01/25/2005: "Review CD by English fan (girl singer Elektra)"

Decibel reverence
"I fell in love again.. it took me by surprise.. it took me by surprise..' Troubles

It's taken me a while to even prepare to write any kind of review of this CD because I've been caught up in listening to it. I listen to it every day.. sometimes twice all the way through. It was introduced to me with the single 'Troubles' playlisted on Radio 6 Int'l last year and often played back to back with Electra's Jonny Cash. The song seeped into my sub-consciousness first as an irritant. It was a highly emotional song, sung by a young guy clearly off his head in love with some woman. My initial response to it was 'what the f*ck is this guy whining about? "and when she came...." in that pained voice'. Yeah.. and when she came.. it must have rocked his world. A few more listens and I just wanted to be that girl.

As I wrote somewhere else: "CafeBar 401's track 'Troubles' should be listened to by every man who's ever loved a woman far beyond the reaches of his own sanity and for every woman who's ever been loved that way. Deep, powerful, celestial and true.. the rest of the album is quite good as well."

I'm still not sure how to tell you this is a wonderful CD from start to finish.. so this review is a work in progress.... while I think about it and listen to it some more.. Sometimes.. it reminds me vaguely of Chris Cornell in approach and chord shifts .. not in vocal power, but emotion (although many of the tracks on the CD veer into heavier territory)... but, there's something else going on.. when I've gathered my thoughts and can behave in a more professional writerly fashion.. I will. It's still early days in a New Year. I need some time to get myself together.

In the meantime.. the songwriter is Tije Oortwin and the websites are:

http://www.cafebar401.com

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cafebar401 (CD Baby write an absolutely storming and perfect review of the CD, so I won't bother to rewrite mine!)


12/07/2004: "Wow ! 2 Nominations on groovevolt.com (USA)"

groovevolt.com | it's your music

Rock:
BEST ALBUM – MALE
Rock & Roll, Ryan Adams
Two Way Monologue, Sondre Lerche
One Plus One is One, Badly Drawn Boy
You Are the Quarry, Morrissey
Tell Balgeary Balgury Is Dead, Ted Leo/The Pharmacists

BEST ALBUM – FEMALE
Call off the Search, Katie Melua
Finally Woken, Jem
Medulla, Björk
Van Lear Rose, Loretta Lynn
Uh Huh Her, PJ Harvey

BEST ALBUM – BAND, DUO OR GROUP
20,000 Streets Under the Sky, Marah
Hot Fuss, The Killers
The Libertines, The Libertines
Cafebar 401, Cafebar 401
Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand
Modern Artillery, The Living End

BEST DEEP CUT – ROCK
“Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” (Japanese version), The Flaming Lips
“Steve McQueen,” Lambchop
“Something Worth Dying For,” Cafebar 401
“Texas Is the Reason,” Spiraling
“Dreaming in Two Hour Drives,” Teitur


08/31/2004: "Review by Roy Opochinski"

groovevolt.com | it's your music.
I've spent the better part of the past two months trying to verbalize exactly what it is that makes Cafebar 401's self-titled disc one of the best discs of the year. It's simple for a reviewer to make such a lofty statement, but often more difficult to verbalize the reasons for and to justify said statement.

But the more I listen to this eminently-listenable disc from this Dutch group -- and I do listen to it, over and over again, out of desire and not out of obligation -- the more clear the reasons for my proclamation become.

First, Cafebar 401 reminds me of another great, underappreciated disc of recent vintage: Idlewild's The Remote Part. While not all the songs on Cafebar 401 fit the mold (a good thing, incidentally), some of them do, notably “Many Left Here Long Ago,” “Something Worth Dying For,” and “Sense Working Overtime,” whose “wherever she goes she blows me away” chorus is nothing short of brilliant.

Perhaps it's frontman Tije Oortwijn's singing is ideal for the alternative Euro-rock tracks the band has put to record. Perhaps it's the way in which one song flows generously into the next without sounding like the previous track in much the same way that a great mix tape does. For example, the opening track, “Full Pro Disco,” gives little insight into what listeners will find on the remainder of the disc; however, at the same time, it draws the listener in, daring him to venture further.

