Funtime Records

Biography

Entering 1992 … the start …

A lot has happened for PN, since they started out playing music in the autumn of 1992. Following the drift of inspiration, not much paying attention to trends and hypes. Inspired by hardcore -their passion and dedication- and music in general, PN always swears by a sound that is open towards all influences and has something to say, be it on a personal or more wider scale.

Entering 1996 … first recording …

After the release of some demo-tapes, PN records the debut cd ‘Romance’ in December 1996. The mixture of punk rock, hardcore and metal impresses quit some people, which results in loads of bookings in Belgium.

Entering 1998 … daybreak …

By the end of may 1998, PN finishes recording the second album, called ‘Daybreak Serenity’. The band members themselves describe it as a mature and intense mixture of new school hardcore and passionate, emotionally driven vocals and lyrics. It is in many ways the album that has set the future course. In the fall of 1998 and the year 1999, the band concentrates on playing more concerts and starts touring Spain, France and the UK.

Entering 1999 … first tour abroad …

PN is found at the Midas Studio in January 1999, to record three songs for a split cd with the bands Reply, Circle and Exit Nineteen. The split is released by Funtime Records and Stick To The Core.

Entering 2000 … new millennium, new studio, new vibes …

Besides playing many gigs (as usual), the band is concentrating on writing a new album. The songs turn out to be ultra heavy yet melodic, mood swinging and certainly more intense and melancholic. ‘Our pitiful paradise’ shows PN like you’ve never heard them before, showing a definite passion for music and reflecting on personal and more global frustrations. The album deals with feelings that don’t want to judge people for what they do, but make them reflect about certain topics …. For the first time, a collaboration with the talented producer Dirk Miers of Dé Studio is set up and the result is very refreshing.

… a change of line-up leads to Pukkelpop …

Just before the release of ‘Our pitiful paradise’, all-time member Bram Germonprez decides to leave the band. After some searching, Jimmy Van Rietvelde, who went out with PN on a regular base, is found prepared to replace Bram in the summer of 2000. In August, PN performed at Belgium’s largest alternative festival: Pukkelpop. The band received a warm welcome from hundreds of enthusiast hardcore fans, resulting in a moving pit and a great response.

Entering 2001 … recording n°5 …

PN is found in ‘Dé Studio’ again to record half a dozen of new songs. Add two live video’s taped at the Pukkelpop-gig in 2000 to form a new mini cd, titled ‘Dreamwave Heroes’. This mini cd is released on Stick to the Core Records. Some of the songs are also featured on a split with the Portuguese band Twenty Inch Burial, released in September of that year by the Spanish indie-label Underhill Records (Half Foot Outside, Uziel or Moksha).

Entering 2003 … the art of avoiding concert madness …

After some hectic years with bags of concerts in and outside of Belgium and appearances at different festivals in the summer of 2000, 2001 and 2002 (Pukkelpop, Groezrock, M-Town Fest, Rock Herk, Inside Knowledge Festival, Boardcore, Vort’n Vis/Ieper festival, Dour Festival, Funtime festival).

PN slows down the concert rate and starts focusing on a new album. ‘The art of being ‘we’’ shows the most personal side of the band. The album sprays intriguing moods that breathe melancholy, intensity, aggression and intimacy. The unique sound of the band has matured further on and the result of all this can be heard on this 6 song collection.

Entering 2004 … pn intercontinental …

Soon after the release of ‘The art of being ‘we’’ in Europe, PN got contacted by the American Life Sentence Records. This US label licenses a US version of this mini album, which is released in May. For this US version, PN records some extra songs and the Dreamwave heroes ep is also added as a bonus. Concert wise there’s trips to Spain, the amazing Frederica Fest in Denmark and a lot of shows in Belgium and the Netherlands.

2005… It’s all about moods …

The year of experiment brings piano player Tom Bessemans to the rehearsal room. Rearranged versions of existing songs and some new semi-acoustic songs were brought live during a 10-gig special tour. The last session at the MOD in Hasselt was recorded to become ‘Live at the MOD’ and is released in September of 2004 on the newly born (live) label DoKument Rcs.

2007 - if we get any more fans we'll need to get windows with a shade in our car.

Right after the release of the 'Live at the MOD'-record, PN started working on their latest effort, the critically acclaimed ‘Through Satin Veils Gropes Desire’. The record shows a band willing to experiment and exploring yet new sonical territory, thus establishing their name and fame for old fans while gaining a legion of new ones at the same time.

