Condition | Sealed |
Manufacturer | Europe |
Format | LP, Gatefold Sleeve |
Date of release | 2015 |
Barcode | 5414939917691 |
Hailing from Ghent, Belgium, Balthazar have earned their merits extensively touring through the majority of Western Europe, building a sizable fanbase among festival crowds and indie connoisseurs alike. Judging by the relatively eccentric debut Applause and the mellow follow-up Rats, the baroque-leaning setup of the band featuring violins did not seem like a foolproof formula for success. However, the five-piece succeeded by laying emphasis on their faux-funk leanings, using their rhythm section to give songs an engaging foundation upon which the band layered polyphonic vocals and melodic guitar and violin arrangements. In effect, they garnered a reputation for delivering shows that married energy with introspection, capitalizing on both the talents of the individual instrumentalists as well as the variety of moods presented in their discography.