Embedded Files
ElectroSpank (gr) · 06/04/2025 [review]
With "Into The Fog", The Ultimate Dreamers continue their ethereal drift through shadowy soundscapes, this time joined by Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index.
"Into The Fog", taken from their new album "Paradoxical Sleep" (out now via Spleen+), is a haunting, slow-burning piece that elegantly marries cold wave textures with melancholic dream-pop. Ferrucci’s ghostly vocals intertwine seamlessly with Fred’s, adding a shadowy layer of familiarity that feels both timeless and cinematic.
There’s a deliberate restraint to the arrangement, echoed guitars, pulsing bass, and drifting synths, that allows the emotional weight to flow through slowly, like mist rolling in over forgotten memories. Rooted in their post-punk revivalism yet forward-facing in execution, "Into The Fog" is one of the best moments on "Paradoxical Sleep", and a reminder that The Ultimate Dreamers’ reawakening is a lot more than welcome.
"Into The Fog", taken from their new album "Paradoxical Sleep" (out now via Spleen+), is a haunting, slow-burning piece that elegantly marries cold wave textures with melancholic dream-pop. Ferrucci’s ghostly vocals intertwine seamlessly with Fred’s, adding a shadowy layer of familiarity that feels both timeless and cinematic.
There’s a deliberate restraint to the arrangement, echoed guitars, pulsing bass, and drifting synths, that allows the emotional weight to flow through slowly, like mist rolling in over forgotten memories. Rooted in their post-punk revivalism yet forward-facing in execution, "Into The Fog" is one of the best moments on "Paradoxical Sleep", and a reminder that The Ultimate Dreamers’ reawakening is a lot more than welcome.
RTBF Classic 21 (be) · 04/04/2025 [article]
Founded in Lessines, the birthplace of René Magritte, The Ultimate Dreamers will emerge from a very long slumber in 2021. Somewhere between cold wave and post-punk, their organic sounds melt into melancholy melodies featuring themes dominated by dreams, the distress of love and social disillusionment.
The band will be Laurent Debeuf's guests on Classic 21 Underground on Wednesday 9 April 2025 between 9pm and 11pm.
Live Happily While Waiting For Death, a compilation of in-house demos, will be released in September 2021. The magic was back and the quartet unveiled the single "Polarized / I Loved You?!" in September 2022. This was followed by the album Echoing Reverie, released on CD in March 2023 and on vinyl in May 2023. The album, produced by Len Lemeire (Anne Clark, 32Crash, Implant), was unanimously acclaimed by the international press, and enabled the band to play extensively in Europe. In October 2023, Echoing Reverie was followed by Violent Ghost, an EP featuring alternative versions and remixes by Front 242, Shad Shadows and hørd. On 7 February 2025, the band released their new album, Paradoxical Sleep (Alfa Matrix / Spleen+).
With Bertrand (guitar), Fred (vocals, second bass guitar), Jo (bass guitar) and Sandrine (keyboards, cello) the Ultimate Dreamers have not said their last word.They'll be on the bill at This is not a dark fest. II.Lessines, 1987, le Summer End Festival, dédié à la cold wave et au post-punk, voit le jour et connaît trois éditions successives. Plus de trois décennies plus tard, l’envie et le besoin se font à nouveau sentir. Le festival renaît sous un nouveau nom: This is not a dark fest., en référence au Lessinois le plus célèbre, René Magritte. A l’affiche de cette deuxième édition, quatre projets internationaux, dans des genres variés des musiques sombres, du post-punk à la synth wave, avec la participation de deux dj’s réputés en Belgique comme à l’étranger. This is not a dark fest. II est une coproduction de l’asbl Komakino et du Centre Culturel René Magritte.
The band will be Laurent Debeuf's guests on Classic 21 Underground on Wednesday 9 April 2025 between 9pm and 11pm.
Live Happily While Waiting For Death, a compilation of in-house demos, will be released in September 2021. The magic was back and the quartet unveiled the single "Polarized / I Loved You?!" in September 2022. This was followed by the album Echoing Reverie, released on CD in March 2023 and on vinyl in May 2023. The album, produced by Len Lemeire (Anne Clark, 32Crash, Implant), was unanimously acclaimed by the international press, and enabled the band to play extensively in Europe. In October 2023, Echoing Reverie was followed by Violent Ghost, an EP featuring alternative versions and remixes by Front 242, Shad Shadows and hørd. On 7 February 2025, the band released their new album, Paradoxical Sleep (Alfa Matrix / Spleen+).
With Bertrand (guitar), Fred (vocals, second bass guitar), Jo (bass guitar) and Sandrine (keyboards, cello) the Ultimate Dreamers have not said their last word.They'll be on the bill at This is not a dark fest. II.Lessines, 1987, le Summer End Festival, dédié à la cold wave et au post-punk, voit le jour et connaît trois éditions successives. Plus de trois décennies plus tard, l’envie et le besoin se font à nouveau sentir. Le festival renaît sous un nouveau nom: This is not a dark fest., en référence au Lessinois le plus célèbre, René Magritte. A l’affiche de cette deuxième édition, quatre projets internationaux, dans des genres variés des musiques sombres, du post-punk à la synth wave, avec la participation de deux dj’s réputés en Belgique comme à l’étranger. This is not a dark fest. II est une coproduction de l’asbl Komakino et du Centre Culturel René Magritte.
Side-Line (be) · 01/04/2025 [interview]
After their unexpected yet triumphant return, Belgian darkwave/post-punk act The Ultimate Dreamers continue to redefine their sound with their latest album, “Paradoxical Sleep”. With an expanded lineup, fresh influences, and a deepened creative vision, the band embarks on a new chapter that blends nostalgia with modernity. We sat down with Frédéric to discuss the evolution from “Echoing Reverie”, working with longtime collaborator Len Lemeire, exciting guest contributions, and the magic of live performances. Dive into the mind behind “Paradoxical Sleep” and discover what makes this album their most personal and ambitious work to date.Read the interview here.
Nocturazine (us) · 26/03/2025 [review]
After a long hiatus The Ultimate Dreamers have returned with a brilliant new 13-track album titled “Paradoxical Sleep” dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg). Bouncing between gorgeous blends of postpunk, cold wave, and doom pop the album also features special guest vocal appearances by Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index), and June Dune (Dead Crush). This Belgian quartet includes Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass), and classical musician Sandrine (keyboards, cello). I love live guitars/bass and we’re treated here to such beautifully melodic chord progressions. At times, such as during “Kids Alone” (the soundtrack here), I am reminded vocally of Frank Tovey of Fad Gadget which I love. 🦇 Remember that hearing positive feedback means absolutely everything to artists and creatives alike—so let’s please hear from YOU!
KrautNick (de) · 19/03/2025 [review]
If everything already exists, but you like it so much that you want to do it too, 40 years later you have the pleasant option of simply helping yourself to your favourite elements and putting them together to create your own dish. This is what The Ultimate Dreamers from Brussels do with everything gothic, combining old-school synths with slightly more modern guitars on their third album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ and generating music somewhere between cold wave, synth goth and wave rock. There are many moments of recognition and yet a bunch of new songs. But they can also sound like the old days, as the quartet already existed at the end of the eighties - temporarily, and only really returned five years ago.
Basically, the four musicians from The Ultimate Dreamers take a very reserved approach, even when the tempo should be a little faster. The cold in wave can certainly be confirmed, the sound conveys a coldness typical of the genre, a detachment that is also expressed in the male, restrained vocals. Only the electric guitar occasionally takes on an organic flavour, especially when it unexpectedly begins to fry. At such moments, the overall picture seems all the less anchored in the eighties, as the synthetic sounds usually suggest, and that is a pleasant trick. Overall, the music here tempts you to move three steps forwards and three steps backwards with your head down.
The Belgians draw on all kinds of heroes from the scene, but instead of creating a uniform mishmash of influences across the 13 tracks, they generate a dozen or so diverse songs. The combination of synths and guitars was quite common in the eighties, from Clan Of Xymox to The Fair Sex and The Neon Judgement to Trisomie 21, and all these bands can easily be heard here. Parts of ‘Spiritchaser’ are also reminiscent of ‘Nowhere Girl’ by B-Movie. In ‘Into The Fog’, the poppy character of Joy Division can be heard, such as ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. The strong electronic edge of ‘Kids Alone’ with its guitars is reminiscent of the Sisters Of Mercy, while the bass effect of ‘Looking For’ is familiar from The Cure of the early eighties. And Also The Trees come to mind while ‘The Knife’ is playing, and the quartet combine everything they've got in ‘Awakening’, pushing the highest possible level of energy, experimenting a little and ending the roundelay with punctuated bass drums. A beautiful finish!
The story of The Ultimate Dreamers can only be traced by detective work: In the mid-eighties, three school friends Laurent, Frédéric and Joël formed the band No Position with two other friends, but soon split up again. Laurent, Fred and Jo remained in 1986 and called themselves The Ultimate Dreamers, joined two years later by Bertrand. Laurent and Bertrand left the band again in 1989, Jo and Fred continued as a duo for a while with changing guest musicians, but the attempt failed. The band was officially shelved from 1990. Jo founded a label, played in various other bands and curiously became a wrestler, Betrand only played guitar for himself and Fred organised the Fantastique.Nights and promoted bands.
Basically, the four musicians from The Ultimate Dreamers take a very reserved approach, even when the tempo should be a little faster. The cold in wave can certainly be confirmed, the sound conveys a coldness typical of the genre, a detachment that is also expressed in the male, restrained vocals. Only the electric guitar occasionally takes on an organic flavour, especially when it unexpectedly begins to fry. At such moments, the overall picture seems all the less anchored in the eighties, as the synthetic sounds usually suggest, and that is a pleasant trick. Overall, the music here tempts you to move three steps forwards and three steps backwards with your head down.
