MTT

Meet Minus The Tiger, the textbook example of musical expectation-dashing. At first, reading the list of the Dutch band’s quirks—naming the band after a dead cat, recruiting family members as bandmates, only rehearsing on Sunday mornings—is like reading a recipe for disaster. And then you listen to the music and any skepticism melts away. This is not the Partridge Family we’re talking about here; rather, Minus The Tiger just may be one of the hottest things coming out of the Netherlands right now.

Home Is Where The Heart Is by Minus The Tiger

Headed by singer/songwriter Anne Broekman—a curly-haired sprite with a silky soprano—and her husband, Maarten Besseling, Minus The Tiger crafts minimalistic dance-pop in the vein of Lykke Li and the Knife, with just a touch of anthemic flair. And before you ask, no, they sound nothing like their similarly named peers, Seattle’s Minus The Bear. Think layered concoctions, ethereal as candy floss and just as sweet. Most intriguingly, there are delightful notes of gothic gloom to balance out the poppiness: One listen to the frothing “No Have” is enough to reveal the remnants of post-punk angst mixed in with the catchy synths. Call it dance music that’s as heartfelt as it is floor-ready.

Even though Minus The Tiger has stuck to gigs in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities, a group with a sound this slinky can’t stay secret for long. Broekman and Besseling will dip their toes in Atlantic waters later this year when they play Canadian Music Fest. In the mean time, fans should stay posted to the band’s Facebook page, which, despite being mostly in Dutch, has plenty of audiovisual goodies to build up the anticipation for the group’s debut LP, out April 9. - CMJ.com

The Dutch MTT, formerly known as Minus The Tiger, mixes wave with quiet super cooled dreamy pop with a dark twist. Think as reference for instance Fever Ray. MTT is however more wave oriented and contains more guitar and some of the songs have more speed than the mentioned band. The music can’t be compared with their more cheerful earlier work. It’s logical that they’ve changed their band name (which was originally inspired by the cat of singer Anne Broekman), because the music sounds completely different than before. MTT sounds more melancholic, more mature and more interesting. The use of electronic and electronic guitar combined with the modest way of singing of Anne fits perfectly together. It’s almost perfect, because the last song ’Warning’ isn’t inspiring enough. Beautiful songs like Nevermore’, ‘Land’, ‘Years From Now’, ‘Light Up’ and ‘Song And Dance Man’ prove however that MTT has grown impressively. - Peek A Boo Music Magazine

GOOGLE TRANSLATE (English)
Minus the Tiger is almost an all star band called. What? you know they're not? Well, they are at 27 and New Holland have occurred five times. In March, they warm up with shows in Canada and then releast the band's debut album Minus the Tiger via V2. Behind the intriguing band name Broekman hide Anne and her husband Martin Besseling. Yes, the man behind the project In a Cabin With ...

Anne Broekman began as a singer-songwriter. Since the mandatory group 8 musical she sings. Only solo performance that she found over the years but nothing. "I do not just to my own action. I was always afterwards bales that it had gone well and I could never enjoy it. "The past two years worked Broekman in peace with her husband producing a different sound. "I had no idea how it should sound, it was really created in the studio. When I Christmas a Casio Tone (old series keyboards from manufacturer Casio, ed) from 1981, I was in love with the sound. This device really has the sound of the album and this band are determined. "

"Writing for a band is no different than yourself, a song is a song," says Broekman. "But I did learn what you can all still in the studio. You need not be limited to traditional instruments, but not in sound and structure of a song. You could sample and as to the correct shape. "The singer calls the album the result of an intensive process. "If you do not consciously work somewhere, it's hard to stay motivated. There were no specific goals or deadlines. "However, Broekman not regret that they stopped the production process within the relationship. "Of course we frequently quarreled, but Martin kept me on track. He has helped me to persevere. I made something for the first time I fully support. "