Equally impressive is the band's ability to downshift on tracks like “Lost Without You” (which bears a passing resemblance to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' “Under the Bridge”) and “Troubles” and then pick up the tempo again on tracks like “Bob Ross on Drugs” and “2 AM.”

“Today” out-Coldplays Coldplay, and it's at about this point in the disc where you realize you're almost to the end and completely mad about this stunning CD. Oortwijn has a beautiful singing voice and he works it out here.

It's about time that people woke up and discovered Wampus Multimedia. This is one of the best indie labels in the country; one that really feels like an indie. They expose people to high-quality artists unfamiliar to many and do not try to saturate the market with too many releases. I cannot remember the last time that I was disappointed by a Wampus release, and, more often then not, the discs they release end up on my year-end best of list. If this sounds like a commercial, maybe it is. (Though, since I'm not being paid for this, you can consider it more of a public service announcement.) Find this disc (it's available at cdbaby.com and at Wampus Multimedia's Web site (www.wampus.com).

Though it might sound cliché, there is not a single track on the album that does not deserve your attention. Consider about how few albums one can say that. Cafebar 401 might not be a household name in North America, but they certainly deserve to be.


Cafebar 401
"Cafebar 401"
Wampus Multimedia
Rating: A
RELEASED DATE:
May 21, 2004
CD REVIEWED BY:
Roy Opochinski
BUY THIS ALBUM
N/A


06/17/2004: "Review on Smother.net (USA)"

Smother.Net
Cafebar 401 - Cafebar 401

The Netherlands' Cafebar 401 are the perfect injection into modern alternative's lackluster and collapsed veins. Evoking images of early Foo Fighters with electronics this side of Beck and that side of Timbaland, Cafebar 401 even through in fuzzy guitars not properly heard on non-stoner rock albums. They could be the recreation of someone important enough to sit side by side to a Weezer or Nirvana while effortlessly recalling past efforts of the ‘90's greats in the alt-rock scene. Vocally they're on target with melody firmly held and shedding gruffness for a coalesced minimalism in guitar-driven rock's arena. Then you also have numbers like “Senses Working Overtime” that finds the quartet impatiently plunking at their instruments driving each other to insanity with frenetic confusion. This is a must-hear.

- J-Sin


06/17/2004: "Review on CD Baby"

CD Baby: CAFEBAR 401: Cafebar 401 - hear and buy it at CD BABY.
Cafebar 401: Lush, Lean, Powerful Melodic Rock

Reviewer: Billy Santee
Fantastic! Cafebar 401 an inspired mix of melodic pop and dark sentiment -- from the taut, power-rock hook of Full-pro Disco, through the mesmerising vocal-piano ensemble build of Troubles, to the INCREDIBLE MIRACLE that is the song, I Need to Know. I NEED TO KNOW. Play it and be amazed. An awesome CD. An awesome achievement. Cafebar 401 another GREAT entry from the Wampus label.


06/23/2004: "Another Review from the States"

Norman Famous' Reviews Cafebar 401, "Cafebar 401" (Wampus Records)

Dutch alterna-rockers Cafebar 401 play some engagingly quirky euro-pop on their new, self-titled CD. From a kitchen sink of influences, this talented quartet has culled a style that is unique but recognizable, if that makes any sense. The record starts out light and frothy with the ironically titled (I hope) "Full-pro Disco" which thrashes energetically. The R.E.M.-ish "Many left
here long ago" follows, making things all dreamy and spooky. "Senses working overtime", the next cut, sounds not unlike Radiohead, only not as self-conciously portentous. "Something worth dying for" sounds again like Radiohead, and...wait, you know what? A LOT of this record sounds like Radiohead! In fact, this band sounds like Radiohead would sound if they enjoyed what they were doing. In fact, I'd rather buy a Cafebar 401 record than a Radiohead record. But that's just me. Good band, good tunes. So what if they mostly sound like Radiohead?
Norman Famous


06/30/2004: "New Review from the USA"

Music Spectrum
English Dance Rock: Cafebar 401's Cafebar 401

Released today, Cafebar 401's self-titled album introduces this Dutch band that's a bit beyond easy description. Alternative-garage-beat ‘n' bass-pop band.