The Belgians draw on all kinds of heroes from the scene, but instead of creating a uniform mishmash of influences across the 13 tracks, they generate a dozen or so diverse songs. The combination of synths and guitars was quite common in the eighties, from Clan Of Xymox to The Fair Sex and The Neon Judgement to Trisomie 21, and all these bands can easily be heard here. Parts of ‘Spiritchaser’ are also reminiscent of ‘Nowhere Girl’ by B-Movie. In ‘Into The Fog’, the poppy character of Joy Division can be heard, such as ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. The strong electronic edge of ‘Kids Alone’ with its guitars is reminiscent of the Sisters Of Mercy, while the bass effect of ‘Looking For’ is familiar from The Cure of the early eighties. And Also The Trees come to mind while ‘The Knife’ is playing, and the quartet combine everything they've got in ‘Awakening’, pushing the highest possible level of energy, experimenting a little and ending the roundelay with punctuated bass drums. A beautiful finish!
The story of The Ultimate Dreamers can only be traced by detective work: In the mid-eighties, three school friends Laurent, Frédéric and Joël formed the band No Position with two other friends, but soon split up again. Laurent, Fred and Jo remained in 1986 and called themselves The Ultimate Dreamers, joined two years later by Bertrand. Laurent and Bertrand left the band again in 1989, Jo and Fred continued as a duo for a while with changing guest musicians, but the attempt failed. The band was officially shelved from 1990. Jo founded a label, played in various other bands and curiously became a wrestler, Betrand only played guitar for himself and Fred organised the Fantastique.Nights and promoted bands.
Nene's Butler (at) · 18/03/2025 [review]
In a world of deception and uncertainty, it is hard to build trust and see the truth, but there is hope for clarity and new insights if you have the courage to navigate through the fog.
"Into the Fog“ by The Ultimate Dreamers is a metaphorical journey through uncertainty, mistrust, and deception. Depicting confusion and concealment in the form of fog, the song addresses the difficulty of seeing through others and discerning their true intentions.
Musically, „Into the Fog“ moves in a post-punk haze but also clearly showcases cold Gothic Wave nuances that blend effortlessly with the alternative dark pop of the present. The vocals enhance the slightly melancholic atmosphere and create an overall impression that completely convinces me. „Into the Fog (ft. Simona Ferrucci – Winter Severity Index)“ not only offers everything the genre enthusiast desires musically but also delivers a video that is well worth watching.
Once again, the Belgians inspire me and are absolutely worth a listen. The best way to experience this is with the album „Paradoxical Sleep“, where one highlight follows another. I’ll just say „Digging„, „Spiritchaser„, and „Into the Fog„, these are the first three songs on the album, and the quality continues throughout. I love it, and I guess you will love it as well!
"Into the Fog“ by The Ultimate Dreamers is a metaphorical journey through uncertainty, mistrust, and deception. Depicting confusion and concealment in the form of fog, the song addresses the difficulty of seeing through others and discerning their true intentions.
Musically, „Into the Fog“ moves in a post-punk haze but also clearly showcases cold Gothic Wave nuances that blend effortlessly with the alternative dark pop of the present. The vocals enhance the slightly melancholic atmosphere and create an overall impression that completely convinces me. „Into the Fog (ft. Simona Ferrucci – Winter Severity Index)“ not only offers everything the genre enthusiast desires musically but also delivers a video that is well worth watching.
Once again, the Belgians inspire me and are absolutely worth a listen. The best way to experience this is with the album „Paradoxical Sleep“, where one highlight follows another. I’ll just say „Digging„, „Spiritchaser„, and „Into the Fog„, these are the first three songs on the album, and the quality continues throughout. I love it, and I guess you will love it as well!
Dark Entries (be) · 17/03/2025 [review]
For The Ultimate Dreamers, dreams are not delusions. Reality tells us that they have managed to cash in on their return in full grandeur. Through the reissue of Live Happily While Waiting For Death which in its original existence in the late 80s only managed to mine the local undergrounds of Lessen and later Brussels. Just under four years ago, it got its upgrade which meant a resurgence for The Ultimate Dreamers through the Grand Gate. And with it, their territory had its expansion.
Lessons was swapped for Brussels to give the chaos of the city its musical face. The inspirations of surrealists Rene Margritte and Louis Scutenaire travelled with them. And this has since yielded many diverse tracks for The Ultimate Dreamers. To come out 2 years ago with the full-length album Echoing Reverie.
It is that album that got its follow-up with Paradoxical Sleep. The charter that nightlife also manages to translate into everyday existence in current times. Where dark souls live a life because there is little colour to be had anyway. The Ultimate Dreamers made it their own soundtrack.
It is that whole that managed to push the artistry of The Ultimate Dreamers to the limit with 13 tracks that sound different each time but with their own identity nowhere denied.
It is that whole that managed to push the arts of The Ultimate Dreamers to the limit with 13 tracks that sound different each time but with their own identity nowhere denied.
There were already the advance singles Digging and Spiritchaser, which already showed that they make no concessions and let the rhythm set as they see fit. The prelude to an album that, with 13 tracks, offers a strong sample of coldwave and postpunk in its many forms.
It is Kids Alone and Replicant in particular that will resonate for a while. With an extended field of tension, tracks like Energene, Envoler and Traum further characterise the versatility of this foursome. Successful passages also feature collaborations from Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index (Into The Fog) and from June Dune of Dead Crush (The Knife).
There is quite a bit of layering in all the tracks with a cello allowed to add an extra dimension to the whole. As such, The Ultimate Dreamers is one of those types of bands that leave nothing to chance and thoughtfully allow their songs to emerge selectively.
A growth process that gives Belpop another face, one that knows its darkness. One that knows its way effortlessly through the jungle of homegrown sounds to be trusted.
Content credible, musically all-encompassing. Coldwave and its kin know no bounds. Partly responsible for this: The Ultimate Dreamers!
Lessons was swapped for Brussels to give the chaos of the city its musical face. The inspirations of surrealists Rene Margritte and Louis Scutenaire travelled with them. And this has since yielded many diverse tracks for The Ultimate Dreamers. To come out 2 years ago with the full-length album Echoing Reverie.
It is that album that got its follow-up with Paradoxical Sleep. The charter that nightlife also manages to translate into everyday existence in current times. Where dark souls live a life because there is little colour to be had anyway. The Ultimate Dreamers made it their own soundtrack.
It is that whole that managed to push the artistry of The Ultimate Dreamers to the limit with 13 tracks that sound different each time but with their own identity nowhere denied.
It is that whole that managed to push the arts of The Ultimate Dreamers to the limit with 13 tracks that sound different each time but with their own identity nowhere denied.
There were already the advance singles Digging and Spiritchaser, which already showed that they make no concessions and let the rhythm set as they see fit. The prelude to an album that, with 13 tracks, offers a strong sample of coldwave and postpunk in its many forms.
It is Kids Alone and Replicant in particular that will resonate for a while. With an extended field of tension, tracks like Energene, Envoler and Traum further characterise the versatility of this foursome. Successful passages also feature collaborations from Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index (Into The Fog) and from June Dune of Dead Crush (The Knife).
There is quite a bit of layering in all the tracks with a cello allowed to add an extra dimension to the whole. As such, The Ultimate Dreamers is one of those types of bands that leave nothing to chance and thoughtfully allow their songs to emerge selectively.
A growth process that gives Belpop another face, one that knows its darkness. One that knows its way effortlessly through the jungle of homegrown sounds to be trusted.
Content credible, musically all-encompassing. Coldwave and its kin know no bounds. Partly responsible for this: The Ultimate Dreamers!
Music Speaker (it) · 13/03/2025 [review]
Founded in Lessines, the birthplace of René Magritte, The Ultimate Dreamers are waking up from a very long sleep in 2021. Halfway between cold wave and post-punk, their organic sounds blend into melancholic melodies that set the scene for themes dominated by dreams, the anguish of love and social disillusionment.
Live Happily While Waiting For Death, a compilation of homemade demos, was released in September 2021 (Wool-E Discs). The magic returned and the quartet unveiled the single ‘Polarised / I Loved You?!’ in September 2022.
This was followed by the album Echoing Reverie, released on CD in March 2023 (Spleen+) and on vinyl in May 2023 (Wave Tension Records). The album, produced by Len Lemeire (Anne Clark, 32Crash, Implant...) was unanimously acclaimed by the international press and allowed the band to play extensively in Europe. Echoing Reverie was followed 6 months later by Violent Ghost, an EP with alternative versions and remixes of Front 242, Shad Shadows and hørd.
In February 2025, the band released Paradoxical Sleep, a harder, darker and equally diverse album featuring Sandrine's cello and vocal contributions from Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) and June Dune (Dead Crush) on two tracks.
The Ultimate Dreamers are back with their new album “Paradoxical Sleep”, a dark pop gem that fuses post-punk intensity with haunting melodies. The track “Into The Fog” featuring the feat. of Simona Ferrucci - Winter Severity Index is included in this new work.
Live Happily While Waiting For Death, a compilation of homemade demos, was released in September 2021 (Wool-E Discs). The magic returned and the quartet unveiled the single ‘Polarised / I Loved You?!’ in September 2022.
This was followed by the album Echoing Reverie, released on CD in March 2023 (Spleen+) and on vinyl in May 2023 (Wave Tension Records). The album, produced by Len Lemeire (Anne Clark, 32Crash, Implant...) was unanimously acclaimed by the international press and allowed the band to play extensively in Europe. Echoing Reverie was followed 6 months later by Violent Ghost, an EP with alternative versions and remixes of Front 242, Shad Shadows and hørd.
In February 2025, the band released Paradoxical Sleep, a harder, darker and equally diverse album featuring Sandrine's cello and vocal contributions from Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) and June Dune (Dead Crush) on two tracks.
The Ultimate Dreamers are back with their new album “Paradoxical Sleep”, a dark pop gem that fuses post-punk intensity with haunting melodies. The track “Into The Fog” featuring the feat. of Simona Ferrucci - Winter Severity Index is included in this new work.
Analog Trash (uk) · 03/03/2025 [review]
On Into The Fog, Brussels-based The Ultimate Dreamers lean into the more guitar-laden side of their post-punk/EBM sound to thrilling effect. Featuring vocals from Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index, the track is a doomily romantic affair, full of heartache and passion, brought to the listener via swirling guitars and suitably dramatic synths.