And now there is a plate. On April 9 appears debut Minus the Tiger. And then Besseling not even in the band. Broekman: "No, he is no musician, he is a real producer. He'll be in like a tour manager, but on stage I am with others. "The live band consists of Broekman Broekman brother Jesse on guitar, Jos Terlingen on drums and Adam Arthur plays the guitar. That last name is known. Adam spent all of two albums, including In a Cabin With ... "It came out just right for him. He is working on a new album in a basic home studio and was willing to be somewhat anonymous in a band to play. We are very pleased to have him there. "

In the coming weeks, the band surprisingly abroad. In late March, four shows in Canada are planned. "That was actually quite simple. We filled out a form on the site of the Canadian Music Fest with two demos of songs. In december we got our answer they wanted to have. Of course, something always difficult financially, but everyone in the band was enthusiastic and self-purchased tickets. Together with Martin, we have managed to arrange two additional dates. "And then it's time for the Dutch release show. This will take place April 7 at Ekko. Broekman: "For us, this project already passed anyway, but of course I hope for good reactions and good bookings. This feels like the beginning. I already feel like our sound to deepen, to perhaps other international tour gently to set. Bring it on "


ORIGINAL (Dutch)
Minus the Tiger is al bijna een allstar-band te noemen. Wat? je kent ze nog niet? Nou, staan ze op Hollandse Nieuwe 27 en hebben maar liefst vijf keer opgetreden. In maart gaan ze warmdraaien met shows in Canada en daarna releast de band het debuutalbum Minus the Tiger via V2. Achter de intrigerende bandnaam schuilen Anne Broekman en haar man Maarten Besseling. Jawel, de man achter het project In a Cabin With...

Anne Broekman begon als singer-songwriter. Al sinds de verplichte groep 8 musical zingt ze. Alleen dat solo-optreden vond ze door de jaren heen maar niets. “Ik hou er gewoon niet van om in mijn eentje op te treden. Ik zat altijd achteraf te balen dat het niet goed was gegaan en kon er nooit van genieten.” De afgelopen twee jaar werkte Broekman in alle rust met haar producerende man aan een ander geluid. “Ik had geen idee hoe het moest klinken, het moest echt in de studio ontstaan. Toen ik voor kerst een Casiotone (oude serie keyboards van fabrikant Casio, red.) uit 1981 kreeg, werd ik verliefd op het geluid. Dat apparaat heeft echt de klank van de plaat en deze band bepaald.”

“Schrijven voor een band is niet anders dan voor jezelf, een liedje is een liedje”, zegt Broekman. “Maar ik heb wel geleerd wat je allemaal nog in de studio kunt. Je hoeft je niet te beperken tot traditionele instrumenten, maar ook niet in sound en structuur van een liedje. Je kunt eindeloos samplen en zo tot de juiste vorm komen.” De zangeres noemt de plaat het resultaat van een intensief proces. “Als je niet bewust ergens naartoe werkt, is het moeilijk om gemotiveerd te blijven. Er waren geen deadlines of concrete doelen.” Toch heeft Broekman er geen spijt van dat ze het productieproces binnen de relatie hield. “Natuurlijk hebben we regelmatig ruzie gehad, maar Maarte - 3voor12

For a split second the room fills with a tinge of Karen O. Then Minus The Tiger strikes you with their synth-pop single, “Home Is Where The Heart Is,” and you are pleasantly surprised. Then Anne Broekman and the family – Maarten Besseling (husband), Jesse Broekman (Anne’s sibling), Arthur Adam and Jos Terlingen – go jungle happy on piercing lyrics and swinging melodies. Suddenly you’re on a music bender which harkens Portishead and The Knife before you realize you’re weightlessly lost in a Dutch band with a potent stash of sampling skills to surface on April 9 (off V2 Records Benelux).

With a deep range of sounds on the electro-meter, this hard working music force is climbing the alt-pop rope, fast and with a smile. This month Minus The Tiger sweeps Canada (Canadian Music Fest) before heading back to Netherlands. For listeners with layers and any music daredevil, this group is a good catch to ride with as they break ground. - Trendland.net