Today, 54 years ago (17.12.1971) the late David Bowie released his first masterwork, Hunky Dory.
“Look out, you rock & rollers."
Following on from the garage-rock of “The Man Who Sold The World” the formula was now in place for Bowie to push the boundaries that bit further and make the world sit up and take notice, his travels to America had inspired the writing of his first masterpiece, the culture and the music soaked into his songs, from the Velvet Underground to Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol, all would play a role in the dynamic of David Bowie’s creativity.
From the infectious opener “Changes”, an instant pop-classic with the catchy chorus which would foretell Bowie’s career, the path he would take and the warning to the music world of his arrival.
“Oh! You Pretty Things”, this was “Starman” part-one, the full lineup of the Spiders coming into their own for the first time with the aid of Rick Wakeman on piano.
As “Life On Mars?” became the pivotal Bowie track of the day, the transcendent chorus, the uplifting piano working in partnership with the guitar solos, images of America and childhood dreams:
“It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again”.
On “Quicksand” he went shoulder to shoulder with the songwriting greats of the day in this tale which dealt with the occult, the Second World War and most surprisingly Aleister Crowley and The Golden Dawn. Bowie was at his darkest, pulling images and characters from the abyss and casting them in his latest play;
“I'm the twisted name on Garbo's eyes,Living proof of Churchill's lies, I'm destiny. I'm torn between the light and dark, Where others see their targets, divine symmetry”
The driving acoustic guitar of “Andy Warhol”, a psychedelic-ballad, an ode to art and it’s creator, though being able to sum up Bob Dylan in one line is an accomplishment all of its own, in his tribute to the folk-troubadour Bowie nailed it perfectly on “Song For Dylan”;
“With a voice like sand and glue”
“Queen Bitch”, was the template for the following albums, Bowie on acoustic guitar, Ronson tearing up a riff similar to The Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane”, the melodic bass-run by Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey hammering out the drums, Bowie went at a sonic pace into area of a Glam-Rock.
The sinister folk of “The Bewlay Brothers”, a nightmare which would have fit in on the “The Man Who Sold The World”, the schizophrenic lyrics are terrifying, closing the album in a weirdness, to leave fans and critics warped;
“With our backs on the arch
And if the Devil may be here
But he can't sing about that
Oh, and we were gone”.
The songs were refined so well the album only took two-weeks to record at Trident Studios, he always worked at a frantic speed, creating the cabaret melodrama set the course for his career, his partnership with The Spiders and a world ready for the name Bowie.
A year later the glamrock-alien Ziggy Stardust would land to earth, taking the guitar driven elements of ‘Hunky Dory’ and releasing an album which would change music forever.
Hunkt Dory (1972 LP Tracklist)
01 “Changes”
02 “Oh! You Pretty Things”
03 “Eight Line Poem”
04 “Life on Mars?”
05 “Kooks”
06 “Quicksand”
07 “Fill Your Heart”
08 “Andy Warhol”
09 “Song for Bob Dylan”
10 “Queen Bitch”
11 “The Bewlay Brothers”
DISCOGS
[KB]
By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
They Feel Nothing is het soloproject van Bruggenaar Kevin Van Volcem (ook bekend van We Are Ooh People), waarmee hij de duistere kanten van analoge synthwave, ebm en darkwave verkent. Dat heeft natuurlijk meteen mijn en ik hoop ook jouw interesse. Bezwerende vocalen, vervormd en etherisch, sfeervolle, retro aandoende synths, 'beats' die zowel duwen als trekken. Nummers als "Not In A Million Years", "Going Down" , "Skin Crawl", "Inferior Race" en "Blood On Your Knife" tonen zijn bereik en kunnen. Van broeierig en melancholisch tot scherp, confronterend en dansbaar. They Feel Nothing werd door het publiek van Dark Demo(n)s in 2025 uitgeroepen tot een van de beste liveacts en zet de toon voor een emotionele reis tot diep in jouw onderbuik. Verwacht een optreden dat broeierig, pulserend en intens is. They Feel Nothing is live te zien op zaterdag 20 december om 16u30, na de landgenoten van Euforic Existence. Kom op tijd!