You can hear something of Clan of Xymox and Xmal Deutschland in its rumbling intensity and twilight tones, but the lightness of love also has a strong presence, even the flaws of romance also make their presence felt. Into The Fog features on the band’s new album, Paradoxical Sleep, which is out now via Spleen+ and can be downloaded on Bandcamp, and heard on Spotify and Apple Music.
The band has a series of live dates in France, Germany, Belgium, and the UK in the coming months. For news on those, be sure to hit up The Ultimate Dreamers on their Facebook and Instagram socials. Hopefully, we can get to see the band in Leeds later this year!
You can hear something of Clan of Xymox and Xmal Deutschland in its rumbling intensity and twilight tones, but the lightness of love also has a strong presence, even the flaws of romance also make their presence felt. Into The Fog features on the band’s new album, Paradoxical Sleep, which is out now via Spleen+ and can be downloaded on Bandcamp, and heard on Spotify and Apple Music.
The band has a series of live dates in France, Germany, Belgium, and the UK in the coming months. For news on those, be sure to hit up The Ultimate Dreamers on their Facebook and Instagram socials. Hopefully, we can get to see the band in Leeds later this year!
Rock Shock (it) · 26/02/2025 [review]
In this frenetic whirlwind of compulsively overlapping record releases, often to the detriment of potential listeners' real enjoyment, it is increasingly difficult to find something truly interesting. By interesting, I am not referring to productions that are easy to enjoy because they conform to the usual stereotypes, but instead to those that are increasingly rare, where, as if by magic, lyrical depth is combined with a personal and recognisable sound, This is the case of Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers, who return to the market with the splendid Paradoxical Sleep, their new full-length on Alfa Matrix/Speen+.
We are faced with a true dark-pop gem built on post-punk foundations, sweetened by extraordinary melodic arguments as smoky as they are fascinating and adorned to perfection by particularly introspective lyrics.
Produced by Len Lemeire (known for his work with Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), the record is dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal, frontman of the seminal Marquis De Sade and Marc Seberg who passed away in Rennes in 2019 just as the crowdfunding campaign for the production of the former's new album was underway, and boasts the extraordinary participation of Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) protagonist of a splendid spoken word in the intriguing and magmatic Into the Fog, June Dune (Dead Crush) voice suspended between the magnetic coils of The Knife and Sandrine with her inspired cello that enhances the beauty of some tracks with enchanting harmonic swirls tinged with black.
These and other fundamental touches of class such as effective rhythmics, subliminal melodies and colder, more robotic episodes make Paradoxical Sleep a compact, complete and varied record capable of transcending epochs and musical classifications (which are always detestable, by the way).
Eleven tracks plus two bonus tracks for an unmissable journey through sensations and disturbances that flow and follow one another like images observed from the window of a running train, from the meditative darkness of Kids Alone to the emotional suspension of Energene, to the synthetic throbs of Looking For, to the irresistible roundness of the neworderiana Far Away dominated by the pulsating bass.
If Deafness, one of the most exhilarating chapters of the entire work, appears as a masterful compendium of murky labyrinthine distortions, the dreamy maladies of Envoler (sung in French) capture all the senses while Replicant rumbles and sinks into a resounding harmonic loop, the stuff of hit singles without ifs and buts.
After all, the first two singles from the album had already boldly declared the boundaries of this diamond in the rough: the sonic devastation of Digging, with its resounding apocalyptic openings, is the perfect counterpart to the more accessible Spiritchaser, a dichotomy of life itself narrated also thanks to the accompanying video, the tight rhythm of the frenetic and oppressive cities clashes with the gloomy cemetery images in a continuous stop and go of sound and vision that forces us to reflect.
Is it a paradoxical (and paralysing) sleep in which we live, or is it paradoxical not to realise how much time we waste in the amniotic gaps of the ephemeral?
Awakening (second bonus track after Replicant), an instrumental with a post rock construction pervaded by a strong dark component (that courtly cello linked with the dark bass is a real treat), marks the point of no return unless you want to start again from the beginning... just like me.
We are faced with a true dark-pop gem built on post-punk foundations, sweetened by extraordinary melodic arguments as smoky as they are fascinating and adorned to perfection by particularly introspective lyrics.
Produced by Len Lemeire (known for his work with Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), the record is dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal, frontman of the seminal Marquis De Sade and Marc Seberg who passed away in Rennes in 2019 just as the crowdfunding campaign for the production of the former's new album was underway, and boasts the extraordinary participation of Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) protagonist of a splendid spoken word in the intriguing and magmatic Into the Fog, June Dune (Dead Crush) voice suspended between the magnetic coils of The Knife and Sandrine with her inspired cello that enhances the beauty of some tracks with enchanting harmonic swirls tinged with black.
These and other fundamental touches of class such as effective rhythmics, subliminal melodies and colder, more robotic episodes make Paradoxical Sleep a compact, complete and varied record capable of transcending epochs and musical classifications (which are always detestable, by the way).
Eleven tracks plus two bonus tracks for an unmissable journey through sensations and disturbances that flow and follow one another like images observed from the window of a running train, from the meditative darkness of Kids Alone to the emotional suspension of Energene, to the synthetic throbs of Looking For, to the irresistible roundness of the neworderiana Far Away dominated by the pulsating bass.
If Deafness, one of the most exhilarating chapters of the entire work, appears as a masterful compendium of murky labyrinthine distortions, the dreamy maladies of Envoler (sung in French) capture all the senses while Replicant rumbles and sinks into a resounding harmonic loop, the stuff of hit singles without ifs and buts.
After all, the first two singles from the album had already boldly declared the boundaries of this diamond in the rough: the sonic devastation of Digging, with its resounding apocalyptic openings, is the perfect counterpart to the more accessible Spiritchaser, a dichotomy of life itself narrated also thanks to the accompanying video, the tight rhythm of the frenetic and oppressive cities clashes with the gloomy cemetery images in a continuous stop and go of sound and vision that forces us to reflect.
Is it a paradoxical (and paralysing) sleep in which we live, or is it paradoxical not to realise how much time we waste in the amniotic gaps of the ephemeral?
Awakening (second bonus track after Replicant), an instrumental with a post rock construction pervaded by a strong dark component (that courtly cello linked with the dark bass is a real treat), marks the point of no return unless you want to start again from the beginning... just like me.
Musiczine (be) · 23/02/2025 [review]
We were already very charmed by the singles ‘Digging’ and especially ‘Spiritchaser’. Since recently their album is out, it is exciting to hear whether they can continue this upward trend throughout the album.
It opens with already known material: the singles ‘Digging’ and ‘Spiritchaser’ of which we already said that the latter is a very strong and well-constructed track.
‘Into the Fog’ starts with dark and atmospheric synths. The song becomes more danceable when the beat starts. The alternation in vocals between Fred and guest vocalist Simona Ferucci (a.o. Winter Severity Index) also works well. June Dune (Dead Crush) joins in on ‘The Knife’. A song somewhat reminiscent of The Cure in terms of atmosphere because of the synth sounds and bass. Halfway through, June provides a benchmark on the track with her spoken words.
What stands out in many songs are the beautiful soundscapes that are tucked under the songs, setting the mood. Like on ‘Energene’ which consists of a number of different layers. ‘Kids Alone’ reminds a bit of Siouxsie and the Banshees, among others, because of the bass and guitar. There are a lot of influences from the 80s woven into the music, but the soundscapes added to it give it a contemporary touch.
The album contains eleven tracks and the digipack CD also includes two bonus tracks. Notably the easy-going ‘Replicant’ and the fine instrumental ‘Awakening’.
It must be said that the songs are of the same quality as the singles we had heard before. That means they are all beautifully and cleverly constructed. It actually sounds quite melodic as well.
With “Paradoxial Sleep”, the band takes another step forward musically.
It opens with already known material: the singles ‘Digging’ and ‘Spiritchaser’ of which we already said that the latter is a very strong and well-constructed track.
‘Into the Fog’ starts with dark and atmospheric synths. The song becomes more danceable when the beat starts. The alternation in vocals between Fred and guest vocalist Simona Ferucci (a.o. Winter Severity Index) also works well. June Dune (Dead Crush) joins in on ‘The Knife’. A song somewhat reminiscent of The Cure in terms of atmosphere because of the synth sounds and bass. Halfway through, June provides a benchmark on the track with her spoken words.
What stands out in many songs are the beautiful soundscapes that are tucked under the songs, setting the mood. Like on ‘Energene’ which consists of a number of different layers. ‘Kids Alone’ reminds a bit of Siouxsie and the Banshees, among others, because of the bass and guitar. There are a lot of influences from the 80s woven into the music, but the soundscapes added to it give it a contemporary touch.
The album contains eleven tracks and the digipack CD also includes two bonus tracks. Notably the easy-going ‘Replicant’ and the fine instrumental ‘Awakening’.
It must be said that the songs are of the same quality as the singles we had heard before. That means they are all beautifully and cleverly constructed. It actually sounds quite melodic as well.
With “Paradoxial Sleep”, the band takes another step forward musically.
Medienkonverter (de) · 21/02/2025 [review]
Perhaps one of the most interesting careers is that of the band The Ultimate Dreamers from Belgium. They only really made a name for themselves with the release of their predecessor ‘Echoing Reverie’ two years ago. However, the beginnings of the band around charismatic singer Frédéric date back to the mid-1980s. The band formed in the small town of Lessines. Their website states that the surrealist painter René Magritte was also born in Lessines.
This information has certainly not been picked out at random - or because it sounds particularly pompous - but should be understood as a reference to the first musical endeavours undertaken by The Ultimate Dreamers. Under the influence of the developing gothic culture in England and the incipient self-sufficiency of Belgian electronic musicians, which a few years later would be summarised under the term New Beat, the group came up with minimal and eccentric cold wave songs, which they released on cassettes in their own production and thus gained a - admittedly very small - circle of fans. In 2021, thanks to the coronavirus, they summarised the demos created between 1986 and 1990 under the title ‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’ and re-released them on the market in a slightly revised form.
However, it was this moment that brought the group back together in their (almost) original line-up. Since then, the quartet has been recording new songs that still have the charming DIY feel of their first releases. With their latest work ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, they continue to stick to the classic Weltschmerz sounds, but present them in an extremely independent way. Even the opener ‘Digging’ with its striking synth pads is reminiscent of the still great song ‘Love Like Blood’ by Killing Joke, but without using the track as a favourable template. Apart from this short opening sequence, ‘Digging’ has nothing in common with the classic.