“Full-Pro Disco” has that combination of hard rock with dance tendencies like Skillet, Placebo, or what Jesus Jones would be if the guitars were raunchier. “Senses Working Overtime” borrows a title from a classic XTC song, but that's about all this song takes from XTC. The sound is hard rock coupled with Tije Oortwijn's falsetto vocals on the chorus. I suppose you could call it all melodic hard-edged dance rock.

However, when the acoustic guitars and balladic breaks come in, featuring Oortwijn's plaintive vocals, I'm ready to have Cafebar 401 jump all the way from English Dance Rock to American Dance Rock where there are many grittier bands who are also ready with melodic blends of distortion and ballad, like Audio Adrenaline, delirious?, Seven Day Jesus, or Bleach. Interestingly, that little group of Christian bands ends up together partly because their harder-edged songs are always tempered by a production that keeps their vocals on top of the mix. I've always assumed that this sound would typify Christian band due to the mission of getting the message heard, but here Cafebar 401, without being a labeled Christian band (I can't speak for their personal faith), has a similar mix, the vocals rising above the bursts of guitars.

Ah, but I'd have to have good reason to bring a Euro band from the European side of the Spectrum to the American side. I do it with certain bands when the influences or style seem to much like they come from the opposite side of the pond, but there's got to be a reason. Cafebar 401 fits in nicely next to Placebo with that combination of a core of heavy guitar, lyrical flourish, and dance beats.

Towards the end of the album, “Today” takes Oortwijn's acoustic ballad, kicks in a spare snare/high hat beat, topped by a bright, wandering keyboard line. It is a song mourning for a lost relationship (“I'm sure/It's over now/We're older now”), and the beat and keyboard while headed in a slightly more upbeat direction, actually only make the grief in Ooortwijn's vocals all that more apparent.

Cafebar 401 shows that they understand how to take these combinations—hard rock guitar, keyboards, singer/songwriter lyrics, dance beats—and use them to actually move the song forward, to create a feeling and style that works towards the song. This isn't some grand experiment, “let's see if we can put all of this stuff together.” This is a band creating something that couldn't happen without each of the pieces being present.

Following “Today” is the despairing “Using Few Words.” A guy I've been visiting in the county jail asked me, “How do people view God? Do all people view Him as forgiving?” Here's the song for us to talk about and explore how people view God. Oortwijn cries out, “I never thought her dad would die/He using few words told his daughter goodbye/Do you believe?/She thought she had/When God turns His back on you/It's the devil instead.” In those moments when God seems absent, it is hard to believe that He is truly there. “Using Few Words” is one of those songs that forces to take a look at those difficult questions.

You come a long way on Cafebar 401's debut album, from the full-on fun of “Full-Pro Disco!” to those closing plaintive songs. Yet, there's no dragging-and-kicking here; you'll be glad to go with Cafebar 401 from start to finish.

Thanks to Cafebar 401 and Mark at Wampus Multimedia for the review copy

Pastor Ben Squires
Redeemer Lutheran Church
1712 Menasha Avenue
Manitowoc, WI 54220
920-684-3989
920-684-3277 (fax)

http://musicspectrum.blogspot.com
http://mondevotions.blogspot.com


07/12/2004: "Nice words about cafebar 401"

Dollev Deviates

Cafebar 401

Ok, i'm the first who admits that, compared with Belgium and the Scandinavian countries, the Dutch music scene kinda sucks. But with Cafebar 401 the Dutch finally have a band that they can be proud of. Granted, the influences of bands like Queens Of The Stone Age and Muse are a little bit too obvious in some songs. But never the less i really like this album and it's on top of my CD-Baby wish list. It's high time to place another order.