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
FRETT is the solo project of Maciej Frett, best known from the bands Job Karma and 7JK. Since the mid-1990s, he has been a mainstay of the independent industrial/experimental scene in Wrocław (Poland) and is also a curator and organizer of events such as the Wrocław Industrial Festival.
His debut solo album The World as a Hologram (2020, released on Ant-Zen/Gusstaff Records) combines old-school industrial with IDM and techno rhythms, tribal and dance-industrial beats, ambient and noise textures, polished with raw vocals that often carry a harsh or “soulless” edge.
On his more recent album NOTTWO (2023), FRETT continues along these lines while further focusing on retro-synth styles, post-punk, and 1980s electronics, incorporating pop-like structural elements and more prominent vocal contributions from Anna Frett.
Live, FRETT consists of Maciej Frett and his life partner Anna Frett. The project blends atmospheric, industrial soundscapes with rhythms that set the dance floor in motion, while maintaining a dark, experimental edge.
Come and see this on Saturday, December 20 at 6:30 PM at Bimfest, after Akalotz (the band introduced elsewhere on this site—just click the “Bimfest” tag, it’s that simple).
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
Euforic Existence hails from Antwerp and has been delivering hard-hitting EBM and industrial with raw energy and no restrictions for many years. Since their first releases such as Eros and Existence Beating Morality (2014–2015), they have built a reputation for blending harsh electronics with aggressive beats, resulting in powerful performances that dominate both underground clubs and outdoor stages.
In 2025, Euforic Existence was voted by the audience of the Dark Demo(n)s competition as one of the best acts of the evening—hence their presence at the 23rd edition of Bimfest! Expect a Euforic Existence set that hits hard with pounding synths, searing vocals, and a steel, rusted barrel full of industrial rawness.
Euforic Existence will kick off the second day of the Bimfest festival on Saturday, December 20 at 3:30 PM, so make sure to be there on time!
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
By annual tradition, Bimfest takes place at the end of every year, and this year will be no different. On December 19 and 20, in venue De Casino in Sint-Niklaas, the “beats” and “bleeps” will once again come flying at you from all sides. It will arrive sooner than you think so we would like to introduce the participating acts to you one by one.
The London-based electropop duo Empathy Test has been enchanting audiences worldwide since their formation in 2014. The band, led by charismatic singer Isaac Howlett with production and composition handled by Adam Relf, creates a instantly recognizable sound: cinematic synthesizers, driving beats, and sincere vocals that blend nostalgia with a modern twist. Inspired by films such as Blade Runner, Empathy Test reflects a cinematic quality that can be felt throughout their compositions.
Since their debut EP Losing Touch, Empathy Test has released three critically acclaimed studio albums—Losing Touch, Safe From Harm, and Monsters—as well as the live album Time to Be Alive. Fully funded by fans through crowdfunding campaigns, each release underscores the remarkable loyalty of their global fanbase. Empathy Test’s music has been praised by Clash Magazine, MTV, BBC, and KCRW, and is described as “beautiful” and “highly cinematic.”
Live, Empathy Test brings their music to life with an intensity that has earned them headline tours across Europe and the United Kingdom. They have shared festival stages at Wave-Gotik-Treffen and M’era Luna, and have performed alongside iconic acts such as VNV Nation and Aesthetic Perfection.
Now, after more than a decade of making music, Empathy Test embarks on their 2025 European tour, featuring more than 20 shows in 15 cities from September through December. Fans can expect a setlist spanning their entire career, combining early favorites with powerful tracks from Monsters. With their unique blend of emotion and atmosphere, Empathy Test’s 2025 tour promises to be their most ambitious yet—a must-see for fans of synthpop, darkwave, and electronic music worldwide.
Empathy Test, rarely seen live in Belgium, is the headliner on Friday, December 19, and will begin their set at 11:15 PM—but of course, you’ll be there much earlier.
Kurt Ingels (Dark Entries Magazine)