In general, the new record is anything but a stoic recourse to traditional sound structures and their unreflected glorification. The Ultimate Dreamers preserve the gothic heritage by interpreting it in new and surprising ways. In ‘Energene’, a technoid acid house sound can also be heard, while the guitars are lavishly wrapped around the electronics. This track in particular crystallises the Belgians' great strength: creating a unique blend of nostalgia and innovation with their music.
In times of overproduced works, even in the alternative scenes, albums like ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ are a real blessing, as the songs don't try to chase after a current trend, but instead discover a new narrative quality in the reduced sound. Under different circumstances, ‘Deafness’ could have become a lurid club number that takes dance floors by storm with its energy. Instead, the song remains bubbling beneath the surface and from there penetrates deeper into the consciousness.
The Knife" also possesses great power, which does not manifest itself through showy arrangements, but rather through the nebulous aura that is broken down to the essentials. It is certainly also thanks to Len Lemeire (Implant, 32crash) that ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ has been precisely calibrated at the interface between vintage production and modern listening. Just listen to ‘Far Away’: Hardly any track better represents the musical idea of the record. However, the French-language ‘Envoler’ is particularly intense, with Frédéric's organ packed into a wonderfully antiquated reverb effect.
Even more than ‘Echoing Reverie’, ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ dares to create its very own cosmos of sound, in which the compositional minimalism practised by The Cure or The Sisters Of Mercy in their early phases, for example, is paired with their own, thoroughly modern sound constructs. The power of this album lies in the calmness that it radiates, brought about by a band whose majority of members know how to skilfully use four decades of old knowledge.
This information has certainly not been picked out at random - or because it sounds particularly pompous - but should be understood as a reference to the first musical endeavours undertaken by The Ultimate Dreamers. Under the influence of the developing gothic culture in England and the incipient self-sufficiency of Belgian electronic musicians, which a few years later would be summarised under the term New Beat, the group came up with minimal and eccentric cold wave songs, which they released on cassettes in their own production and thus gained a - admittedly very small - circle of fans. In 2021, thanks to the coronavirus, they summarised the demos created between 1986 and 1990 under the title ‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’ and re-released them on the market in a slightly revised form.
However, it was this moment that brought the group back together in their (almost) original line-up. Since then, the quartet has been recording new songs that still have the charming DIY feel of their first releases. With their latest work ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, they continue to stick to the classic Weltschmerz sounds, but present them in an extremely independent way. Even the opener ‘Digging’ with its striking synth pads is reminiscent of the still great song ‘Love Like Blood’ by Killing Joke, but without using the track as a favourable template. Apart from this short opening sequence, ‘Digging’ has nothing in common with the classic.
In general, the new record is anything but a stoic recourse to traditional sound structures and their unreflected glorification. The Ultimate Dreamers preserve the gothic heritage by interpreting it in new and surprising ways. In ‘Energene’, a technoid acid house sound can also be heard, while the guitars are lavishly wrapped around the electronics. This track in particular crystallises the Belgians' great strength: creating a unique blend of nostalgia and innovation with their music.
In times of overproduced works, even in the alternative scenes, albums like ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ are a real blessing, as the songs don't try to chase after a current trend, but instead discover a new narrative quality in the reduced sound. Under different circumstances, ‘Deafness’ could have become a lurid club number that takes dance floors by storm with its energy. Instead, the song remains bubbling beneath the surface and from there penetrates deeper into the consciousness.
The Knife" also possesses great power, which does not manifest itself through showy arrangements, but rather through the nebulous aura that is broken down to the essentials. It is certainly also thanks to Len Lemeire (Implant, 32crash) that ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ has been precisely calibrated at the interface between vintage production and modern listening. Just listen to ‘Far Away’: Hardly any track better represents the musical idea of the record. However, the French-language ‘Envoler’ is particularly intense, with Frédéric's organ packed into a wonderfully antiquated reverb effect.
Even more than ‘Echoing Reverie’, ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ dares to create its very own cosmos of sound, in which the compositional minimalism practised by The Cure or The Sisters Of Mercy in their early phases, for example, is paired with their own, thoroughly modern sound constructs. The power of this album lies in the calmness that it radiates, brought about by a band whose majority of members know how to skilfully use four decades of old knowledge.
Unter Ton (de) · 20/02/2025 [review]
For Belgian band The Ultimate Dreamer, the last few years have been characterised by steadily growing success. The band had already started to realise their idea of a dreary rock sound in the mid-1980s. The re-release of the old tapes as ‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’ marked the beginning of the band's second spring, which is now bearing further black blossoms with ‘Paradoxical Sleep’. On the Bandcamp page, the guys offer several descriptions of their art: post-punk, doom-pop and cold wave outline the band's sonic cosmos quite well, which is characterised above all by using set pieces from the history of the gothic scene to create a unique sound. Even ‘Digging’, with its synth line fatally reminiscent of ‘Love Like Blood’ by Killing Joke, points to the musical socialisation of the group, who surprisingly discover the minimal, reduced techno sound for themselves a few tracks later in ‘Energene’. Whilst many current productions indulge in bombast and sounding gigantism, ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ reminds us of where the whole gothic thing began: in backyards and industrial barracks, far away from any stadiums or large halls. Nevertheless, the album is no simple DIY event. With Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash), The Ultimate Dreamers have brought an accomplished man to the mixing desk. He has managed to capture the band's nostalgic moment.
Electro Emotions (mx) · 20/02/2025 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers: between sleep and wakefulness, the echo of uncertainty.From the shadows of Lessines, René Magritte's hometown, The Ultimate Dreamers return once again with a new and evocative release under the Alpha Matrix label. Their sound, an amalgam of post-punk and cold wave, exudes an ethereal melancholy, where the icy and the organic intertwine in a backdrop loaded with raw emotions: disturbing dreams, loves marked by anguish and a social critique that resonates in every note.
After the overwhelming return of "Echoing Reverie" and a tour that electrified Europe, the Belgian quartet is preparing for 2025 with "Paradoxical Sleep", an album that promises to explore new sonic territories without losing the dark and enigmatic essence that defines them.
As a preview, they immerse us in "Into The Fog", a single that delves into the labyrinth of uncertainty and deception. In collaboration with Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index, the song unfolds like a hypnotic spell, a fog that distorts reality and immerses us in a landscape of doubts and half-truths. Here, the struggle between illusion and authenticity becomes a spectral dance, a back and forth between the false and the genuine.
The Ultimate Dreamers invite us, once again, to lose ourselves in introspection, to embrace existential restlessness and to let ourselves be enveloped by the poetic and dark aesthetics of darkwave and gothic rock.
After the overwhelming return of "Echoing Reverie" and a tour that electrified Europe, the Belgian quartet is preparing for 2025 with "Paradoxical Sleep", an album that promises to explore new sonic territories without losing the dark and enigmatic essence that defines them.
As a preview, they immerse us in "Into The Fog", a single that delves into the labyrinth of uncertainty and deception. In collaboration with Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index, the song unfolds like a hypnotic spell, a fog that distorts reality and immerses us in a landscape of doubts and half-truths. Here, the struggle between illusion and authenticity becomes a spectral dance, a back and forth between the false and the genuine.
The Ultimate Dreamers invite us, once again, to lose ourselves in introspection, to embrace existential restlessness and to let ourselves be enveloped by the poetic and dark aesthetics of darkwave and gothic rock.
Obsküre (fr) · 17/02/2025 [review]
Firming up, finding a group sound. It's a journey: cutting through the superfluous, getting to the bone. We're going to do it, together, because we want to, because we agree on the method. The past and its frameworks are of little importance. A position is won through awareness of a shared objective: to sculpt a globality, to express it today. This is a shared adventure.
The album is dedicated to Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg). And the economy and naked sensibility of the new work by Belgium's The Ultimate Dreamers suggest that this path, the path of sacrifice, has been travelled. The pared-down canvas, the elegance of the guitar colours, their loops of slight acidity and curesques (‘Energene’), the curved bass frequencies, the calm voice, its restrained posture (‘Far away’ and its Sisters Of Mercy reliefs from the 1985 period), not to say withdrawn: there's a vague feeling in the soul on Paradoxical Sleep and the minimal beat reinforces this feeling of the collective's desire to express the complexities of the intimate zone through nudity. Hypnotic (‘Kids alone’), cold in its global relief but carnal in its veins, this sound carries in its formalism an 80's referential, the codes are showy and assumed, but what weaves inside these songs has a flavour of universality.
The codes can veer towards the gothic if they like (‘Digging’), but above all Paradoxical Sleep will leave you with the memory of a block of choreography.
The album is dedicated to Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg). And the economy and naked sensibility of the new work by Belgium's The Ultimate Dreamers suggest that this path, the path of sacrifice, has been travelled. The pared-down canvas, the elegance of the guitar colours, their loops of slight acidity and curesques (‘Energene’), the curved bass frequencies, the calm voice, its restrained posture (‘Far away’ and its Sisters Of Mercy reliefs from the 1985 period), not to say withdrawn: there's a vague feeling in the soul on Paradoxical Sleep and the minimal beat reinforces this feeling of the collective's desire to express the complexities of the intimate zone through nudity. Hypnotic (‘Kids alone’), cold in its global relief but carnal in its veins, this sound carries in its formalism an 80's referential, the codes are showy and assumed, but what weaves inside these songs has a flavour of universality.
The codes can veer towards the gothic if they like (‘Digging’), but above all Paradoxical Sleep will leave you with the memory of a block of choreography.
Magazyn Muzyczny Heart & Soul (pl) · 17/02/2025 [article]
7 February 2025 saw the release of the latest album by Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers. The album Paradoxical Sleep features 13 premiere compositions. The musicians invited special guests to perform two tracks - in Into the Fog, Simona Ferucci from the band Winter Severity Index sang, and in The Knife, June Dune from the band Dead Crush can be heard.