Click here to listen to fragments of the album. Check it out, especially if your name is Andre! :)
posted by dollev


07/15/2004: "Another Review"

5gode
Cafebar 401; Cafebar 401
Wow, this band should be all over modern-rock radio right now. They're amazing. Hailing from Holland, Cafebar 401 specialize in a sound that sometimes seems very British, especially the vocals remind me of bands from the melancholic indie/Brit pop-rock world, but as those bands often keep a rather simplistic and laid-back style to their songs Cafebar 401 sticks out with their lively guitar power-pop oftentimes sounding like Foo Fighters and/or even The Rasmus (check those breakdowns). I cannot say enough good things about this album, I just hope these guys get the attention they deserve. (5*-)


07/16/2004: "Thank u Dollev"

Dollev Deviates


Bob Ross On Drugs

The people of Cafebar 401 were so kind to sent me a copy of their debut album. I haven't had the time really to listen to it (yet), but i will soon and take some time to write a little review. But there is one song that stood out because of the fabulous title: Bob Ross On Drugs. There you have a title that makes the imagination work. I used mine on photoshop, just to say thanks for the generous gift of the band. I also put the song on the play list of Dollev Noizes and of course on Deviation Station.

If you like what you hear (and i would be surprised if you don't), you can find out more about the band on the following websites:

cafebar401.com
cdbaby.com

By the way, this song has a lot more going for it than just a great title. Bob Ross has that kind of "controlled heaviness" that i really love. And just listen to that finale. Mind blowing. And there is no trying here. Every member of the band knows what has to be done to make this song work, and they home in on their goal with deadly precision.

If Bob Ross still would be around, he would have felt flattered by this song.

I will write more about Cafebar 401's debut album later. For now i'll just click on the hairy chested clown.

You should too.

It may take some time to load but at the moment the clown Dollev Noizes appears
a click on the clown links to his blog radio. The link www.dollev.com links to another radio station of Dollev

07/16/2004: "Dollev deviates"

bobrossondrugs

This is the picture Dollev made !
SEE ENTRY BELOW

 


07/20/2004: "New review from the States"

UNDERGROUND SOUND - MUSIC REVIEWS - by A. Madman
CAFEBAR 401 - S/T

Right off the bat, you know this band is not from America. They subdivide the minimalist euro-rock flow some into alternapop, the other resulting juice into something experimented with in the garage; the concoction they get has legs, balls, and a face of it's own. From simple toggle switching cuts (Many Left Here Long Before) to the punk driven "Full-pro Disco", there's some cool shit happenin'. As hard as it for people to fantom, this punk rock, in that it uses standard rock n roll, powerchorded with virtue of the singalong. Simple, effective, groovin' (check out the classic Bob Ross On Drugs). They touch the psyche many times, mostly to add flavor. The phrasing is sometimes forced into a pop vibe, but I get the impression that might be part of their trip. Being Dutch, the feel is more than part of their scene, it's part of their essence. Contact: http://www.cafebar401.nl, http://www.wampus.com - Mark Doyon wampusmail2@wampus.com


07/28/2004: "New Review USA"

babysue®: LMNOP® Reviews - August 2004

Cafebar 401 - Cafebar 401 (CD, Wampus Multimedia, Mid-tempo pop)
Rarely do we get a taste of Dutch underground pop. The music of Cafebar 401 is presented to the world by the open-minded folks at Wampus Multimedia..."an indie label run by artists, for artists." The band is a guitar-based pop quartet whose music sounds not unlike an updated, more normal, poppier version of Split Enz. The vocals are particularly similar to Neil Finn. The guys in Cafebar 401 look like regular guys...and their music is almost...normal. While the band's tunes are upbeat and hummable, there are some slightly dark threads running through the music that give it a strange curve. The tunes on Cafebar 401 operate smoothly in mid-tempo mode from start to finish. The band does occasionally display some rock and roll tendencies but these tunes are, for the most part, rather subdued. The band has already generated a good buzz in The Netherlands. With this album, they are hoping to expand the boundaries of their influence. Infectious tunes include "Full-Pro Disco!," "Something Worth Dying For," and "Bob Ross on Drugs." Good stuff. (Rating: 4+++)


08/31/2004: "Review on aftertastemag.com"

aftertaste magazine

Although I don't really know what a Cafebar 401 is, I know what it does. It induces a feverish love of Belgian music.

Cafebar 401 releases a welcome breath of dark pop melody into already whispy and wiry art rock. But at the corner of every hook lies a new fuzzed guitar wank or bass tumble. It's Euro-rock (Radiohead) with a bit of the Queens of the Stone Age tossed in for a wake-up.

