I expect that you have been wondering when our wanderings through the music of Europe would take us to Belgium. Belgium so often the butt of jokes about their lack of culture, has in fact produced the music for today. Primarily founded in 2012 by the producer Oswald Cromheecke, Boogie Belgique has since grown into a well known independent artist who is making a significant mark on the European Triphop, Hiphop & Electro-swing scene.
With a unique sound that can best be described as a blend of old and new, vintage yet innovative, they brought their audiovisual show through Europe & Africa and played next to artists like Bonobo, Mulatu Astatke, Groundation, Fakear, Goldfrapp & Selah Sue. Their first album Blueberry Hill appeared in 2012 and is described as being filled up with electro swing moods, funky hip-hop rhythms and tasty jazzy samples.
Their second album, ‘Time For A Boogie’ also released in 2012 is a gratifying Trip Hop, album, big band and swing jazz influenced it’s abstract, deliciously instrumental, moving, cinematic, and lush. ‘Wish I Didn’t Love You So’ grabs the listener with exultant xylophone notes, boss brass and bass, sweet nostalgic singing sample, gritty beats, fiddle, soaring and soulfully satisfying. ‘Swing Thing’ jives with jolly horn notes and loops, enjoyable piano, snazzy snare, swinging beat and melody, a fitting sample echoing, spirited and warm.
2013-2014 saw the release of their two part album Nightwalker. Delightful old jazzy samples blended with phat dusty drum breaks bring an enchanting oldschool urban atmosphere. The album takes you on a journey into a forest of sound with no lights. It let’s you get lost in a dance or your let’s you sit in your favourite chair sipping some tea. It’s hard to describe this album, but it has a lot of layers and moods.
Their most recent offering Volta appeared 2016. “Nostalgic, soulful and, of course, boogie-woogie.” That’s how Belgian DJ producer Boogie Belgique (AKA Oswald Cromheecke) describes the enticing combination of styles and sources from different decades that make up his music. Taking vintage inspirations, most notably from swing and jazz eras, and merging them with contemporary beats and textures is the young producer’s forte.
“Jungle Law” gives a glimpse into Boogie Belgique’s sonic palette. Tough hip hop beats and funky live guitar follow an intro of jungle ambience as a trumpet presents the melody. Soon some swingy big band jazz enters the song in an almost ghostly manner, while the insistent beat keeps the dance floor moving. Album opener “Go Slow” shows a different side to the coin giving the listener an uptempo broken beat rhythm, some bouncy bass guitar, snippets of string loops, and a lovely, forlorn vocal line that echoes the past. It’s a beautiful concoction, and Boogie Belgique delivers on many aspects of this style throughout his eleven track album.