Twice (fr) · 14/02/2025 [review]
Interviewés dans le n°78 de Twice il y a 3 ans à l'occasion de la sortie de Live Happily While Waiting For Death, les 4 bruxellois nous envoient aujourd'hui leur nouvelle galette dont ils peuvent être vraiment fiers. Déjà par la pochette du digipack dont les couleurs me rappellent l'époque Night Is The New Day (2009) de Katatonia, (même si ici, le style musical n'a rien à voir...) 13 titres parfaits, oscillant entre new wave, electro sombre "Into the Fog" (feat. Simona Ferrucci – Winter Severity Index) et coldwave classieuse "Deafness". Mention spéciale pour l'inquiétant et subtil "The Knife" (feat. June Dune Dead Crush) et "Far Away" rentrant dans la catégorie des grands classiques. Les puristes retrouveront l'esprit de Opera Multi Steel et Trisomie 21 sur "Envoler" minimaliste à souhait et chanté en français. Et un final parfait avec "Awakening", concentré de pure coldwave. Un ensemble varié, beau, profond pour amateurs de lignes de basse mélodieuse et d'accords mineurs old-school. A retrouver sur scène prochainement.
Peek-A-Boo Magazine (be) · 14/02/2025 [review]
“Time to sleep under the grey stone. And lay your body in the clay throne … “
It is the mid eighties. In Lessines, Belgium soil, three friends decided to create a band: voice, bass guitar and synthesizers, to be joined later by two more …
Fast forward to 2021. With some switches in the line-up (three original members and a new one) The Ultimate Dreamers emerge from a very long slumber, bringing doom to wherever you absorb your music.
Taking inspiration from timeless moods by bands like The Cure, Joy Division and even Trentemøller, the Belgian quartet’s music is a mix of Post-Punk, Cold Wave and Dream Pop with a touch of Goth Rock.
Present day, released on February 7, 2025, Peek-A-Boo is happy to present you their brand-new album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’. An album of entirely new material that no doubt solidifies their standing at the forefront of the alternative underground scene.
Fred (vocals, second bass guitar): “All the songs on the album are new compositions, except ‘Envoler’, which is a new recording of an old song that people loved live. Some songs were already written in 2022, in the aftermath of the recording of ‘Echoing Reverie’: ‘Spiritchaser’, for example. ‘Traum’ too, but we completely reworked those later. ‘Deafness’ and ‘Energene’ were contributed by Bertrand (guitar) and Joel (bass guitar) They were the most complicated for me to work on and develop. Most of the others I brought myself.
I composed a lot during a rainy vacation in Sierksdorf, Germany. There, songs like ‘The Knife’, ‘Looking For’ and ‘Into the Fog’ were created. Recording took place in the first half of 2024 with the assistance of Len Lemeire (Implant, Anne Clark) who produced, mixed and mastered the album. After that, we had to wait for the records to be made …”
Dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg) ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ also features special guest vocals. So you get to hear Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index on ‘Into the Fog’, and June Dune of Dead Crush on ‘The Knife’.
The keyboard and cello playing by Sandrine enriches several tracks with a uncanny ear-catching mystical depth.
Synopsis: a guide through your most inexplicable dreams, expressed in 13 songs that you will want to listen to over and over and over again.
Ready to be added to your collection, 'Paradoxal Sleep' is available as a limited-edition colored vinyl (solid red or transparent violet), digital album and a sleek digipak CD edition with two exclusive bonus tracks.
It is the mid eighties. In Lessines, Belgium soil, three friends decided to create a band: voice, bass guitar and synthesizers, to be joined later by two more …
Fast forward to 2021. With some switches in the line-up (three original members and a new one) The Ultimate Dreamers emerge from a very long slumber, bringing doom to wherever you absorb your music.
Taking inspiration from timeless moods by bands like The Cure, Joy Division and even Trentemøller, the Belgian quartet’s music is a mix of Post-Punk, Cold Wave and Dream Pop with a touch of Goth Rock.
Present day, released on February 7, 2025, Peek-A-Boo is happy to present you their brand-new album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’. An album of entirely new material that no doubt solidifies their standing at the forefront of the alternative underground scene.
Fred (vocals, second bass guitar): “All the songs on the album are new compositions, except ‘Envoler’, which is a new recording of an old song that people loved live. Some songs were already written in 2022, in the aftermath of the recording of ‘Echoing Reverie’: ‘Spiritchaser’, for example. ‘Traum’ too, but we completely reworked those later. ‘Deafness’ and ‘Energene’ were contributed by Bertrand (guitar) and Joel (bass guitar) They were the most complicated for me to work on and develop. Most of the others I brought myself.
I composed a lot during a rainy vacation in Sierksdorf, Germany. There, songs like ‘The Knife’, ‘Looking For’ and ‘Into the Fog’ were created. Recording took place in the first half of 2024 with the assistance of Len Lemeire (Implant, Anne Clark) who produced, mixed and mastered the album. After that, we had to wait for the records to be made …”
Dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg) ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ also features special guest vocals. So you get to hear Simona Ferrucci of Winter Severity Index on ‘Into the Fog’, and June Dune of Dead Crush on ‘The Knife’.
The keyboard and cello playing by Sandrine enriches several tracks with a uncanny ear-catching mystical depth.
Synopsis: a guide through your most inexplicable dreams, expressed in 13 songs that you will want to listen to over and over and over again.
Ready to be added to your collection, 'Paradoxal Sleep' is available as a limited-edition colored vinyl (solid red or transparent violet), digital album and a sleek digipak CD edition with two exclusive bonus tracks.
White Light // White Heat (it) · 13/02/2025 [review]
On February 7th, the new “Paradoxical Sleep” LP by The Ultimate Dreamers (Brussels) surfaced through the Alfa Matrix sub-label Spleen+. It is an ambitious album featuring 13 new tracks and 2 excellent collaborations; let me provide the information first –“Paradoxical Sleep” was produced by Len Lemeire (known for his work with IMPLANT, 32CRASH, ANNE CLARK), “Paradoxical Sleep” features special guest vocals from Simona Ferrucci of WINTER SEVERITY INDEX on “Into the Fog” and June Dune of DEAD CRUSH on “The Knife”. The cherry on the cake is the addition of Sandrine’s cello on selected tracks which enhances the album’s haunting, melodic atmosphere.”The album is dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg), and is available digitally, and as a limited-edition colored vinyl (solid red or transparent violet), and a sleek digipak CD edition.
It is a lengthy and enjoyable album with many well-crafted episodes of Coldwave and Post-punk music art, with a very good sound and good production in general. I believe that it will not go unnoticed, since it contains a broad of ‘musings’ from the dark alternative front, but most importantly, it’s from a band with musical candor.
The first single was this gothic little diamond “Digging”, last September 13 …and this new album has quite a few such ornaments…
…and about 2 months ago the next one came up, the “Spiritchaser” that expands the hearing further down into the urban darkness…
…and a few days ago “Into The Fog (ft. Simona Ferrucci · Winter Severity Index)” also appeared, and I thought we had a pretty good feel for the new album.
The new album, “Paradoxical Sleep”, does not completely align with the band’s original vision for the first three singles. However, this may be a positive aspect, as the album also features a wide variety of darkwave-oriented music, including songs that offer a different kind of haze. Try “Kids Alone” i.e. or “Looking For”, and “Far Away”, where the band reveals a range of more mechanical qualities throughout the album. With 13 tracks, it wouldn’t be ideal—practically impossible—for all of them to follow the same pattern. Ultimately, the album supports my earlier statement about its ambitious nature.
The Ultimate Dreamers excel in their new album, demonstrating that when there is inspiration and a fertile environment for recordings, the outcome will first confirm their efforts and then reward us, the audience. The “Paradoxical Sleep” LP is likely to receive airplay on dedicated radio stations, and I plan to discuss it on the air. Don’t overlook this album; you might hear a track on a show that you enjoy and remember the name mentioned here on WL//WH. After all, that’s what radio stations are for.
“THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS lead you into the misty depths of the paradoxical labyrinth we call “life” – an essential sonic journey for all dark souls out there.” Here we go, press play and listen loud!!!
It is a lengthy and enjoyable album with many well-crafted episodes of Coldwave and Post-punk music art, with a very good sound and good production in general. I believe that it will not go unnoticed, since it contains a broad of ‘musings’ from the dark alternative front, but most importantly, it’s from a band with musical candor.
The first single was this gothic little diamond “Digging”, last September 13 …and this new album has quite a few such ornaments…
…and about 2 months ago the next one came up, the “Spiritchaser” that expands the hearing further down into the urban darkness…
…and a few days ago “Into The Fog (ft. Simona Ferrucci · Winter Severity Index)” also appeared, and I thought we had a pretty good feel for the new album.
The new album, “Paradoxical Sleep”, does not completely align with the band’s original vision for the first three singles. However, this may be a positive aspect, as the album also features a wide variety of darkwave-oriented music, including songs that offer a different kind of haze. Try “Kids Alone” i.e. or “Looking For”, and “Far Away”, where the band reveals a range of more mechanical qualities throughout the album. With 13 tracks, it wouldn’t be ideal—practically impossible—for all of them to follow the same pattern. Ultimately, the album supports my earlier statement about its ambitious nature.
The Ultimate Dreamers excel in their new album, demonstrating that when there is inspiration and a fertile environment for recordings, the outcome will first confirm their efforts and then reward us, the audience. The “Paradoxical Sleep” LP is likely to receive airplay on dedicated radio stations, and I plan to discuss it on the air. Don’t overlook this album; you might hear a track on a show that you enjoy and remember the name mentioned here on WL//WH. After all, that’s what radio stations are for.
“THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS lead you into the misty depths of the paradoxical labyrinth we call “life” – an essential sonic journey for all dark souls out there.” Here we go, press play and listen loud!!!
Esprits Critiques (be) · 12/02/2025 [review]
On February 7th, the new “Paradoxical Sleep” LP by The Ultimate Dreamers (Brussels) surfaced through the Alfa Matrix sub-label Spleen+. It is an ambitious album featuring 13 new tracks and 2 excellent collaborations; let me provide the information first –“Paradoxical Sleep” was produced by Len Lemeire (known for his work with IMPLANT, 32CRASH, ANNE CLARK), “Paradoxical Sleep” features special guest vocals from Simona Ferrucci of WINTER SEVERITY INDEX on “Into the Fog” and June Dune of DEAD CRUSH on “The Knife”. The cherry on the cake is the addition of Sandrine’s cello on selected tracks which enhances the album’s haunting, melodic atmosphere.”The album is dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg), and is available digitally, and as a limited-edition colored vinyl (solid red or transparent violet), and a sleek digipak CD edition.