2008 - as we speak...

PN are preparing a host of new songs for a new cd (which is to be recorded in November 2008), and playing some try-out shows under their alter ego name 'Rasputin And His Bearded Animal Friends'. Be sure to check them out if you see them on a bill near you!

Line up

Jurgen : Drums
Bert : Guitar
Johan : Vocals
Jimmy : Bass

Discography

‘Romance’ cd, Midas Productions 1997
‘Daybreak Serenity’ cd, Midas Productions 1998
‘Just Give Us Some Words’ (split with Reply/Circle/Exit Nineteen) cd, Funtime/Stick To The Core 1999
‘Our Pitiful Paradise’ cd, Funtime Records 2000
‘Dreamwave Heroes’ cd, Stick To The Core 2000
‘The Collection Series II’ (split with Twenty Inch Burial) cd, Underhill Records 2001
'The Art Of Being 'We'' cd, Funtime Records 2002
‘Winter Blossom’ split 10" with Cornflames/Face Tomorrow/Circle, Funtime Records 2003
'The Art Of Being 'We'' (us version) cd, Life Sentence Records 2004
'Live at the MOD’ cd, Dokument Records 2004
'Through Satin Veils Gropes Desire’ cd, Funtime Records 2006
'Through Satin Veils Gropes Desire’ lp, Rearviewmirror Records 2006
'From What Rivers Have To Offer’ cd, Funtime Records 2009
Winter Blossom The Art Of Being 'We' The Collection Series II Dreamwave Heroes Our Pitiful Paradise Just Give Us Some Words Daybreak Serenity Romance

Pictures

Mp3

Website

www.funtimerecords.com/pn
www.myspace.com/pn666

Reviews

From: REVU Magazine

PN – From What Rivers Have To Offer (Funtime/Suburban) * * * *
Het Belgische PN is al vanaf 1992 bezig, maar verdient met dit album zeker meer aandacht in ons land. Op alweer hun zevende album combineert PN het beste van Face Tomorrow, Life of Agony, Faith No More, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age en… Lamb! Want dit oorspronkelijke punk/hardcore kwartet durft ook gas terug te nemen. En zich te ontwikkelen!

From: 'out of step' zine

PN – From what rivers have to offer
CD 2009 Funtime Records
This 7th PN release became something special. Not only do they have a regular edition but ‘from what rivers have to offer is also released as a limited wooden box edition and it looks awesome. This special edition and the ‘less is more type of artwork fits PN’s music nicely.
Still rooted in hardcore, punk rock and metal PN follows it’s own path. For ‘from what rivers have to offer’ they even added a more Indy rock, poppy sound to their already broad inspired groovy atmospheric sound. This is illustrated the best with the title track in the middle of the album; it has Annelies Tanghe on vocals. The song is the best example of how silence can express a strong feeling. PN really surprised me with this release and to be honest I really like it. The two-year break at the end of 2006 paid off. 8.5/10

From www.concreteweb.be

Band: PN
Album title: From What Rivers Have To Offer
Label: Funtime Records
Distributor: Suburban
Release date: 30/04/2009
Release: CD

Now what more can be said about PN without falling into superlatives and national chauvenistism? I mean, in their genre they are quite unique in Belgium. They started back in Autumn 1992, the original bandname being Portie Nootjes and playing a somewhat "simpler" mixture of punk Rock and Hardcore, primarily influenced by the likes of Bad Religion (and other more "complex" Hardcore acts). However, from the start it was clear that this band would not be limited to any musical constraints, the individual musicians wanting to incorporate additional influences as their progress as musicians would allow it!

