Much has been said and written about the Belgian (Flemish) alternative music scene compared to the Dutch. Is the number of interesting and good Belgian bands much larger than the number of Dutch bands, or does it just seem that way? In any case, it is a reason that people in the Netherlands sometimes seem to have become 'belgophile' and almost every Belgian group is received full of praise. But if
… the quality is good, who is complaining? It also applies to Absynthe Minded, the band of Bert Ostyn from Ghent. Originally started as a one-man project, Ostyn decided after a number of demos to form a real band and an EP was released in 2003. A year later the debut album Acquired Taste is released. Absynthe Minded integrates elements from gypsy music, swing and jazz in their pop songs, and uses instruments such as violin, double bass and accordion, creating an original and cheerful band sound. Although it sometimes takes a while before the proverbial penny drops, Acquired Taste is an extremely enjoyable album. (IV)more