It is a lengthy and enjoyable album with many well-crafted episodes of Coldwave and Post-punk music art, with a very good sound and good production in general. I believe that it will not go unnoticed, since it contains a broad of ‘musings’ from the dark alternative front, but most importantly, it’s from a band with musical candor.
The first single was this gothic little diamond “Digging”, last September 13 …and this new album has quite a few such ornaments…
…and about 2 months ago the next one came up, the “Spiritchaser” that expands the hearing further down into the urban darkness…
…and a few days ago “Into The Fog (ft. Simona Ferrucci · Winter Severity Index)” also appeared, and I thought we had a pretty good feel for the new album.
The new album, “Paradoxical Sleep”, does not completely align with the band’s original vision for the first three singles. However, this may be a positive aspect, as the album also features a wide variety of darkwave-oriented music, including songs that offer a different kind of haze. Try “Kids Alone” i.e. or “Looking For”, and “Far Away”, where the band reveals a range of more mechanical qualities throughout the album. With 13 tracks, it wouldn’t be ideal—practically impossible—for all of them to follow the same pattern. Ultimately, the album supports my earlier statement about its ambitious nature.
The Ultimate Dreamers excel in their new album, demonstrating that when there is inspiration and a fertile environment for recordings, the outcome will first confirm their efforts and then reward us, the audience. The “Paradoxical Sleep” LP is likely to receive airplay on dedicated radio stations, and I plan to discuss it on the air. Don’t overlook this album; you might hear a track on a show that you enjoy and remember the name mentioned here on WL//WH. After all, that’s what radio stations are for.
“THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS lead you into the misty depths of the paradoxical labyrinth we call “life” – an essential sonic journey for all dark souls out there.” Here we go, press play and listen loud!!!
It is a lengthy and enjoyable album with many well-crafted episodes of Coldwave and Post-punk music art, with a very good sound and good production in general. I believe that it will not go unnoticed, since it contains a broad of ‘musings’ from the dark alternative front, but most importantly, it’s from a band with musical candor.
The first single was this gothic little diamond “Digging”, last September 13 …and this new album has quite a few such ornaments…
…and about 2 months ago the next one came up, the “Spiritchaser” that expands the hearing further down into the urban darkness…
…and a few days ago “Into The Fog (ft. Simona Ferrucci · Winter Severity Index)” also appeared, and I thought we had a pretty good feel for the new album.
The new album, “Paradoxical Sleep”, does not completely align with the band’s original vision for the first three singles. However, this may be a positive aspect, as the album also features a wide variety of darkwave-oriented music, including songs that offer a different kind of haze. Try “Kids Alone” i.e. or “Looking For”, and “Far Away”, where the band reveals a range of more mechanical qualities throughout the album. With 13 tracks, it wouldn’t be ideal—practically impossible—for all of them to follow the same pattern. Ultimately, the album supports my earlier statement about its ambitious nature.
The Ultimate Dreamers excel in their new album, demonstrating that when there is inspiration and a fertile environment for recordings, the outcome will first confirm their efforts and then reward us, the audience. The “Paradoxical Sleep” LP is likely to receive airplay on dedicated radio stations, and I plan to discuss it on the air. Don’t overlook this album; you might hear a track on a show that you enjoy and remember the name mentioned here on WL//WH. After all, that’s what radio stations are for.
“THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS lead you into the misty depths of the paradoxical labyrinth we call “life” – an essential sonic journey for all dark souls out there.” Here we go, press play and listen loud!!!
Music in Belgium (be) · 12/02/2025 [concert review]
Twenty-four hours after the release of their first proper album, The Ultimate Dreamers celebrated the event at the CaliClub in Drogenbos. A venue they know well from their previous releases, the demo compilation “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” in 2021 and the mini album “Echoing Reverie” two years later.
Who would have predicted five years ago that The Ultimate Dreamers, a band born in Lessines in the second half of the 80s and destined to remain a youthful memory, would release a debut album in 2025? Nobody, not even Frédéric Cotton when he came across some vintage recordings in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. And yet, after a compilation of said recordings, a single, a mini-album and an EP of remixes, here is Paradoxical Sleep, the first full-length worthy of the name, released on the eve of this release party.
The set kicked off with a furious “Big Violent”, set against a backdrop of oppressive visuals, and then moved in a creepy direction with “Deafness”, the first of the set's heady new tracks. There will be plenty of these, as the whole plate will be played, much to the dismay of those who hadn't yet given it a careful listen. That said, in addition to the precursor singles “Spiritchaser” and “Digging”, several compositions had already been tested live over the last few months, notably at Le Botanique in support of Vox Low.
Dressed in a dark suit and sunglasses, the frontman was particularly forthcoming. A release party means people to thank, and he's not short on compliments. Misty for the visuals (particularly successful and key to the band's identity), producer Len Lemeire and talented lyricist Kelly O'Hara will all have their moment in the spotlight. Absent from the album are June Dune and Simona Ferrucci, whose recorded vocals haunt the powerful “The Knife” and dark new single “Into The Fog” respectively. There are also a few anecdotes and hints about the inspiration behind the tracks, including the genetics behind the addictive, electronically restrained “Energene” and the childish nonsense on “Kids Alone”, a cross between “Music For The Masses” and “Violator”.
While Bertrand Evrard, a diligent guitarist, and Joël Grigolato, a cheerful bassist, have been part of the adventure since the beginning, the group has now found a subtle balance in Sandrine. Although she takes a back seat behind her keyboards, she is nonetheless essential, especially when she swaps them for a cello. She transcends tracks like the bewitching “Looking For” and this stunning cover of “Giving Ground” by The Sisterhood (a side project by Andrew Eldritch of Sisters Of Mercy). AC/DC's “Hells Bells”, in melancholic-retentive mode, is another cover, a more classic one because it features regularly in their set-lists.
There's also the icy “Envoler”, which, incidentally, is the only surviving track from the demos to feature, in its new version, on “Paradoxical Sleep”. It features our friend Fred accompanying himself on a five-string bass (The Ultimate Dreamers swear by five-string basses...) and laying his voice over synthetic layers reminiscent at times of Kraftwerk in gothic mode. Traum', full of conviction and enhanced by Curesque guitars, and the catchy Far Away also stand out. As did the unstoppable “Polarized”, during which a microphone stand was accidentally trampled.
By way of encores, the band delve into their recent past, with two solid extracts from “Echoing Reverie” (the icy “Piano Ghost” and the heady “Midnight”) and a relevant rearranged version of “Japanese Death”. While the genesis of this track, which brings the evening full circle, dates back to the 80s, its evolution fits perfectly with that of a project in full expansion without losing its spontaneity. Or how to come full circle while looking to the future with serenity.
Who would have predicted five years ago that The Ultimate Dreamers, a band born in Lessines in the second half of the 80s and destined to remain a youthful memory, would release a debut album in 2025? Nobody, not even Frédéric Cotton when he came across some vintage recordings in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. And yet, after a compilation of said recordings, a single, a mini-album and an EP of remixes, here is Paradoxical Sleep, the first full-length worthy of the name, released on the eve of this release party.
The set kicked off with a furious “Big Violent”, set against a backdrop of oppressive visuals, and then moved in a creepy direction with “Deafness”, the first of the set's heady new tracks. There will be plenty of these, as the whole plate will be played, much to the dismay of those who hadn't yet given it a careful listen. That said, in addition to the precursor singles “Spiritchaser” and “Digging”, several compositions had already been tested live over the last few months, notably at Le Botanique in support of Vox Low.
Dressed in a dark suit and sunglasses, the frontman was particularly forthcoming. A release party means people to thank, and he's not short on compliments. Misty for the visuals (particularly successful and key to the band's identity), producer Len Lemeire and talented lyricist Kelly O'Hara will all have their moment in the spotlight. Absent from the album are June Dune and Simona Ferrucci, whose recorded vocals haunt the powerful “The Knife” and dark new single “Into The Fog” respectively. There are also a few anecdotes and hints about the inspiration behind the tracks, including the genetics behind the addictive, electronically restrained “Energene” and the childish nonsense on “Kids Alone”, a cross between “Music For The Masses” and “Violator”.
While Bertrand Evrard, a diligent guitarist, and Joël Grigolato, a cheerful bassist, have been part of the adventure since the beginning, the group has now found a subtle balance in Sandrine. Although she takes a back seat behind her keyboards, she is nonetheless essential, especially when she swaps them for a cello. She transcends tracks like the bewitching “Looking For” and this stunning cover of “Giving Ground” by The Sisterhood (a side project by Andrew Eldritch of Sisters Of Mercy). AC/DC's “Hells Bells”, in melancholic-retentive mode, is another cover, a more classic one because it features regularly in their set-lists.
There's also the icy “Envoler”, which, incidentally, is the only surviving track from the demos to feature, in its new version, on “Paradoxical Sleep”. It features our friend Fred accompanying himself on a five-string bass (The Ultimate Dreamers swear by five-string basses...) and laying his voice over synthetic layers reminiscent at times of Kraftwerk in gothic mode. Traum', full of conviction and enhanced by Curesque guitars, and the catchy Far Away also stand out. As did the unstoppable “Polarized”, during which a microphone stand was accidentally trampled.
By way of encores, the band delve into their recent past, with two solid extracts from “Echoing Reverie” (the icy “Piano Ghost” and the heady “Midnight”) and a relevant rearranged version of “Japanese Death”. While the genesis of this track, which brings the evening full circle, dates back to the 80s, its evolution fits perfectly with that of a project in full expansion without losing its spontaneity. Or how to come full circle while looking to the future with serenity.
