De Mens emerge as a foursome on effervescent new album
Twenty-three years after their debut, Flemish rock band De Mens are still going strong. But things have changed slightly on their new album, Nooit genoeg (Never Enough)
Big fish, small pond
But De Mens are still going strong.
Nooit genoeg (Never Enough), their 11th opus, entered the Flemish charts at number five, the highest position ever for an album by this rock band from Flemish Brabant. Which means that this first new batch of songs in almost five years has been eagerly awaited.
“You shouldn’t take that for granted. Every time, you should ask yourself if it’s still worth making a new album,” says De Mens singer and guitarist Frank Vander linden.
He formed the band with his childhood friend, bass player Michel De Coster. In 1995, after two albums, Dirk Jans became their drummer, and they’ve been a trio ever since. But with Nooit genoeg, De Mens emerge as a foursome, adding to the line-up keyboard player David Poltrock.
Poltrock has in fact been playing concerts with De Mens for years. He’s a busy bee – producer, keyboardist with Hooverphonic and regular session musician.
Adding a new member after being a trio for so long is quite a step, admits Vander linden. “It’s like taking a second wife,” he says with a big grin. “Two weeks ago we asked him officially. David felt at home with us, both musically and personally.”
And isn’t Vander linden worried that Poltrock’s busy schedule might conflict with his duties for De Mens? “It’s part of the deal that De Mens have priority. I don’t expect any problems. David formulated it nicely: He plays in De Mens and with Hooverphonic.”
Stick to what you know
Poltrock also shared songwriting duties on Nooit genoeg. You can hear the difference from previous albums, but it’s immediately recognisable as De Mens. Nooit genoeg shows an evolution, not a revolution.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Vander linden says. “After all these years, we’re good at what we do, so it would be laughable if we started playing something completely different. We can’t change our DNA.”
I’m happy those early songs never saw the light of day
Vander linden had just turned 30 when De Mens’ debut album was released in 1992. Before that, he had been working as a music journalist, a job where he could combine his passions for language and music. He had been playing music on the side for years. He used to sing in English, but everything shifted when he realised he should write and sing in Dutch.
“It was weird that it took me so long to realise that if I wanted to make music in which feelings resonated, I should use the language in which I felt these emotions. But looking back, I don’t regret the fact it took me so long. I’m happy those early songs never saw the light of day.”
Now and then, Vander linden gives workshops for young musicians. One of his catch phrases is: “If you want to write interesting lyrics, you should become interesting people.” He feels lyrics are too often neglected by musicians. “They’ve been practising for years on their guitars, they have studied music formally, but the forefront of their work, the lyrics, is at the level of a 12-year-old.”
He’s often heard the counter-argument that no one listens to the lyrics. “If that’s the case, why not play instrumentals?”
No illusions
The disadvantage of singing in Dutch is that the market for your music is limited. Vander linden laughs in agreement. “Touring abroad is an illusion you know you don’t have to indulge in. The same way I don’t have to dream of having a blonde quiff. Big fish, small pond is the highest possible goal. It has its advantages. Some Flemish bands imploded because they were chasing their international dreams.”
Penning song lyrics is completely different from writing a novel or poems
The only market outside of Flanders that is receptive to songs in Dutch is the Netherlands. But De Mens could never force a breakthrough. “We did our best, but it didn’t work,” says Vander linen. “They don’t understand us, I think. Of course, you can keep on hoping and investing time and money. But in the end, why would we skip well-paid shows in our country for those endeavours?”
In 2013, Radio 1 asked 13 Flemish and Dutch writers to come up with lyrics for a song, destined for 13 artists or bands. De Mens was coupled with author Herman Brusselmans. “He gave me a bunch of verses that I could rearrange and edit,” says Vander linden. “He was fully aware that penning song lyrics is completely different from writing a novel or even poems. Even the great Hugo Claus has written some lyrics that didn’t make a lasting impression.”
De Mens tour Flanders from April
Photo by Guy Kokken
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