Various Artists - Wij Zijn België (C-90 cassette + booklet)

A-01 - Eenheid 81 - Thunder
A-02 - Pseudo Code - Sphynx
A-03 - Human Flesh - Empty
A-04 - Ludo Engels - Untitled
A-05 - Bene Gesserit - What ??
A-06 - Club Moral - Exces Kontrol
A-07 - Let's Have Healthy Children - Piece of My Heart
A-08 - Scream - Two Holes in My Head
A-09 - Didi De Paris - Passiviteit: Ballade van Koen Nijssen, Totaalweigeraar
A-10 - KCN - Silent Pâques
A-11 - Habr Fofo - I Love Nature, but Nature Loves Somebody Else
B-01 - "V" - Wir Sind Wieder Da!
B-02 - Georg Kaminsky's Original Daybreak Buzzards Band - Dance Dan, Dance
B-03 - Danny Van Looy - Als Zodanig
B-04 - Guy De Bièvre - Een Vioolimprovisatie
B-05 - Kiryat Sjemonah - Zaventem, 16 april '79
B-06 - Angst - Een Eigen Vlaamse Staat
B-07 - evw - Landschap
B-08 - RDP - Een Lachbui
B-09 - E.Coli - Mijn Leven als Zatlap
B-10 - Eenheid 81 - Untitled

"Wij Zijn België" (We Are Belgium) was released in 1983, it was ZZ ZZZ 05 in the series by "Angst" (also see previous episodes of this podcast). ZZ ZZZ 04 was "Angst Levend". The 'Welfare' booklet contains interviews with Herbert de Rijck (KCN), Luc van den Bruel (E.Coli) and Erik Vloeberghs.

This compilation of Belgian bands is unique because of the sheer number (at that time) and variety of both pioneer bands and one-off projects. It has bands from Brussels, Antwerp, Gent and the hinterland from Belgium. Notable is the appearance of Pseudo Code, a Brussels experimental new wave band with ingenious electronics. Its members Guy Marc Hinant played as Waving Ondulata and later started the SubRosa record label while Alain Neffe continues to play as Bene Gesserit. Guy De Bièvre contines to work as a composer. Didi De Paris still publishes writings once in a while and keeps a blog here and here.
(we will gladly add or update links to recent projects)

excerpt from an interview in the 'Welfare' booklet.
Q: Why did you start this cassette?
A: Well, just like that. At a certain time, i guess in june 82, i got the idea. And when I have an idea it has to go through, no matter what. I was thinking: a compilation cassette?, everybody makes compilation cassettes nowadays, it is a bout time I do one too. And thus it happened.
Q: Do you have certain expectations regarding sales or anything?
A: No, no. I don't give a damn, as long as it's fun and as long as I like it, because that's of course the most important! I won't go through a lot of trouble to 'promote' this cassette, as they say. No, I do nothing, I lay on my bed at home and I wait and I'll see what happens. Do I care about it? If I sell 10 or 125, I couldn't care less. I think those cassettes are a comedy. But of course what you get is what you get.
Q: Can you perhaps tell us some anecdote regarding "Wij Zijn België"?
A: Perhaps yes. I find it rather funny that Kyriat Sjemonah, a band from Gent who once participated to Humo's Rock Rally, told me that static noise was the most important in their track. They've added some extra noise on top, because they weren't too satisfied with the result. And they use the Palestinian voice because it seems to be very trendy nowadays.
Q: More?
A: Because you want to, perhaps. The track by E.Coli ("My Life as a Drunk"), I had to make myself (Angst), because he (E.Coli) was too lazy. With EMI for instance you don't have to try this because you'll be out the door in seconds. Some of the basic track were by Coli however, when there are visitors at his house, he records it once in a while, but his mother doesn't like it too much. She tells him that he "shouldn't drag our household outside". But E.Coli hàd to be included, because supposedly a cassette won't sell in Belgium if it doesn't have an E.Coli track. He is very popular in Belgium, but then especially with the boys! But does that matter?
Q: Are there bands or people that didn't want to contribute?
A: Etat Brut, Jerry WX '2-Tracks', Mécanique Végétale, Paul Timmermans, Hans Hendrickx and Stragianopff 99 did agree but finally I didn't hear from them anymore, except some excuses than. Everything has its causes!
Q: What kind of music do listen to yourself?
A: I listen to anything within my reach. I like Whitehouse as much as Zjef Vanuytsel, Deep Purple as much as the Human League. The record I'm playing most now is "Metamatic" by John Foxx. And apart from that: Devo, Modern Eon, Joy Division, Mass, Dance Society, classical music, Gregorian, folk music from China, Japan, Morocco, Turkey, South America, Drs. P., jodeling, and so on. My last great discoveries were Mike Jones (an Englishman who makes cassettes, ao "Pretty Flowers" released by the nice Mud Bath Tapes), The Fall, Hans Dorrestijn, Leonard Cohen, Tangerine Dream, Die Doraus und die Marinas and Motörhead. In Motörhead I find the same power and energy as in De Brassers or Whitehouse.

Thanks to Frans De Waard for ripping this to mp3.