The Viking in the Wilderness (no) · 11/02/2025 [review]
Belgian band The Ultimate Dreamers are out with the album "Paradoxical Sleep", and this is a production to be filed somewhere in the pop/rock section of the music store. Here we get a band that seems to think rather fondly of the 1980s as far as music is concerned, with new wave and post-punk as the specific types of music from that decade they have an attraction too. Driving bass lines and cold, detached guitars and keyboards with dark toned, subtly monotone but emotional vocals is the name of the game here. Landscapes where melancholy is an ever present mood and that often dips its toes into more mournful sounding escapades. Sometimes with a more stringent pop music orientation, on other occasions with a more expressive rock expression, often residing somewhere in between those two main expressions. With occasional electronic elements that, for some reason or other, makes me think of good, old 808 State. The press release suggest that artists such as New Order and The Cure have been influential for this band, and I'd suspect that most fans of those bands and probably quite a few fans of early days Depeche Mode as well should find the mournful and subtly emotionally distanced landscapes explored on this album to be rather mesmerizing.
Orkus (de) · 10/02/2025 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers’ new album “Paradoxical Sleep” has a cool, nostalgic atmosphere. At first glance, it may seem paradoxical that despite the mixture of melancholic post-punk and rousing cold wave, a warm mood emerges as you listen. On closer inspection, however, this is no wonder given the amount of heart and soul that the quartet from Belgium put into their music. Melancholy lies over you like a delicate veil during the 50-minute listening experience in 13 tracks. But always with a certain freshness that invites you to dream and stimulates your head cinema.
Luminous Dash (be) · 08/02/2025 [review]
What would have happened had The Ultimate Dreamers played their first European tour during their first life in 1987-90? Perhaps supporting Clan of Xymox? A deal on 4AD or would their songs have been played in alternative nightclubs? All speculation.
At the end of the 1980s, the band released a few demos and then it went quiet until now. If you are a fan of Clan of Xymox, New Order, The Cure or Psyche, feel free to listen to this Paradoxical Sleep. Like so many others, The Ultimate Dreamers follow in the footsteps of Joy Division, as well as other heroes of Factory, even early Depeche Mode with beats that make Paradoxical Sleep easily digestible like the single Spiritchaser.
Despite all the memories of post-punk's heyday, Len Lemeire's (Implant, Anne Clark) modern production manages to make the leap to the present. The interplay of typical wave ingredients such as Peter Hook, Simon Gallup or Steve Severin-inspired bass lines and atmospheric moments reminiscent of The Cure with contemporary electronic soundscapes leads to a very exciting record.
The album is made even more original by guest vocals from Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) on Into the Fog and June Dune (Dead Crush) on The Knife, while Sandrine's cello enriches several tracks with a haunting, melodic depth. The only non-English song is the French-language Envolver, which is reminiscent of the sound of their early days and would not be out of place on O.M.D.'s Organisation. Reportedly, there is also a Dutch-language version of this track. Since the world got to know Editors, there has already been a lot of positivity in the genre on the post-punk front. More so, Frederic's vocals even remind us a little of it.
At the end of the 1980s, the band released a few demos and then it went quiet until now. If you are a fan of Clan of Xymox, New Order, The Cure or Psyche, feel free to listen to this Paradoxical Sleep. Like so many others, The Ultimate Dreamers follow in the footsteps of Joy Division, as well as other heroes of Factory, even early Depeche Mode with beats that make Paradoxical Sleep easily digestible like the single Spiritchaser.
Despite all the memories of post-punk's heyday, Len Lemeire's (Implant, Anne Clark) modern production manages to make the leap to the present. The interplay of typical wave ingredients such as Peter Hook, Simon Gallup or Steve Severin-inspired bass lines and atmospheric moments reminiscent of The Cure with contemporary electronic soundscapes leads to a very exciting record.
The album is made even more original by guest vocals from Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) on Into the Fog and June Dune (Dead Crush) on The Knife, while Sandrine's cello enriches several tracks with a haunting, melodic depth. The only non-English song is the French-language Envolver, which is reminiscent of the sound of their early days and would not be out of place on O.M.D.'s Organisation. Reportedly, there is also a Dutch-language version of this track. Since the world got to know Editors, there has already been a lot of positivity in the genre on the post-punk front. More so, Frederic's vocals even remind us a little of it.
Music in Belgium (be) · 07/02/2025 [review]
Like the virus indirectly responsible for its reactivation in 2020, The Ultimate Dreamers project has developed in waves. But unlike Covid-19, which swept in from Wuhan at breakneck speed, the incubation period that began in Lessines took around thirty years. The first period of confinement was to be decisive for the rest of the story, as it enabled Frédéric Cotton to rediscover a cassette containing cold wave/dark wave recordings made at the time using rudimentary equipment. The compositions were relevant enough, however, to give him the idea of relaunching a band whose adventure had come to an end at the dawn of the 90s, between the last report card and the first bruises.
So he got back in touch with two of the original members, guitarist Bertrand Evrard and bassist Joël Grigolato, before releasing “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” the following year, a compilation of the aforementioned compositions deliberately delivered in demo form. ‘Polarized’, the unstoppable first new track from The Ultimate Dreamers 2.0, arrived in 2022, soon followed by the mini album ‘Echoing Reverie’. In the meantime, keyboardist Sarah Boom has returned to Turquoise and has been replaced by Sandrine, whose classical training has opened up new horizons for the quartet. The quartet has toured extensively over the years, both in Belgium and abroad.
In fact, it was on stage that several extracts from “Paradoxical Sleep”, the band's first proper full-length, were developed before being entrusted to the faithful Len Lemeire (Anne Clark, 32Crash, Implant...) to shape its contours. We're thinking in particular of the catchy single “Spiritchaser” and the heady “Deafness”, performed last year in support of Vox Low at Le Botanique. As is “The Knife”, enhanced by the presence of June Dune (Dead Crush), who graces the studio version with a spellbinding spoken word. And she's not the only guest, as Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) haunts “Into The Fog”, introduced by a haunting, icy bass and echoing Frédéric's creepy vocals.
While Depeche Mode's 'Violator' period, the Joy Division - New Order transition and the dark side of the Cure are the album's essential hooks, the Brussels-born band have nevertheless broadened their horizons by injecting judicious electronic contours here and there. It's a direction we can imagine inheriting from the dancefloor vision of “Violent Ghost”, an EP of remixes (including one by Front 242) released in autumn 2023. Take “Energene”, for example, whose groove and synthetic layers add a dose of mystery to the beats, or “Kid Alone”, whose restrained tension and arrangements would make Martin Gore proud. Not forgetting the bewitching strings that majestically soften a cold, grey environment, as on the particularly successful “Looking For”. The razor-sharp guitars of “Digging” and the hypnotic ones of “Far Away” frame an accomplished first album by a band who have taken things far from lightly.
So he got back in touch with two of the original members, guitarist Bertrand Evrard and bassist Joël Grigolato, before releasing “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” the following year, a compilation of the aforementioned compositions deliberately delivered in demo form. ‘Polarized’, the unstoppable first new track from The Ultimate Dreamers 2.0, arrived in 2022, soon followed by the mini album ‘Echoing Reverie’. In the meantime, keyboardist Sarah Boom has returned to Turquoise and has been replaced by Sandrine, whose classical training has opened up new horizons for the quartet. The quartet has toured extensively over the years, both in Belgium and abroad.
In fact, it was on stage that several extracts from “Paradoxical Sleep”, the band's first proper full-length, were developed before being entrusted to the faithful Len Lemeire (Anne Clark, 32Crash, Implant...) to shape its contours. We're thinking in particular of the catchy single “Spiritchaser” and the heady “Deafness”, performed last year in support of Vox Low at Le Botanique. As is “The Knife”, enhanced by the presence of June Dune (Dead Crush), who graces the studio version with a spellbinding spoken word. And she's not the only guest, as Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) haunts “Into The Fog”, introduced by a haunting, icy bass and echoing Frédéric's creepy vocals.
While Depeche Mode's 'Violator' period, the Joy Division - New Order transition and the dark side of the Cure are the album's essential hooks, the Brussels-born band have nevertheless broadened their horizons by injecting judicious electronic contours here and there. It's a direction we can imagine inheriting from the dancefloor vision of “Violent Ghost”, an EP of remixes (including one by Front 242) released in autumn 2023. Take “Energene”, for example, whose groove and synthetic layers add a dose of mystery to the beats, or “Kid Alone”, whose restrained tension and arrangements would make Martin Gore proud. Not forgetting the bewitching strings that majestically soften a cold, grey environment, as on the particularly successful “Looking For”. The razor-sharp guitars of “Digging” and the hypnotic ones of “Far Away” frame an accomplished first album by a band who have taken things far from lightly.
L'Avenir (be) · 07/02/2025 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers: convincing
Since their reformation in 2021, this Belgian band, who have been around since the 80s in Lessines, have been busy touring and releasing new material.
Paradoxical Sleep, with its cold wave and post-punk flavours, should appeal to fans of deep vocals and dark, melancholy melodies that also hark back to the gothic wave. Convincing. P.B.
Since their reformation in 2021, this Belgian band, who have been around since the 80s in Lessines, have been busy touring and releasing new material.
Paradoxical Sleep, with its cold wave and post-punk flavours, should appeal to fans of deep vocals and dark, melancholy melodies that also hark back to the gothic wave. Convincing. P.B.
Lux Atenea (sp) · 21/01/2025 [review]
The new album by the Belgian band The Ultimate Dreamers, entitled ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, will be officially launched on 7 February. It will be released in digital format, in a beautiful digipak CD edition that includes two bonus tracks, and in two luxurious limited editions of 150 units each on LP 12" red vinyl and transparent violet vinyl, being these editions available on the official Bandcamp pages of the prestigious record label Alfa Matrix, of its sublabel Spleen+, and on the official website of the band The Ultimate Dreamers. Decked out with this sinister cover, its image emanates conceptual flashes of the legendary Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) in the artistic outlining of these dark figures that seem to be in motion. Dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg), the album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ has been structured with thirteen magnificent musical tracks where its conceptual arc ranges from post-punk to synthpop, passing through the most intimate coldwave. In addition, the Belgian band The Ultimate Dreamers has been able to count on the professional collaboration of prestigious artists such as Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) on the track ‘Into the Fog’, June Dune (Dead Crush) on the track ‘The Knife’, and Sandrine on instrumental cello planes included in several tracks. An extraordinary musical definition and interpretation to give sonorous soul to each of these themes, highlighting especially the creative and innovative spirit that emerges in many of these compositions. Undoubtedly, listening to the album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ will delight the music lovers readers of Lux Atenea with more gothic tastes, precisely because of the precious melodic airs that embellish these themes, while the lyric flows with that harmony that seduces and invites you to repeat its audition, becoming that very personal and hedonistic emotional and sentimental moment. As a music analyst, I will always advise the vinyl edition if you wish to enjoy listening to it with the most reliable sound record, being the most appropriate choice due to the musical fullness it transmits.