As it so happens, I've followed this band from its humble beginnings, and after a couple of demos followed December 1996's Romance, which already showed an extra hint of Metal influences which impressed enough people to allow PN to play a shitload of shows all over Bellgium. The ensuing Daybreak Serenity (released late 1998)showed a shift in the band's influences towards a mixture of Newschool Hardcore and passionate, emotionally driven vocals. In January 1999 the band records 3 tracks for a split with Reply, Circle, and Exit Nineteen, the songs showing a further shift of influences, the vocals becoming even more emotional and driven (say Screamo for good measure). During 2000 the band records for the first time with Dirk Miers at his Dé Studio, and although the resulting album was still loàded with melody, Our Pitiful Paradise became the most heavy outing PN made up to that moment! One year later PN is again in the studio, this time to combine half a dozen new songs with live videos recorded at the 2000 Pukkelpop gig to make the Dreamwave Heroes mini-CD. Working up to the next recording, PN slow down their concert agenda booking, thus freeing time to work more elaborately on new material.and late 2002's 6-tracker The Art Of Being We clearly shows the effort put into the album, with traces of the progressive influences from such artists as Neurosis.or rather early Isis (it even impresses enough to entice US label Life Sentence into licencing the mini-album, PN recording some extra songs and adding the Dreamwave Heroes EP to make this US release a bit more interesting). In early 2004 PN feels like experimenting a bit, and invites piano player Tom Bessemans to the rehearsal studio. Re-arranging some old songs and writing a couple of new semi-acoustic tracks, the band plays this set during a special 5-gig tour, recording the last session at Hasselt's Muziek-O-Droom venue to become the track-list for the September 2005 released live album Live At The MOD. 2006 sees the band venture in an even wider array of calm-versus-aggressive music, adding more and more Progressive and atmospheric elements into that year's album Through Satin Veil Gropes Desire. Personally, I liked what I heard só much that, having already bought the CD, I also hunted down a copy of the vinyl version of the album!

The new album is very much a continuation of the band's drift to experimentation (during 2007 and 2008, they've put together quite a few ideas, dismissed just as many, and were left with something that is unparalleled in their career), although I'm sure many people already familiar with the band's previous releases might lift an eyebrow or two at a first listening session! Let's go over the album track-by-track, shall we? "Let The Muse Respond" opens the album with an atmopheric intro (including also djembe play) before growing into a Progressive mid-paced Post-Hardore tainted passage with lead singer Johan Quinten's clean vocals contrasting against his brother (also the guitarist of the band) Bert's shouted growls (he also puts in a couple of clean backings though).and ending with something which is actually rather close to Stoner Rock/ Metal! The ensuing "Stone Roses, Dead Gardens" sees that Stoner-style return, evidently with a very pominent bass, and again with contrasting vocals. These two heavier tracks past, it's time for a calmer interlude, starting with the beautiful "Pull Out Of This Story" (during which Bert's backing vocals are clean only). The ensuing album title track is the one that might have you being amazed at first listen, as it's an acoustic track in which the music is provided by Bert playing piano, and one Beatrijs De Klerck doing the same with her violin. Vocals on this track are done entirely by one Annelies Tanghe, a young Leuven based artist with the sexiest raspy/ hoarse voice you've ever heard (formerly of Rock act JinXS, she also contributed backing vocals to the song "De Laatste Keer on the 2008 Nagelbijter album of DutchPop singer Sam Janssens - currently going under the nickname of Iza, she should have her debut solo effort out soon.and you can be sure I'll be one of the many people wanting to check that out. Now if that stirred your interest, check out myspace.com/tangheannelies), even if the somewhat sedate song is also the most melancholic one on the album! "Unleash The Lions" continues in the calmer vein, although with somewhat more distorted guitar (not quite atmospheric, but not quite heavy either), and the nicest "ooh-ooh" backings you've ever heard this band do! A return to the atmospherically calm/heavy repetitive/ Progressive comes with the ensuing "How Can I Be You", which has a focal role for the more aggressive vocals, even if Johan still brings in a couple of clean passages as well! Actually, there's even a passage where the two blend together with a third, weirdly monotonous/ melancholic, one. The heavy atmospheric mood continues with Favours And Favourites", for which part of Johan's clean vocals were put through a vocoder; second vocals are courtesy of a raging Bert again! This track being 6:43 long (longest on the album) then allows for a calmer (2-minute) interlude (during which the vocoder is switched off), but again grows towards an explosion of emotions towards the end of the song! Album closing track ("What," you'll say, "that soon?".well, the album only lasts just under 34 minutes, would you believe?) "Mise En Abime" is an atmospheric instrumental, in which the starring role is first laid upon bassist Jimmy Van Rietvelde (drummer Jurgen Vermaelen showing considerable and admirable restraint throughout the track), the guitarist playing at that moment rather etherically. When the latter comes to the fore halfway the track (which is only 128 seconds in length anyway) the bass still remains poundingly present, albeit in atmospheric terms!

