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Sunstroke started in 1985 by Ben Bollaert and Etienne Delaruye both keyboard players from the fusion group ( Kandahar ) based in the thriving Belgian City of Ghent, has made a name for themselves in the seductive downtempo music subgenre. Since 2017 Sunstroke has become more of “a music collective” with core members such as Johan Hoogewijs, Wouter Van Tornhout, Dominique Vantomme. Meanwhile it has expanded with contributions from top musicians such as Karel Steylaerts, Ruben Schelstraete. We try to create a sonic sound environment that is both captivating and introspective thanks to their natural ability to combine melodic textures with acoustic and electronic components.
Sunstroke skilfully combine sophisticated beats, ethereal soundscapes (mostly analogue synths ), and haunting melodies to create their own sound, drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical influences. Their music carries listeners to a place where time stands still and the emotions run high. Each song is a journey that invites the listener to immerse themselves in the rich sonic tapestry that Sunstroke painstakingly creates.
The allure of Sunstroke's music captivates the listener from the very first note. Their songs are filled with melancholy and reflection and evoke a wide range of emotions. They skilfully strike a precise balance between pulsating rhythms and melancholic melodies to create a sonic experience that is both soothing and thought-provoking.
The music of Sunstroke is evidence of their artistry and ability to push the boundaries of electronic music. They have carved out a unique niche for themselves in the downtempo genre by producing soul-stirring, enveloping music. With each new album, Sunstroke enhances their reputation as a leading force in the electronic music field by captivating listeners with their intriguing soundscapes.
Joe Zawinul passed away on September 11, 2007
My adoration for Weather Report and Joe Zawinul is obvious.
Once we met and had a small talk about our synths . We both had the Sequential T8, ARP2600, Korg Prophecy, Rhodes … ( which he still used live until 2000 )
So we did have something in common.
We have been working on it for a while Wouter and I.
Not that we can ever match it, but the hypnotic atmosphere, the sound and soundscapes … a small ode within our capabilities to the man who taught us how to make music in a different way with the new instruments …or “ in a silent way “
Wouter Van Tornhout : Composer , drums and percussion
Ben Bollaert : Composer , Rhodes Piano, Synths, Bass ,Recording ,Video
release 09 / 11/ 2023
Breaking Glass Song
In memory of my training as a stained-glass artist, master of light ...a wonderful time , the hours together at the glass furnace waiting for the temperature to unfold the colours. The fragile but also the powerful world of extremes ... Lethal if
careless
Wouter Van Tornhout : Composer drums and percussionBen Bollaert : Composer , Rhodes Piano, Synths, Bass, Video
Sensual Dance release 2023
An game of seduction. the art of moving on music in an elegant, suggestive and sensual manner. the art of communicating using postures, gestures, smile and your eyes. Communicating through your body in such a manner... Hypnotically fueled by rhythm ! enjoy , Ben & Wouter
recorded : Ghent, Landegem. Synth's & arrangement : Ben Bollaert Sensual drums & percussion : Wouter Van Tornhout
And then she ...
In memory of a moment . Feeling every nerve every muscle, fragile, breathless and brains switched off . Hammered into memory, ... an emotional recording ( not that the others wouldn't be :-) ...
recordings : Ghent, Landegem and Waregem Synths, mixing and arrangement : Ben Bollaert Piano : Dominique Vantomme ( Mr. Golden Hands) Percussion , cymbals : Wouter Van Tornhout
New releases Sunstroke II for the month of 17 Oct. 2022 Libreville Records Paris
Teaser /demo for a new song on the Sunstroke II album early next year ...
perc. and drums are for now via Logic Pro but still need to be worked out in real drums by Wouter Van Tornhout .
material used : Rhodes88 Mark I, Korg MS2000, Yamaha CS6X (X2), Korg Wavestation Rack .
My adoration for Weather Report and Joe Zawinul is obvious. Once we met and had a little talk about our synths . we both had a Sequential T8, ARP2600, Korg Prophecy, Rhodes ... ( which he still used live until 2000 }
So we did have something in common.
. Joe left for eternal hunting grounds on 09/11/2007 .
After 35 years, Sunstroke II is coming up with a new album, we have already mastered 2 songs which will arrive in sept. as a digital EP. Two totally different numbers.
Return to the Eternal Hunting Fields (feat. Johan Hoogewijs)
Water Chaos ( feat. Wouter Van Tornhout )
Fragment of a song created from experiencing water Chaos 07/2021 ... 5 minutes caught in the car on the highway in a wall of rain. Seeing cars skidding around you and trucks skimming past you.
driven song starts with a news report played through vocoder , then you hear the sirens from left to right ...
Solo on Fender Rhodes and analog soundscape Korg MS2000, Sequential Pro II, Roland JX10P and Spitfire plug-in.
See you ,
Ben
Just as a film or painting does, recorded music proposes a space in three dimensions, it may not be permanent and it could be said to be illusory, but to us, in the moment, it is there.
Sunstroke were Ben Bollaert and Etienne Delaruye, both were obsessed with the burgeoning possibilities of electronic music it made sense that they collaborate in the studio. The resulting experiments culminated in the 1985 release of Nothing's Wrong in Paradise.
The record was conceived as a soundtrack to a film that doesn’t exist - a sophisticated meeting of post-Berlin-school dreaming, Yen-records hi-tech calm and Impressionist Café music ennui. What makes it most compelling though, is that even while it conjures a seemingly perfect world, something around the edges lets you know that all might not be as it seems. Maybe there is nothing wrong in paradise. Or maybe that’s just wallpapering over the cracks. The rough edges and regret of everyday life cannot help but intrude. Once you have spent some time with it, the whole record starts to seem bathed in a dim half-light, suggesting utopia glimpsed through a smudged lens.
Just like the ethereal space in their music Sunstroke only existed for a moment, a second LP was planned but never materialised, Delaruye returned to theatre music and Bollaert opened a successful synthesiser store and was active in the New Beat scene. Briefly they created a paradise and pointed out its temporary nature, all at the same time.
Remastered from the Master tapes. Tip-on sleeve.
https://www.librevillerecords.com/product/sunstroke-nothing-s-wrong-in-paradise
