The Brussels Philharmonic (previously the Flemish Radio Orchestra) capitalises on its international fame by starting its own label. It will focus on the highlights of the repertory for philharmonic orchestras (Beethoven’s Third Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth), but also on 20th-century music. With works of Claude Debussy, this first release combines both focal points. Swiss conductor Michel Tabachnik guides his orchestra with a solid hand through the nervousness of La Mer (The Sea). In my mind’s eye, I saw the wild billows pounding the Channel coast at Eastbourne where Debussy finished his composition. But the orchestra also skilfully handles the subtleties of Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun). www.brusselsphilharmonic.be
For a few years now, Onderstroom Records from Rotselaar, Flemish Brabant, has done a superb job documenting Belgian new wave, punk and early electronic music from the 1980s by re-issuing albums that have been largely, but unjustly, forgotten. Leuven twosome The Neon Judgement pioneered, alongside Front 242, electronic body music, though they never attained the fame of their Brussels’ counterpart. Early Tapes compiles the two cassettes that Dirk Da Davo and TB Frank released in the year after The Neon Judgement’s inception: raw guitars combined with primitive synths and drum computers, clearly influenced by New York’s Suicide. www.theneonjudgement.com
Birds That Change Colour, with members from Millionaire and Zita Swoon Group, got their name from Jack Kerouac’s poem “San Francisco Blues”, but the inspiration for their psychedelic folk pop is British: think Madcap Syd Barrett, The Beatles after nibbling acid or The Incredible String Band. On Recording the Sun, the trio’s debut, contains some delicate songs with summery melodies, although the general atmosphere is autumnal, thanks to intimate folk tunes and a few delicious chunks of psychedelia. A solid first album. www.birdsthatchangecolour.com
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