Stips. Stips avoids conventional synthesizer routine in favor of impressionistic aural aspect of music. From this album comes also the largest in the native Netherlands The success with Nescio that could reach number 8 in the charts.

After the album Adieu Sweet Bahnhof Michiel Peters stepped out and henceforth worked as an accountant. Hofstede was now - apart from a few contributions by Stips - sole songwriter. The album In the Dutch Mountains was their most successful studio album, the moody title song became a hit throughout Europe. Also contributed to the original, surrealistic video that had turned even the band, all trained artists. The subsequent tour took the Nits to Russia. It was documented on the double album Urk, which was re-released in 2006 with an additional live DVD of a concert in Amsterdam.

Giant Normal Dwarf, played in a trio setting, characterized by fairytale surrealist texts and eccentric songs. The plate was intended as a sounding storybook for Hofstede's then newborn daughter. Hofstede and his partner, the artist Riemke Kuipers, designed to an elaborate booklet.

Ting was characterized by a chamber music ensemble of two pianos and percussion. Showy sound element are the sounding stones of the Swiss sculptor Arthur Schneiter, come on several songs for use. After the tour, the Nits Ting took the opportunity to work with a symphony orchestra. Stips composed Hjuvi for Nits and Orchestra, which was performed three times and released as a CD. On Hjuvi one finds influences of minimalist music, György Ligeti, Edgar Varèse and George Gershwin.

DA dA dA meant a return to more compact pop songs. After this plate Robert Jan Stips rose left the band to pursue a solo career. With changing musicians Hofstede Kloet and continued the band and played the albums Alankomaat ( the Finnish word for " Netherlands", with the support of Sami folk music group Angelit ) and a Wool. For the latter, the Nits left their longtime record label Sony Music (formerly CBS), and released their following albums at the small label Play It Again Sam.

Between 2002 and 2011, Henk Hofstede guested on three albums of the Swiss pianist / composer Simon Ho: Before Sleep (2002 ) If ( 2005, also with Michiel Peters), normal Sunday - live (2006) and Spoon River Anthology (2011, with the total occupation of the Wool- time). In all of these except for guesting Sleep Before the three singers of Värttinä from Finland. Hofstede also regularly publishes solo albums.

Robert Jan Stips returned 2004 CD 1974 back to the band. In the fall of 2005, the Nits released their 19th studio album - " Les Nuits ". In December 2006, the Nits toured with Uriah Heep, a combination that was taken from the fans equally alienated and interesting note.

Doing The Dishes, her 20th album, was released in January 2008. Return to Sony Music and the accessible, good-humored songs brought the nits after a long time more media coverage, which in itself in positive reviews, greater public interest and, ultimately, even a short-term placement the Dutch Top Ten reflected. In October 2009, the Nits released the album Strawberry Wood. The album Malpensa ( 2012) was not only in his own studio De Werf, but next to the Piedmont Castel Burio in Utrecht Kytopia in collaboration with its owner, the hip- hop musician Colin Benders aka Kyteman.

Discography

Studio albums

  • The Nits (1978), only 1000 copies on vinyl
  • Tent (1979)
  • New Flat ( 1980)
  • Work ( 1981)
  • Omsk (1983 )
  • Kilo (EP, 1983, in a double CD release with Henk Henk / Kilo )
  • Adieu Sweet Bahnhof ( 1984)
  • Henk (1986, CD released in a double pack with Kilo Henk / Kilo )
  • In the Dutch Mountains (1987 )
  • Hat ( EP, 1988)
  • Giant Normal Dwarf ( 1990)
  • Ting (1992 )
  • Hjuvi (1992)
  • Alankomaat (1998)
  • Wool (2000)
  • 1974 (2003)
  • Les nuits (2005)
  • Doing the Dishes (2008)
  • Strawberry Wood ( 2009)
  • Malpensa ( 2012)

Compilations and live albums

  • Urk (1989 ) live double CD (2006 re-release with additional live DVD )
  • Nest ( 1996) Best Of
  • Quest ( 1996), B-sides and other rarities
  • Nits Hits (2000 ) Best Of
  • Dubbelgoud (2001 ) Best Of ( Label: Disky )
  • Dreams - Best (2004 ) Best Of ( period: 1983-98, Label: Zounds )
  • Nits? (2014 ) Best Of

Collaborations with other artists

  • Dankzij de Dijken (1995), Freek de Jonge
  • Before Sleep ( 2002), with Simon Ho
  • If ( 2005) with Simon Ho and Värttinä
  • Normal Sunday (2006), with Simon Ho and Värttinä
  • Spoon River (2011), with Simon Ho and Värttinä

Videography

  • Urk ( 1989 live recording )
  • Vest (1996, compilation of singles music videos)
  • 2004 (2004)

Swell

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