Comments for Frank Boeyen Groep, Kontakt

Frank Boeijen is one of the best known dutch popsingers (from Nijmegen). As a youngster he was a fan of Bob Dylan, writes songs himself (in dutch, as his english is not good enough), and forms together with Wout Pennings Boeijen & Pennings, which duo makes a record in 1979. "Zwart wit", about discrimination, written after the murder on an Antillian youngster (Kevin Duinmeyer if I'm not mistaken) becomes his first large hit, reaching the 4th. place in the dutch hitparade. "Doe iets" and "1.000.000 sterren" reach the top-40 as well. By the way, I personally favor the Frank Boeyen of the late 80s with poetic texts like those of "Welkom in Utopia" or "Zeg me dat het niet zo is."

''Kontakt'' was released in 1984 (not ''88). You can call it a rock-album with some psychedelic influences. There''s a strange distance in the atmosphere between listener and music, but also that well known warm sound, thanks to technician Robin Freeman. Some songs seem to be inspired by the chaotic life of a rock-musician. "Being famous doesn''t meen that we''ve changed, but all you people around us act different. We don''t want to loose our contact with ordenary life, but everybody looks at us as if we''re strangers." A feeling I get as I listen to the album. Jos Haagmans, keyboard-player of the band, was the firs one to have a Yamaha DX-70. You can recognize the bells in some songs, whitch the DX made possible. The band got an award for the album in 1984, "Zilveren Harp" (Silver Harpoon) from Conamus. R. Jans, the Netherlands.