Recent projects
Spring 2008:
In the quiet village of X-burg three men are drawn to each other in their quest for, well.... anything really. Betonfraktion comes into existence.
Initiater of Betonfraktion is Nick J. Swarth. The former city poet of X-burg, his hometown, considers language as a limited way of expressing thoughts, feelings, whatever. Therefore, he often seeks the company of muscicians, artists, dancers and videoproducers.
For Betonfraktion he teamed up with the composer and guitarist Frank Crijns. Crijns is a member of Blast, a band known for its radical approach. As a composer he was, and still is, commissioned to write pieces for orchestras and ensembles.
Dritter im Bunde is the drummer Maartje 'Marzj' Simons. Marzj replaces Ries Doms, who started out with Frank & Nick in the spring of 2008 and helped Betonfraktion through the first gigs.
A composer, a drummer and a poet: One doesn't need a lot of imagination to realize that this fusion will develop into something rather unique. This fraktion aims at researching sound textures. Noises, voices, rhythms and the sonic vibes of a distorted guitar will all be part of the experience. If this sound abstract and all but intriguing, rest assured that Betonfraktion's goal is an inflammable cocktail of partly structured, partly improvised energy. Improvised music is usually related to jazz. Betonfraktion is about rock. And roll, if you wish. Never a f*** dull moment.
Dark songs of sadness, anger, nature's mysteries, demons and devils. Duffhuës
has got an old soul and an ancient voice. He started as the singer of The Gathering,
progressed through the melancholy rock of Enos and then created his own world of
human failure by writing songs, stories and theatre plays, that can be catagorized
as modern fairytales or personal tales of mystery and wonder. Duffhuës released six
solo albums. Last of them is titled Among the Ruins, which will see the light of
day in january 2011. The album was produced by Marcel van de Vondervoort (Astrosoniq)
and released on Space Jam Records/ Suburban. Duffhuës performs with two-piece band
and solo.
Band members
Niels Duffhuës - vocals, guitar, piano, harmonium
Marzj - drums, percussion