Antillectual

The third song on our new album is a song some of you might already know. We played it a lot live, recorded a demo version of it (featured on Shield and No Reason Records’ label samplers) and it appeared on our (in)famous acoustic “Pull the Plug” EP. The lyrics could have been inspired by current affairs like the Wikileaks scandal, if it weren’t written before that time.
This week’s guest writer is Nab, our friend from Madrid Toulouse who runs “Just Say Yo Fanzine“. We met him years ago when he booked a show for us in Nice, we stayed at his mom’s house and ate oranges from the tree. This year he took us to a Hare Krishna temple to feed us; interesting!
Please read on, enjoy the song and feel free to share it with your friends.

Skip to: Special Guest / Lyrics / Liner Notes

Nab Ortega says

Growing up, my favorite bands were always the ones with a socio-political message; bands like Pennywise, Minor Threat, Good Riddance, Anti-Flag… Even though I was like 13/14 years old and probably didn’t have a clue about politics, I felt there were a lot of wrongs out there and that punk-rock had to be something rebellious, speaking out against all the injustices going on in society. I met Antillectual when I was around 18, at that time I was feeling doubtful and lost, wondering if any of what I believed in made sense. We talked a lot, about our lives, about music, their music; and I could relate to almost everything they were about. I had never felt such a connection with anybody before.

They have this ability to communicate their passion and opinions in a sincere, genuine and always-friendly way, without being this overbearingly political band. I can safely say meeting them changed me. They have been a great deal of inspiration in my life so far and I owe them a lot more than they probably know.

Antillectual is about to release this great record called “Start From Scratch!”. I can’t wait for the world to hear it as this is some relevant music I’m very excited about. To me, their previous album, “Testimony”,  is a masterpiece; both lyrically and musically. I thought it showcased the band at its peak, but listening to their new full length proved me to be oh so wrong!

“Start from Scratch!” is a much more melodic record and yet still intense and angry. The songwriting got sharper and more on point, with thoughtful lyrics constantly challenging the listener, raising awareness, almost forcing you to pay attention.

Raising awareness is exactly what they’re doing on “The Hunt is On!”. To me, what they basically mean with this song is “WE WON’T BE FOOLED!”. It lists all theses morally wrong institutions that are engaged in crooked operations. Wrong according to our morals,  those of “all of us on the losing end”. We’re always telling ourselves that what we’re seeing might only be the tip of the iceberg. So this song essentially pays tribute to those who dare to break the ice, speak out and reveal the truth in an attempt to bring more justice and equality to this world. The “whistle-blowers” as they put.

I like this song because it’s a very straight-forward tune with these intense melodic guitars. The chorus is insanely good, and I love the way they built that second verse. One more thing I appreciate in “The hunt is on!” is that it’s one of their songs where everyone in the band sings at some point. Anyway, I guess you know you’re listening to a good song when you find yourself mumbling the words with your fists clenched.

Lyrics

The hunt is on! The gloves are off!
Another attempt to protect your own self interest
Another attempt to corrupt our moral principles
Denying rights to those who blow their whistle

Corruption, fraud and dirty linen
Whistle-blowers outlawed by established authorities
Losing the battle but hopefully winning the war

Sexual abuse among the abstinent
Selling us cigarettes for medicines
Price-fixing pushing the prices
Illegal weapon trade and export

Corporate, clerical and political arrogance
Exuberance, I hope it will fall
And push up those who have been pushed down before
Never asked for this role but they’ll play it

The church in all its manifestations
The political arena and all its participants
The corporate community and those who rule it
All scared to death their crooked secrets will come out

Liner Notes

This accusation is an ode to so called “bell-ringers” or “whistle-blowers”. People that without regards for their own benefit or well-being stand up to rectify hidden wrongs and abuses in society. Bell-ringers are characterized by the fact that because of their action in favor of a community or society, their own lives get ruined. The authority they stand up to tries to destroy the bell-ringers’ reputation, or even their complete lives. Usually bell-ringers signal wrongs among traditional authorities as governments, religious institutions or corporations. Recent examples are the worldwide reports on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church coming to light after both bell ringers and victims open up about this case. May the truth come out.

Next week a song that is impossible to know since we’ve never played it live to date. Doubtful if we ever will … Next week’s guest writer is someone “from behind the scenes of the Dutch scene”. Stay! Tuned!

