The Ex
Sometimes it is difficult to know whether to classify current bands under essential indie bands, due to their longevity and influence. The Ex from Holland leave me in just that quandary. 30 years of music, more than 20 albums and getting on for 1 500 concerts across Europe, North America and Africa. Terrie Hessels (guitar, baritone guitar), Arnold De Boer (vocals, guitar, sampler), Andy Moor (guitar, baritone guitar) and Katherina Bornefeld (drums, vocals) are the current line-up of this influential outfit, who recreate themselves continually in to a new and interesting sound.
The Ex
After the departure of G.W. Sok in 2009, who had been with the band for its full history, The Ex came out as strongly as ever with a new program. Their range of influences are thrown in to a melting pot and a completely new sound is created from the mold. I think to say they are an experimental band would be a fair pigeon-hole, but beyond that, there is little to draw on. With the experience the band has developed they are seamlessly able to switch from Crass style noise experimentation to rap sounds, on to trance and away to Hawkwind all in one track.
It is great to hear The Ex after all this time remaining as far in-front of the music scene as they were 30 years ago. Far too many bands with this pedigree sit back and expect the world to reminisce with them, The Ex are all the great things I like in bands, creative, true to themselves and stretching the edges.
They remain as hard working as ever, a new 7″ single coming out on 15th January and yet another tour coming up very soon, they are well worth catching in peformance.
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