The Ex
Sat 14 Mar 2009
Anarchist Afro-Trance-Dance-Punk
While their music has been described as “experimental trance-dance avant-afro-punk improv music”, it can’t be denied when listening to their tracks that they have their hearts rooted in anarchic post punk. Dutch band The Ex has been around for 30 years this year in one form or another, and despite one of the founding members, G.W. Sok leaving in January, the resolutely independent group will continue on as always. The news of Sok’s departure was posted on The Ex’s website along with information on their impending release of a commemorative compilation CD, the release of their 25-year Anniversary Convoy Tour DVD (released in February) and the announcement that they are embarking on a tour with The Ililta Band that is currently underway in the Netherlands. These are the Ethiopian Ililita Band’s first European appearances.
The Ex has a long-standing relationship with the African nation, having done a few extremely DIY tours there, performing on the stairs of a theatre, in a cow barn and in police community halls – basically wherever the chief of police of the town they were in would let them play. Guitarist Andy Moor said in an interview with the Baltimore City Paper, “We would drive around advertising the gig just with a megaphone and sticking posters up on the day of the show… We didn’t charge any money for it… It would have been ridiculous.” The interview offers a lot of insight into the depths and extremes of the band.
The Ex is not just a punk band, the many members come from varying backgrounds, and Eastern European and African music has had a huge influence on many of them. Moor said, “Openness, of looking out for stuff all over, is part of what keeps The Ex fresh. We’re not just a bunch of people sitting at home listening to punk records. We never listen to punk records anymore. Occasionally I’ll listen to an old Fall song or a Birthday Party song, because some of them are really amazing. But most of the music is either new stuff that is just coming out that I’m checking out or electronic music and dubstep or dub African music. All that stuff can go back into the band when we play without it having to sound like that. It’s more like influences that trickle in.”
The inspiring group is going to re-release on vinyl some of their classic albums from their 17+ LP catalogue, starting with 1991′s Scrabbling at the Lock and 2006′s Moa Anbessa. With such an amazingly legendary and prolific band it is puzzling where to begin on writing about them. Their fascinating journey through time with innumerable members and albums is just mind-boggling, not to mention the sheer amount of side projects and collaborations the members have participated in. As Moor said in the above interview, “Every time we go to the rehearsal room, it’s a bit of a mystery and a bit of an experiment, because we have no idea how we’re going to sound like the next time.” It is much the same listening to The Ex’s music; you never quite know what you’re going to get next. If you like the songs below then make sure you check out their website, they have plenty more tracks available for free download, and you can order their complete albums too.
The Ex – Weapons for El Salvador: MP3
Posted by Sarah Gooding under The Netherlands
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