Holm in Indie Spinzone (2005)
Album review - South of the River
Interview with Holm
Album review - South of the River
Yes, can you believe it? I literally fell on my ass when Holm contacted me 2 months ago asking if I'd like to review his debut LP. This was an album I had long since given up all hope of ever seeing the light of day. So when it came I was like a little kid waiting to wet myself, but then my recent malaise kicked in. His debut EP was recorded in a honey think syrupy way that just oozed sex. I thought that upon first listen this did not, and went into one of my recent moods. After much listening, I came around. It does drip, it even oozes, but in a slightly different way. This also includes a new version of Last Summer and while I didn't like it as much as the original, I'm even coming around on that too. The opener, If This Is It is quintessential Holm: Big, broad and lush with his signature deep and melodic voice. I think majestic is the word I'm searching for. When this guy cuts loose he somehow becomes larger than life, oceans surge, hearts melt, the sky falls. That track is followed by Tell It Like It Is which is the other thing he does best, heart busting ballads. It also certainly helps the cause that this is recorded most excellently. I had stolen T's maggies but had to give them up and put my Alons back in, but they are better at detail resolution. I listened to this the other night and just kept saying, "God, that sounds beautiful". While the system is the big player in that, a well recorded medium is essential too, and this is. An emotional roller coaster of ups and downs, all bathed in his glorious croon, makes this an album worth the wait. When I put this album on I'm like Jub-Jub the iguana: I just want to lie on my hot rock and bask in it. This is an album that will certainly be near the finish line when compiling the years best, for sure. Very Recommended, and available in our Popsicle shop..
Original article on Indie Spinzone site
Interview with Holm
Spinguy ~ This interview could only start with one question, which I am sure is the one on every readers mind.
Where the hell have you been?
Holm ~ London, UK. Well, took a break for a while, started a family etc.
Spinguy ~ Kinder, or just a Frauline? .
Holm ~ No Fraulein involved, I volunteered for a new cloning programme...No, we have a litlle girl -very cute
Spinguy ~ Now for the rest of you, Luke recently told me he was going back to London for a week. When he did, I suggested he pop over and pick your album up while he was there, save shipping and time etc... (which is now for sale in the Popsicle shop)
I got a huge lecture on how impossible that was, how I don't comprehend what London is like, and how he doesn't have the time for an "errand" like that. What am I, stupid?
Then so what does he do? He not only meets you, he goes out on the friggin town with you.
When he got back he had to write me right away what a glowing time he had with you and that "Holm is an absolute sweetiepie. Nicest German I ever met." Then he catches himself and says don't say that because it makes it sound like he never met a nice German. And also he says, don't mention the 66 world cup, or the War. Brits are complex, funny little bastards, aren't they? (for the record he was kidding about the last bits) But they are infuriating and endearing all at the same time, no?
Holm ~They are an interesting bunch. Very difficult to make out, you never really know where you are with them, which makes it interesting I guess.
Spinguy ~ You put that about the best way I everheard. Luke drives me mad at times with that, I don't know if he's kidding, serious, mad, laughing and then if I don't get it I get the "lighten up" email. But yeah, ya gotta love em.....
From looking at your bio, it does not appear that you were influenced by what was going on in the UK from the late 70 until 1990. I am assuming again, because nowhere do you mention it. It also seems there are not as many German bands that embrace it either, at least not as many as their ought to be given Germanies population. Is this true, and if so, do you know why?
Holm ~ I think I am influenced by a couple of guitar greats such as The Smiths, New Order and The Walker Brothers. As far as German bands are concerned, I think they embrace the darker side of pop, i.e. Gothic Music and Dark Wave stuff, weird really.
Spinguy ~ I saw you were chided when you moved to the UK because you had lived in a place where David Hasselhoff had a #1 song. Did this simply happen because his last name is German? In Germanies defense, whatever is currently topping the UK charts I am sure is hardly any better, not that two wrongs make a right.
Holm ~ In my country's defence things are getting better! There's currently a big German pop revival. Imagine Pavement meets Nena. Scared?
Spinguy ~ Is it the simple fact of language and culture, because when I hear a word like "Schlagzeugplatte" Kraftwerk is the first thing to come to mind. Does Germany really have that techno bent or is that just a misplaced stereotype?
Holm ~ I think Kraftwerk still made the biggest international impact by any German band. They still rock, I saw them in London last year, awesome. Rammstein is another candidate that fits the bill when it comes to cultural stereotypes. It's a shame really 'cause there are loads of bands in Germany that deserve to be heard outside the fatherland , like Blumfeld for example.
Spinguy ~ I noted your zodiac is Cancer. So is my wife. Are you close and reserved in person? I find a lot of singers are Cancers, and I think it's their way of letting out all they normally bottle up. Although I cannot get my wife to sing for love or money.
Holm ~ Haha, keep trying. I heard that before somewhere about Cancers having an artistic streak. Things get bottled up over time, definitely, and singing is a good way of letting some of it out.
Spinguy ~ Now that we brought up singing, lets get right to it. Where and when in Gods name did you get this voice from? Did it materialize after puberty or was it always so deep and "liquidy", and when did you first realize you had it?
Holm ~ My voice? Oh, that came later in life. I did some harmonies and backing stuff in bands I was in before, but never had the guts to be the front guy. I took a few singing lessons and discovered my voice that way. It 'grew' over the years, I guess.
Spinguy ~ Somehow I can't hear it singing in German either “Freitag Nacht und die Lichter sind niedrig...", (that's probably incorrect) Haven't spoken German since high school. Did you sing in German initially?
Holm ~ Your German is amazing! But that line doesn't translate very well. I tried a few songs in German but it never really worked. I think I would have to live there again to sing in German and give it another try.
Spinguy ~ You were in a few bands before you went "solo". I assume you were the singer in all of them as well? Why did none of them really click and survive?
Holm ~ I was more of a session guy in most of them. My first band where I was the singer was 'Plastiscene'. Why none of them lasted I don't know, bands are not meant to last forever unless you start off together when you're 15 and become U2.
Spinguy ~ Your first EP was Music