We got the chance to do 2 cool shows and are looking to fill the dates in between. If you can help anywhere on the route, please: info@antillectual.com

Sep 29 AVAILABLE
Sep 30 AVAILABLE
Oct 1 (Swi) Lucerne, Treibhaus. w/ Dead To Me, Face the Front
Oct 2 AVAILABLE
Oct 3 AVAILABLE
Oct 4 (Bel) Zele, ‘t Verdriet

In this second episode we present (surprise surprise!) the second song of our new album: Buyer’s Remorse, a bittersweet song about consumerism. The song features a good friend of ours doing guest vocals. People who saw us at the Groezrock fest will know who. This weeks Special Guest is David Finke. He runs Fairtademerch.com, prints all of our merch and is the designer of the artwork for our album. Curious to know what he has to say about this song? Please read on, enjoy the song and feel free to share it with your friends.

Skip to: Special Guest / Lyrics / Liner Notes

David Finke says

Could there be a better time to drop some lines on this song? Well I guess any time is right, but this song kinda sums it all up. These days BP are the lucky ones to have their s**t in the public focus, but the list of these companies is long. Outsourcing for cheap labor & less restrictions on their ways of operating, massive environmental pollution, private armed security services to protect their profitable factories in the world’s poorest countries. These people indeed put their hunger for benefit above others’ lives & get away with it.

Everybody knows & in the end it only takes one well-done shiny commercial campaign plus a friendly image and we’re most likely to continue buying their stuff. I guess it’s all thanks to our lame asses and our comfort in indifference that circumstances like these even exist…

I’m really beginning to sound desperate here, eh? The bottom line is I truly believe that even a small difference IS a difference! Don’t let yourself get too depressed when you’re thrown back to the fact that this planet is inhabited by 1% greedy opinion-making hate mongers and 99% careless population (okay, now I’m desperate). It’s all about using our heads and being aware of how and what we consume, what we believe in and what we’d better reject.

I got to know Tom, Willem and Riekus (and Yvo, even though only through some mails) as an outstandingly active band with a whole lot to say and to convey to their audiences. Their live shows kick ass and Tom doesn’t even need a mic to burst your eardrums! And just in case you got a little skeptic about consuming things, buying this LP definitely is a good thing to do, please trust me on that one. I’m really grateful to be given the opportunity to do the artwork for this record. Support these guys & go see ’em live!

Lyrics

Stop calling me sick
This is not the disease I meant
Healthcare for all
This is not the cure I need
Swallow it whole
Who doesn’t want to become a doctor
I will tongue your pills
Don’t want to be a healthy consumer

Built to resist
Challenge everything
I can’t believe it’s not out yet, how come we buy it, time after time
Maybe we’re born with it, maybe it’s make-believe, but I’m lovin’ it

I object, practically and principally
Supported by overpriced products and underpaid temp jobs
I hope our backs didn’t hurt your knives

On your profit crusade
Selling the biggest dwarf alive
Despise the converted
Selling the smallest giant alive
Where is our money?
Bailing out all the sinners
Where is our lobby?
What happened to our voice, our vote?

Where dreams begin
Let’s make things better
The best a man can get
Make the most of now
Impossible is nothing
Just do it, yes we can
Because you’re worth it
Be all that you can be

Liner Notes

Have you ever regret a purchase? Maybe you didn’t appreciate the quality of what you bought, or you were tricked into buying something you didn’t really need after all? The media (unconsciously) persuade us to become “healthy consumers”, maintaining a vibrant economy. But healthy for who and what? Us, or the economy?
When you buy a product you support the company that produces it, its methods of production, its distribution and marketing. This support is not only financial support, but also moral approval. And not only for that one company: the whole process of commercial production, distribution and promotion exists because of our support. We keep them healthy, even though they like to make us believe it’s the other way around.
Are light cigarettes healthy? No, not smoking is better. Are “sales” good for your wallet? No, not buying stuff you don’t need is better. Are “sustainable products” good for the environment? No, not buying stuff you don’t need is still better.
Without our support as buyers and workers this process would not be able to persist. Would that be a revolution? Yes. Would that require revolutionary actions? Not really: just don’t buy things from companies or brands that you think don’t have the right policies when it comes to the environment, the treatment of workers or animals. Just think about what you buy, from whom. It will make a difference.

Guest vocals by Heleen Tichelaar of Midnight Menace – check them out!

That’s it for this week, folks. Next week we’ll be back with a song some of you may already know. And a new Special Guest from the sunny South. Stay tuned!

In this first one of 12 weekly episodes, we present the first song off our new record “Start From Scratch!”: Every Crisis Is a Moral Crisis, with lyrics, liner notes and a sneak peek of the artwork. Greg Rekus, singer and guitarist of Winnipeg Canada’s High Five Drive and day job sound engineer, is our guest this week. The first time I (Riekus) met him was a midnight encounter in a Paris gay bar, don’t ask! We got to know each other better when High Five Drive and Antillectual toured the UK, Belgium, France and our home country this April. In this week’s episode, Greg talks about the sound of our record, veggie beef and Uma Thurman. Confusing, isn’t it? Read on, figure out what Greg is about, enjoy the song and give us your feedback.

