The Bullfight: The Storm behind Our Smiles - An Introduction to The Bullfight

When a band does a "best of" or "introduction" to their music, the track listing is limited back to the highlights most of the time. Dutch folk noir band The Bullfight may have labeled their lavish The Storm behind Our Smiles 3CD set as an introduction, but this collection, that ties in with their 20th anniversary, is much, much more than that. While the first disc contains a carefully curated sequenced collection of studio tracks - including the rarity Another Man that was released on a split 7" in 2007, the real treats can be found on CD2 and CD3, with great sounding demos and outtakes, and live recordings - including ones from the intimate Whisper In The Dark For Me album and recent ones from a show at De Roode Bioscoop in Amsterdam.

They are a band who are always giving their all as soon as the "recording" light up, the people at house concert have settled down or the lights in a club are dimmed. Fronted by lyricist Nick Verhoeven, who is blessed with a voice that can whisper and holler with equal power, The Bullfight bring the music of resident multi-instrumentalist Thomas van der Vliet to life. The band found their sound early on, incorporating elements from folk, post-punk, jazz and blues that will be recognized by Tom Waits and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, with Esther Vroegindeweij's violin acting like an extra vocalist if the song needs it. Every song is a short story of sorts - spoiler: happy endings are quite rare.

Over the years The Bullfight earned tons of well-deserved praise from the critics and fellow musicians, but somehow that never translated into widespread recognition beyond the cognoscenti. With this set, they prove that longevity against all odds is the way to go if you are believe in your art. Longtime followers will appreciate the treasure trove of previously unreleased material and the uninitiated can make up for their oversight in one big swoop. Pro-tip: Bamboo Knife Womanand Alexander! are included as a studio and live recording. Highly recommended to play these two back to back.

The Storm behind Our Smiles - An Introduction to The Bullfight will be released on January 29 via Brandy Alexander Recordings. Includes a booklet featuring liner notes and all the musicians who were in the band over the years. For sale at the merch table and online via Sonic Rendezvous.

CD1:

1. No Thorns, No Roses
2. The Ballroom Blitz
3. Another Man
4. Bamboo Knife Woman
5. Nathalie, Strangle Me
6. Jenny's Got A Gun
7. Gladly, Willingly
8. The Storm Behind Our Smiles
9. This Village's Lonely Pastor
10. The Weeping Willow
11. Doomsday Prepping
12. Alexander!
13. The Incantation
14. All That's Left
15. Putain
16. All The Little Things
17. How Do You Do?

CD2:

1. Kicks & Kisses
2. The Inland Revenue
3. Not Enough To Be Your Deathwish
4. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
5. October
6. How Do You Do? (Demo Version)
7. Small Dogs
8. Shame, Guilt, Deception
9. Dance With Me, Damn It (Alternate Take)
10. Lullabye
11. Desmond & Julia (Acoustic Version)
12. Wheelbarrow Man
13. Eggs & Marrowbone (Reprise)
14. Saint-loy-les-mines
15. I Fall Short
16. The Widower's Wife

CD3:

1. Swaying Dimly In Darkness
2. Jenny's Got A Gun
3. Revoco
4. Wild Flowers
5. Astonishing Blue
6. I Guess You Know By Now
7. The Ballad Of Martin Van Dongen
8. Nathalie, Strangle Me
9. Bamboo Knife Woman
10. Morning Came Slowly That Day
11. Amen, Demon
12. All That's Left
13. Alexander!
14. The Incantation & This Village's Lonely Pastor
15. Santa Maria

Live dates:

• 01/31 Studio De Bakkerij, Rotterdam
• 02/01 Theater de Roode Bioscoop, Amsterdam
• 02/08 Living room concert, Vlaardingen
• 03/07 Trouble Tree Folk Festival, Koudekerk a/d Rijn
• 03/08 Schiller Theater, Utrecht
• 03/15 Living room concert, Zwartsluis

» thebullfight.nl