THE SERENES Barefoot and Pregnant Belgium 1990 LP RARE

$

50

Very scarce Belgium pressed vinyl LP with glossy cover on the Integrity records label from 1990 with a cult following (IR 012).

A REVIEW FROM BEST KEPT SECRETS BLOG: “The Serenes were a rock band from Joure, Friesland, The Netherlands. They formed in 1988 and disbanded in 1994. Their jangle pop music is comparable with the music of bands like The Feelies, The Chills and the early sound of R.E.M.. The sound of their guitars and vocals are best described as bright and clean. Their songs contain melancholy English lyrics, inspired by the serenity and loneliness of the silent and flat sceneries of Friesland. Both of their albums are well recognized by Dutch music critics. Still their albums have a top status in the history of the Dutch underground scene. Barefoot and Pregnant, their first album, was released in 1990. This album contains 10 tracks, of which Rebecca (You're Gonna Be Allright) was the first single, Abiding Place the second.” (From Wikipedia). What a fantastic album. This is probably one of the finest records ever produced in Holland. An underground classic. Just give it a try.

A RATE YOUR MUSIC REVIEW: "Today I spent €27,50 to buy this album, a used but - of course - original cd copy. At the moment it's hard to find an original copy of this album, because it looks like more people are downloading a copy and discovering the quality and beauty of this album, while there's still no new release... And I can imagine the statement: once bought, never sold. So I was happy to find someone to sell it for only €27,50.
At first: Why are they called The Serenes? The answer is simple. The Netherlands is a very crowded place, but in some North parts of our country you might feel lonely and desolated. No hills, no forests but spacious flat sceneries. Let's call it the serenity of the country side of Friesland... It's like a paradox: they don't produce silence, but creative jangle rock. Between all the noisy guitars, drums and voices, it's easy to hear and feel some kind of silence and peace from the hearts of the band members: a tag line could be: "the serenity of the rockers living in the serene part of The Netherlands". The band name suits perfectly.
A comparison to R.E.M. is definitely valid. Brilliant song structures, clear and energetic "jangle" play. In comparison with Michael Stipe, the singer (and actually the entire band) sounds a little bit more modest and sober. Maybe you have to adjust to that, it's not a R.E.M. pop show, but shy brilliance. Other jangle bands to compare with include The Chills, The Feelies, The La's.. none of them have delivered an album consisting only high quality tracks like Barefoot and Pregnant does.
It starts with the most bombastic and groovy song of the album: Voodoo Economics, followed by singing birds who are introducing you into a beautiful second track, on which a clean guitar delay brings you into a certain hypnotizing serene state of mind, where the trees are not just green and sky isn't just only blue. Abiding Place, with the most inventive guitar riff of the entire album, brings a pop song that could be on a best of album of R.E.M. It's a tremendous track. Wayland Smithy is a strong rocker as well: two communicating chords, building up to a climax of more chords. Follow The Rural Coast, carried by strong acoustic guitar play, probably is the best one. A string and saxophone make this song to the most colourful flower on this album. "And I dream....." Strong, that is what The World Is A Woman's Breast is. Do you hear that adventurous solo guitar leading you into the chorus? Isn't that beautiful? I heard hemelpiloot saying: "The songs don't cheer you up, but fine art is never cheerful." Rebecca (You're Gonna Be Allright) is such a song. How vulnerable the singer expresses his pain, while the band is catching him up with a composition that still never bores after more than 100 plays. Mermaid Mystery continues the very deep mood, introduced by the previous track. The chorus is freeing like a cry with the proportions of a thunder shower."
Please discover and enjoy this, this intense sereneness.

SONGS: A1 Voodoo Economics 4:44 A2 Beneath The Canopy 3:50 A3 Abiding Place 4:49 A4 Wayland Smithy 2:53 A5 Follow The Rural Coast 4:35 B1 The World Is A Woman's Breast 3:59 B2 Rebecca (You're Gonna Be Allright) 3:49 B3 Mermaid Mystery 4:05 B4 Good Missionary 4:22

CONDITION: The record is in near mint condition & the cover is excellent with some gloss on the back missing from a Japanese resealable sleeve getting stuck on it on the left side that you can see in the picture).

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