Skip to: Special Guest / Lyrics / Liner Notes / Artwork preview / Confirmed labels

Greg Rekus says

One of my favourite elements of Antillectual is the guitar work. This song is packed with tasty little riffs and guitar parts that ignite the impulse to reach for a guitar and attempt to decode the combination of fingering, palm muting, picking and other assorted tricks Willem hides up his frayed hoodie sleeves. The lyrics hit you right away like an anthem you had on the tip of your tongue but just couldn’t spit it out. “Bring it on! Let’s start from scratch!”. Hear it once and you are singing it immediately. The recording is big. Huge guitar tones, gritty, beefy (veggie beef of course) bass sounds, nice crack to the snare. Riekus’ drum sounds are killer. They don’t have the super triggered, robotic sound that some people were sure was the key to good records several years ago.

High five drive played with them live a bunch this past April. Many bands just aren’t the same live as on record or vice versa. Either the record is lacking the energy of a band losing their shit on stage or the live show is missing the precision and polish of a good recording. Antillectual is one of those rare bands that straddle that line of energetic live performance while maintaining the tightness usually reserved exclusively for wet knots and Uma Thurman costumes. I’m super pumped on this recording and can’t wait to share the stage with them again!

Lyrics

Bring it on
Let’s start from scratch

We need a reality check
Armed with second opinions
Not afraid to use them
Now it is time, time for plan B

My First Crisis
This is not a drill
Too true to be good
Think outside the box, it’s time for plan B

Every crisis is a moral crisis
Now we can become what we want to be
Let’s start from scratch

The system broke
Repairing is not possible
Replacing the only option
Recycling what is useful

Now the dust has settled
It’s up to us
We want regime change

Let’s start from scratch

Liner Notes

We have reached another breaking point in history. The current financial crisis has made an enormous impact on so many people that it seems things are going to change. If things are going to change, we have to make sure they change for the better. Political and financial systems are extremely slow when it comes to change. People, on the other hand, can change their ideas and behavior overnight.
Whether a crisis is about the financial world, immigration, the role of the media and youth culture, how to treat whistle blowers, animals, political themes in general, or the upcoming influence of “new” powers like China and India; all crises should lead to an evaluation of how we deal with these topics in the future. What we think is right and wrong about it. What moral standards should apply for any of these topics. Every crisis is a moral crisis.
Now that the old balance is unstable it is time to tip it over and install a new balance. This is the time where people are up for trying new, better ideas. Now we can be the architects of our own world. For real change to occur, we need more than just a new messiah. We need people to believe in themselves and each (each!) other instead of a new president or a new financial system to improve the quality of life.
We should not be afraid to take a closer look at things when it gets hot under our feet. There is a lot to improve in the world. If we want this crisis, and more importantly the reaction to this crisis, to be fruitful, it is up to us to give directions. So bring on these crises and take those chances. Let’s start over, let’s start from scratch.

Artwork preview

Artwork by David Finke of FairTradeMerch

Confirmed Labels so far:

Discos Rayados Records (Spain)
Effervescence Records (France)
Infected Records (Portugal)
Lockjaw Records (United Kingdom)
Shield Recordings (Benelux)
Square of Opposition Records (USA)
No Reason Records (Italy)
5 Feet Under Records (Scandinavia)

That’s it for this week’s album preview. We’ll be back next Monday with the second song: Buyer’s Remorse. Expect some candy-sweet guest vocals and another Special Guest.

At this very moment Dutch right-wing politicians are working on a new coalition. It will include the most xenophobe party ever to participate in a government; the Partij Voor de Vrijheid (Party for Freedom; which doesn’t seem like a bad idea, right?). If stuff doesn’t suck already, stuff will suck harder if that coalition comes into power. Now it is time, time for plan B.

At this very moment we are finalizing our own new coalition as well. Almost a dozen labels all over Europe and the USA have gathered their forces to release our new album “Start From Scratch!”. The release is set for November 1st, pre-orders will be taken earlier. Next Monday, August 16, we will start to stream a song from the new album every week. Next to the music we will post lyrics and accompanying liner notes of each song. On top of that we will post a contribution to each song from people that helped recording the record, wrote songs, did guest vocals, designed the artwork; but also from people who helped the band the last couple of years: supporting us on tours, behind the screens or on stage.

After the release we will take the world by storm through endless touring. If you want us to paint your town red, get in touch and we will work it out.

So, next week we will post the list of cooperating labels, the first song on our new album (Every Crisis Is a Moral Crisis) including lyrics, liner notes and comments from a punkrock celeb and the front of the artwork. See you next week kids!