Band : Suimasen
Album title : Stay.
Label : Muze Records
Distributor : Sonic Rendezvous
Release date : September 2009
Release : CD

“Suimasen? Sounds familiar somehow, “ I said to our editor-in-chief, “Sure…I’ll take that CD with me!”…if only I had known what I was getting into! You see, this Dutch band’s music is so addictive one can’t help putting off trying to review it…just to have more time to listen to it! Of course, eventually you hàve to start somewhere, because you’ve still got so many other albums to review!!! Took me some time & trouble to get some decent info on these guys as well, because it hàs been since 2001 that the Eindhoven based band delivered its previous album, “Flow”…and see here, to my nicest surprise I found out I have that album in my collection…so that’s how I’d heard about the band before, eh?

Courtesy of popinstituut.nl, I eventually found a Dutch biography of the band, from which I will now give you the most important data (translated, of course). The band is founded in 1998 by members who’ve already proven their worth in the Eindhoven music scene. Guitarist/ singer Rob  van den Brand and bassist/ singer Nick Sanders knew each other from when they were playing in The New Creatures…drummer Jacco van Rooy played with the successful Eindhoven bands Alabama Kids and 35007…and at the time of Suimasen’s formation both him and Sanders were still members of Stoner Rock act 7Zuma7. According to the info provided, the bandname was taken from a Blonde Redhead song, and appaarently the word would come from Japanese, meaning something like “I’m sorry!” (confirmed!). Calling the likes of Blonde Redhead, Motorpsycho, and Sonic Youth, the band releases its demo The Beat Goes On in early 1999.

When 7Zuma7 splits in early, Sanders and van Rooy can spend more time on Suimasen, and  together with producer Pieter Kloos (in those days already renowned from his work with Motorpsycho and 7Zuma7) the band starts work on their self-titled debut album, which is released that same year. Combining Post-Rock with neo-psychedelica, the delivered album belies its previous outside influences and shows a band with a face of its own, with a high degree of dynamics and intoxicating effect. The press loves the album, and so do the fans! The band looses little time in recording a new set of songs, and late 2001 sees the release of sophomore album Flow, which shows some more attention for song structures, while keeping up the dynamics and sub-cutaneous tensions. 2002 becaome the break-hrough year for the band, as they’re one of 10 bands to be awarded with and Essent…this in turn leading to increased airplay and television appearances. But it’s on stage that Suimasen comes over the most impressive, as proven by their performance at 2002’s Noorderslag festival and their Dutch club tour with Incense. In April 2004 the guys dó get together, and record 6 tracks in preparation of a new album (3 of which with Kloos), but otherwise news around/ about the band becomes scarce…until van den Brand joins Motorpsycho on stage (as a substitute for their drummer) for a tour that starts in April 2006.

Eventually the band continues work on their album in February 2009, material of which they present live at Eindhoven’s Effenaar on September 10. Their first gig in 7 years sees the band perform with the aid of samples. So, what can the listener expect of this new Suimasen album? Well, there’s really no reason for me to elaborate in extensive explanations and attemts at descriptions of the band’s music on this album, as it is simeply a nice continuation of what they did on Flow, albeit perhaps even more subtle and calmer overall. Also, as the band has posted no less than 10 of the 11 songs on the album at myspace.com/suimasn, you can check it out for yourself, can’t you? I mean, you’re on the Internet right now…it would be but little trouble to surf on over to the band’s MySpace page!

End conclusion…with the above being told, you should’ve understood a long time ago that I feel compelled to add Stay. to my year-lists! And I’ll have to go out in these wintery days to the record store, because I’m sure our editor-in-chief’s not gonna let me keep this promo copy!

98/100

Tony.