For a preview of the new material, you can surf to myspace.com/pn666, where the band not only posted a 3-minutes album teaser, but also the full "How Can I Be You", and a pre-production version of the track "Stone Roses, Dead Gardens" (funny how that song grew.or rather, was cut down to the essensials.with time). Not much no go on? Well, if PN is new to you, there's also 3 additional tracks off previous albums! I've always had a special place for this band in my heart, even at the very beginning, but I have to admit it's the band's musical prowess which won me over to including their material in my year-lists! By the way, the copy Johan handed me over came in a somewhat weird package, with the album wrapped in a poster-size packing paper, laid in a cigar box with the essential artwork printed on. Nice, very nice.but I suppose it's a limited edition of the album! Can't wait to go get myself a vinyl copy of the album as well!

98/100

Tony.

From www.digg.be

PN: From What Rivers Have To Offer
Funtime Records, 2009

Voor Digg*ers van: de gebroeders Quinten, metal en hardcore

Het gaat al geruime tijd goed met de Vlaamse muziekscène. En nee, we hebben het nu niet over Milk Inc. en konsoorten, maar over échte muziek. Vorig jaar kregen we al prachtige platen van ondermeer Amen Ra, Maudlin en The Black Heart Rebellion voorgeschoteld, dit jaar is het de beurt aan het Brabantse PN. De band rond de broers Johan 'Jokke' (zang) en Bert Quinten (gitaar), beiden ook actief in de punkrockformatie Homer, timmert al bijna vijftien jaar lang aan de weg en heeft op die tijd een serieuze back catalogue opgebouwd. Hoewel ze bij het grote publiek nooit écht zijn doorgebroken, kunnen ze op een trouwe fanbasis rekenen. En terecht, want de meningen over 'Through Satin Veils Gropes Desire', de laatste studioplaat van de band, waren unaniem lovend. Daardoor kwam de lat voor diens opvolger des te hoger te liggen.

Gelukkig beschikt PN, in tegenstelling tot heel wat andere (lees: bekendere) groepen, over genoeg knowhow en klasse om bij elke plaat vooruitgang te boeken. Dat bewijzen ze dan ook met hun nieuwste album, 'From What Rivers Have To Offer'. Volgens hun MySpace-pagina speelt PN een mix van hardcore en metal. En inderdaad, 'From What Rivers Have To Offer' biedt voor elk wat wils. 'Let The Muse Respond' en 'Stone Roses, Dead Gardens' zullen zowel door stoner-als metalfans gesmaakt worden, terwijl PN in 'How Can I Be You?' (onze favoriet) en 'Favours and Favourites' de postcore-toer opgaat. 'Pull Out Of This Story' en (vooral) titeltrack 'From What Rivers Have To Offer' leggen dan weer de meer ingetogen kant van de band bloot. Voor laatstgenoemde song deed PN een beroep op de Leuvense Annelies Tanghe, als soloartieste ook wel bekend als IZA. Toen we dit nummer voor het eerst hoorden, dachten we zowaar even dat PN Lou Rhodes van Lamb had weten te strikken. Wát een stem!!!

Maar ook de vocals van Johan Quinten doen daar niet voor onder: zijn cleane zangstem doet ons zelfs terugdenken aan de tijd dat John Garcia met wijlen Kyuss menig podia onveilig maakte. Tevens beschikt hij over een oerkreet die zonder de minste moeite een beer uit zijn winterslaap zou kunnen wekken. De andere muzikanten weten trouwens ook goed waar ze mee bezig zijn. Sla er daarvoor de lekker lang uitgesponnen instrumentale outro (inclusief een vette dubbele baspartij) van 'Favours and Favourites' maar eens op na. Jammer genoeg duren lange liedjes nooit lang, want na dik dertig minuten en acht songs zit 'From What Rivers Have To Offer' er al op.

'From What Rivers Have To Offer' van PN verveelt geen nanoseconde. Meer nog: in onze ogen (en oren) kan de band zich zonder blikken of blozen met meer internationale acts meten. Op de korte duur van de plaat na, hebben we dan ook hoegenaamd niks aan te merken op 'From What Rivers Have To Offer'. Dat PN ook oog voor detail heeft, bewijst de verpakking en het artwork van 'From What Rivers Have To Offer'. Elk album steekt namelijk in een houten sigarendoosje, waardoor de plaat al snel een heus hebbeding pleegt te worden. Klasse!!!

P.S.: Fans van de broertjes Quinten en van punkrock met een lichtmetalen randje worden trouwens op hun wenken bediend: binnen een maand verschijnt 'Wasteland Reflections', de nieuwe Homer. Way to go, Jokke!

www.funtimerecords.com/pn
www.myspace.com/pn666
Door Tom Hamelrijckx 12/05/2009 - categorie : music