It's danceable and fun, but rooted in experimentation and combination.

Key tracks include: Full-Pro Disco (what a refrain!) and Something Worth Dying For.

By MFS

Out of 5, this rates a 4


09/09/2004: "Review on kweevak.com"

Kweevak's Tracks: Indie, Independent & Mainstream CD Reviews
CAFEBAR 401 – CAFEBAR 401: Cafebar 401 is based out of the Netherlands and recently signed on with Wampus Multimedia for distribution in the United States. This four-man band brews a fresh, high-energy blend of euro-rock, alternative, pop and emo. Tije Oortwijn the composer and lead vocalist for the band sings with passion and precision. Tije has an incredible vocal range and intensity. The stimulating rhythms and strong guitar leads of Cafebar 401 will jolt you like a good cup of coffee. Their debut CD is potent and in particular the first three eye opening tracks. 'Full-pro Disco' has a hard driving beat speeding over the main refrain of the song as the guitar rifts race, yet the song still takes a number of musical turns along the way. 'Many Left Here Long Before' is more melodic with memorizing vocals, dynamic instrumentation and later in the song experimental electronic sounds. 'Senses Working Overtime' has a dark edgy vibe with a heavy beat and dramatic guitar licks. But the power punch of the song is the high note vocal hooks layered over forceful instrumentation. Cafebar 401 is a premium blend of modern rock and memorizing melodies!
• Recommended Tracks: (1,2,3) [USA/VA 2004 - web] (Review by Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com)


09/14/2004: "New Review on leftofthedial.com"

LEFT OFF THE DIAL - Album Reviews - Cafebar 401: Self-Titled

Cafebar 401 are Dutch! I know – very exciting and almost irrelevant. They don't sound Dutch to be sure; however they have a distinctly British flavor to their pop musical construction. In “Many Left Here Long Before,” I am reminded of Richard Ashcroft's solo work.

This band will undoubtedly be compared to many Euro bands before them, and that would not be an insult. The difference is that they have recorded a well put together album that plays as nice and constant, and many others cannot claim such a feat. There are no shocking, crazy songs thrown in for effect. There are a couple of songs that make you want to cry, which I always love. The upbeat tunes aren't too much that they distract from the calming effect the album has as a whole. My favorite song by far is “Troubles.” I love when a boy admits how much a gal can affect him… it is passionate and tragic and it makes me feel like I am in a movie. In fact, I might even add this song to my “if they made a movie about my life, what would the soundtrack be” list. Then someone could sing this about me… “Touched by everything she said, As I lied beneath her head, I'm crazy about her!” Enough! Cafebar 401 also has a song titled “Bob Ross on Drugs” which no doubt is a twisted ode to the ‘fro-wearing, “happy painter” who just loved nature scenes. Aw, Bob Ross.

A great debut album from a band soon to be well known.

-Brenna Krause
9/13/04

 


09/27/2004: "It goes on and on"

Cafebar 401 Reviews


Review by: Jason Warburg

Originally published: September 24, 2004



Big buzzy guitars, spacey vocals, hypnotic repetition and a decidedly European avant-garde vibe… take Bowie, sprinkle with Moby (for moodiness and trance qualities), and fold in some Jet (for decibels and energy), and you have the latest Dutch treat to make it across the pond, the Netherlands' own Cafebar 401.



Led by Tije Oortwijn (guitars, vocals, songwriting, production), Cafebar whips up a high-energy concoction full of melody and off-center attitude. "I read a book about your life," sings Oortwijn at one point. "It gave me a headache." LOL… and there's more where that came from.



I don't know if anybody dances to power chords these days, but having survived the disco era, I'm intrigued by the possibilities of throbbing numbers like "Something Worth Dying For" and "Full Pro Disco!" (which sounds more like Black Sabbath than Donna Summer). Both offer flashes of a kind of emo soft/hard feel that's explored further on tracks like "Lost Without You" and the disc's first single, "I Need To Know."



There are also some quiet-and-thoughtful moments captured here, notably on the piano ballad "Troubles." But Cafebar more typically provides the kind of sonic jolt implied by their caffeinated name -- not to mention song titles like "Bob Ross On Drugs." Frenetic, frothy, yearning, melodic, trance-y… these are not adjectives you commonly see nested together, but Cafebar achieves them all along the way.



