Taking an excursion to Denmark tonight for a set by Klangstof, recorded at Tivoli Vredenburg on June 13, 2020 and preserved for posterity by DK-Radio in Copenhagen.
In the aftermath of recording their (still officially unannounced) third album, Amsterdam alternative formation Klangstof (Koen van de Wardt, Wannes Salomé, and Erik Buschmann) weathered an inspiring but emotionally-taxing storm, recording their most open-hearted, sonically ambitious material yet. This became Ocean View a four-song release that offers a candid glimpse of the band’s wavelength.
The dreamy alt-indie of Amsterdam-based group Klangstof is the product of Norwegian singer/songwriter and producer Koen van de Wardt. His earliest inspiration was Radiohead’s OK Computer, which he used to hone his instrument-playing skills. Once he started writing his own material, he bolstered his songcraft abilities with studies at Hedmark University College in Norway. After a stint as bassist with Dutch indie band Moss, van de Wardt committed himself to the Klangstof project in 2014. After releasing the single “Hostage” in 2016, he signed with Mind of a Genius, home to Zhu and Gallant. The sweeping tune incorporated the icy soundscapes favored by Radiohead in their late-era works, while also infusing some of the ethereal atmospherics of Sigur Rós and funky flourishes of Alt-J into the mix. A full-length arrived in 2016. Close Eyes to Exit featured “Hostages” and the title track. It resulted in a remix collection, Klangstoff Remixes: Dusk, that was issued in 2017. ~ Neil Z. Yeung – iHeart website.
Klangstof’s name is half-Norwegian / half-dutch. Klang comes from rumklang, which is Norwegian for reverb. Stof (stylized as støv in Dutch) is Danish for dust. As noted by the singer, Koen van de Wardt, their band name is literally “echo dust”.
In 2017, Klangstof became the first Dutch band to play Coachella in the US, a remarkable achievement that should tell anyone all they need to know about the band’s abundant musical ability and undeniable upward trajectory. In February, they took home the award for Best Alternative Act at the Edison awards, the Dutch equivalent of the Grammys.
Okay – now you know; press Play.