In addition to mastermind Tije Oortwijn, the band includes Martijn Masman (bass), Dennis Kleinlangevelsloo (guitars) and Wout Oosterwechel (drums), whose names I have included in this review principally to try to make you laugh out loud like I did the first time I read them. (No doubt the Dutch feel the same way about Jack Johnson.)



Cafebar 401's U.S. invasion is in the capable hands of Wampus Multimedia; you can pick up this disc with a few quick clicks at www.wampus.com. If you're looking for something a little unusual -- kind of off-center, sometimes soft and sometimes hard, somewhat continental and consistently well put together -- you could go out searching for Uma Thurman, or you could just belly up to the Cafebar. They won't disappoint... and they won't attack you with a large sword, either.



RATING: B



© 2004 Jason Warburg and "The Daily Vault." All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of the record label, and is used for informational purposes only.

 


10/11/2004: "review on indie-music"

Indie-Music.com - Cafebar 401 ~ Self-Titled
Artist: Cafebar 401

CD: Cafebar 401

Home: The Netherlands

Style: Euro-Pop

Quote: "You're not sure why, but you keep playing it — over and over and over again ... "

By Aaron Bragg

What with the dearth of really, really good pop of late, the advent of Dutch quartet Cafebar 401 should be cause for unbridled celebration. Made up of guys with largely unpronounceable, well ... Dutch names (Wout Oosterwechel, drums; Tije Oortwijn, vocals and guitar; Dennis Klein langevelsloo, guitar and effects; and Martijn Masman, bass) they've released an eponymous debut that is at once emo art-pop and danceable Euro-groove — and brilliant in its blending of Bowie, Queens of the Stone Age, and (shudder) the ubiquitous Coldplay.

That's not to suggest that Cafebar 401 is a bunch of copycats in wooden shoes — quite the contrary, as even a cursory listen will prove otherwise. Whether it's the infectious “Full-pro Disco” or the power-chord intro to “Senses Working Overtime,” it's immediately evident that, from a songwriting standpoint at least, these guys offer something quite different from the usual pop rabble littering the charts.

And the musicianship? Nothing spectacular — but that's not a bad thing. For Cafebar 401 is more the sum of its parts than an exercise in virtuoso fireworks. It's about the groove, man. And any attempt to be coldly analytical — to dissect musically what it is these guys are doing — is an exercise in futility. (Case in point: At least eight of the eleven tracks have been my favorite since I first received this disc.)

The question is not what the high point of Cafebar 401 is; on the contrary, the trick is to determine the weakest track. I'll save you the trouble: There is none. And if you think I'm engaging in breathless hyperbole, give it a listen. Just once. You'll wonder at my restraint.

The thing is, superlatives fail to accurately capture what Cafebar 401 has so capably put on plastic, and that's not an easy thing for a music critic to admit. This is one of those records that immediately begs for a place on your “best of” list at the end of the year. You're not sure why, but you keep playing it — over and over and over again — and, with each successive listen, you become more certain that what you're hearing is somehow important.

If there were any justice in the music business, Cafebar 401 would be the Next Big Thing. I, for one, look forward to more from these guys.

 


10/11/2004: "Review from the UK peterjolly.co.uk"

Music - Page: 40 of 60
This Dutch band are currently setting the Euro-rock scene ablaze with their contemporary sound which mixes hard rock and bittersweet melodies. 'Full-pro Disco!' is a cracking romp through post-grunge guitar rock, although it is misleading to expect the rest of the album to sound quite like that. 'Senses Working Overtime' (not the XTC song) does have some great heavy riffing at the end, and 'Something Worth Dying For' consists mainly of the title being repeated over a persistent guitar riff. They do ballads as well, with 'Lost Without You' and 'Many Left Here Long Before' being a welcome lull in the otherwise full on guitar assault. They seem to be right at home on their new US based label, as the nearest comparisons that I could make would be bands like Fountains Of Wayne or Foo Fighters, and on tracks like 'Bob Ross On Drugs' or '2 am' they could give many of those groups a run for their money. An impressive example of Dutch rock.