Without further delay, we start listening to this extraordinary album by immersing ourselves in the melodic musical entrance of the track ‘Digging’, abruptly broken with this powerful guitar sound plane that marks structural breaking points from which everything is reconfigured, always maintaining this nebulous sound plane of the synthesizer even when the song takes on its energetic musical and lyrical body. A magnificent musical beginning of the album that will lead us to the doors of the track ‘Spiritchaser’, where its pulsating sonic inertia will remain constant to enhance its lyric decorated with metallic electronic brushstrokes that make the difference in this revitalised synthpop, being the track ‘Into The Fog’ the one that surprises again the music lovers readers of Lux Atenea with a new display of musical talent in its eclectic sound profile, evolving with a harmonic richness of elegant gothic look in its instrumental nuances until creating this irresistible musical charm. Into The Fog", precious theme!!!! The dark atmospheres of the track ‘Energene’ will maintain the sinister beauty of the previous song but within a more melancholic mental plane, although the instrumental composition in some moments seems to take more impulse and luminosity. Absolutely selenic, ‘Energene’ is a perfect song to include in a gothic music session as a transitional sound valley without letting the dancefloor go down, ‘Energene’, conceptually rejuvenated old-school!!! With the track ‘Kids Alone’ taking us back to the synthpop style, its accelerated tempo will not push its musical structure to a more vitalist soundstage, leading us to the track ‘Looking For’ where the reflective and bohemian have been faithfully reflected in its instrumental plane for cello by the hand of Sandrine, emerging this sparkling post-punk whose lyric has been masterfully balanced with its melodic planes until irradiating us with this gothic spleen typical of the 21st century. Looking For", melancholically obscure!!! In the theme ‘Deafness’, the delicate will appear as an absolute contrast with its extraordinary instrumental structure of gothic essence, leading us to feel that sensation of loneliness in a world where everything is stony, insensitive, and with that grey uneasiness that sinks the light of vitality under the mud, ‘Deafness’, one of the best themes of this album!!!! After listening to the previous track several times for pure pleasure, ‘Traum’ completely changes the sound stage, keeping its existential plane low, and projects that vital gloom that invites to abandon everything. Melodically languorous, ‘Traum’ is ambiently dense like a cloudy sky, leading us to the track ‘The Knife’ where the tragic is recreated with an artistic sensibility that will fascinate the music-loving readers of Lux Atenea who are fond of the gothic scene of the eighties. But ‘The Knife’ goes much further. Post-punk of authentic luxury in this year 2025 to be enjoyed slowly, and with June Dune (Dead Crush) in her chorus as a musical highlight, ‘The Knife’, great song!!! After the artistic spell of ‘The Knife’, ‘Far Away’ appears with a much more open and luminous soundstage, leaving all the weight of the composition in its lyrics. Raising the ambient sound intensity, the track ‘Envoler’ will base its conceptual essence on a coldwave melodically decorated with that silky sinuous movement that seduces you with its hedonistic halo, and where the time is fading away.
Without further delay, we start listening to this extraordinary album by immersing ourselves in the melodic musical entrance of the track ‘Digging’, abruptly broken with this powerful guitar sound plane that marks structural breaking points from which everything is reconfigured, always maintaining this nebulous sound plane of the synthesizer even when the song takes on its energetic musical and lyrical body. A magnificent musical beginning of the album that will lead us to the doors of the track ‘Spiritchaser’, where its pulsating sonic inertia will remain constant to enhance its lyric decorated with metallic electronic brushstrokes that make the difference in this revitalised synthpop, being the track ‘Into The Fog’ the one that surprises again the music lovers readers of Lux Atenea with a new display of musical talent in its eclectic sound profile, evolving with a harmonic richness of elegant gothic look in its instrumental nuances until creating this irresistible musical charm. Into The Fog", precious theme!!!! The dark atmospheres of the track ‘Energene’ will maintain the sinister beauty of the previous song but within a more melancholic mental plane, although the instrumental composition in some moments seems to take more impulse and luminosity. Absolutely selenic, ‘Energene’ is a perfect song to include in a gothic music session as a transitional sound valley without letting the dancefloor go down, ‘Energene’, conceptually rejuvenated old-school!!! With the track ‘Kids Alone’ taking us back to the synthpop style, its accelerated tempo will not push its musical structure to a more vitalist soundstage, leading us to the track ‘Looking For’ where the reflective and bohemian have been faithfully reflected in its instrumental plane for cello by the hand of Sandrine, emerging this sparkling post-punk whose lyric has been masterfully balanced with its melodic planes until irradiating us with this gothic spleen typical of the 21st century. Looking For", melancholically obscure!!! In the theme ‘Deafness’, the delicate will appear as an absolute contrast with its extraordinary instrumental structure of gothic essence, leading us to feel that sensation of loneliness in a world where everything is stony, insensitive, and with that grey uneasiness that sinks the light of vitality under the mud, ‘Deafness’, one of the best themes of this album!!!! After listening to the previous track several times for pure pleasure, ‘Traum’ completely changes the sound stage, keeping its existential plane low, and projects that vital gloom that invites to abandon everything. Melodically languorous, ‘Traum’ is ambiently dense like a cloudy sky, leading us to the track ‘The Knife’ where the tragic is recreated with an artistic sensibility that will fascinate the music-loving readers of Lux Atenea who are fond of the gothic scene of the eighties. But ‘The Knife’ goes much further. Post-punk of authentic luxury in this year 2025 to be enjoyed slowly, and with June Dune (Dead Crush) in her chorus as a musical highlight, ‘The Knife’, great song!!! After the artistic spell of ‘The Knife’, ‘Far Away’ appears with a much more open and luminous soundstage, leaving all the weight of the composition in its lyrics. Raising the ambient sound intensity, the track ‘Envoler’ will base its conceptual essence on a coldwave melodically decorated with that silky sinuous movement that seduces you with its hedonistic halo, and where the time is fading away.
ElectroSpank (gr) · 19/01/2025 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers is a cold dark wave and post-punk quartet hailing from Belgium. We have our eyes and ears to these artists since their 2022 when their single "Polarized" was released and the four-piece band returned in action. Since then, many good things happened like their full-length album "Echoing Reverie", released on CD in March 2023 (Spleen+) and on vinyl in May 2023 (Wave Tension Records). In October 2023, "Echoing Reverie" finds its companion EP, "Violent Ghost", featuring revisited versions and remixes by Front 242, Shad Shadows and hørd.
Currently, the wait is coming to an end since their anticipated, sophomore full length album "Paradoxical Sleep" is about to be out, expected on February 7th via Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix.
"Spiritchaser" is the second single out of "Paradoxical Sleep", released by the end of November 2024, and it has been one of the highlights that had been received by the end of the year. "Spiritchaser" followed the first single "Digging", released earlier, in September 2024. "Digging" was a perfect introduction to the new album, since The Ultimate Dreamers presented a solid track that blended some post-industrial, dark rock and heavy riffs with gloomy post-punk beats and ambience, expressing depressing melancholia. "Spiritchaser" is going into different path fro "Digging" keeping the coldness and the somber atmosphere while the sound is based on dynamic beats, in the form of the early Belgian EBM.
Above this, though, The Ultimate Dreamers keeps their cold wave and post-punk influences in font with a strong, intense bass line, enriched with the sharpness of the guitar riff and the melancholic voice of Frederic. All these elements creates a synth based, post-punk, dancefloor hit which sticks with the listener from the very beginning, filled with dark energy, ominous harrmonies and sinister tunes while the lyrics talk about relationships and exposure to toxic people on various situations and levels, and the need to escape from such connections or conditions.
"Spiritchaser" comes with the official video created by Amanita Noir, recorded in black and white, showcasing such conditions ranging from everyday routine to protesters fights and war imagery. While the video and the song moves on, we see that an escape and exit is found, presented by walks in nature and transforming the scenery from black and white to duotone and full colored in the end.
The Ultimate Dreamers are Bertrand (guitar), Fred (vocals, second bass guitar), Jo (bass guitar) and Sandrine (keyboards, cello). After the triumphant comeback of "Echoing Reverie" and an electrifying tour across Europe, the Belgian quartet THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS is back in 2025 with “Paradoxical Sleep” - an album of entirely new material that reaffirms their place in the heart of the alternative scene.
Currently, the wait is coming to an end since their anticipated, sophomore full length album "Paradoxical Sleep" is about to be out, expected on February 7th via Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix.
"Spiritchaser" is the second single out of "Paradoxical Sleep", released by the end of November 2024, and it has been one of the highlights that had been received by the end of the year. "Spiritchaser" followed the first single "Digging", released earlier, in September 2024. "Digging" was a perfect introduction to the new album, since The Ultimate Dreamers presented a solid track that blended some post-industrial, dark rock and heavy riffs with gloomy post-punk beats and ambience, expressing depressing melancholia. "Spiritchaser" is going into different path fro "Digging" keeping the coldness and the somber atmosphere while the sound is based on dynamic beats, in the form of the early Belgian EBM.
Above this, though, The Ultimate Dreamers keeps their cold wave and post-punk influences in font with a strong, intense bass line, enriched with the sharpness of the guitar riff and the melancholic voice of Frederic. All these elements creates a synth based, post-punk, dancefloor hit which sticks with the listener from the very beginning, filled with dark energy, ominous harrmonies and sinister tunes while the lyrics talk about relationships and exposure to toxic people on various situations and levels, and the need to escape from such connections or conditions.
"Spiritchaser" comes with the official video created by Amanita Noir, recorded in black and white, showcasing such conditions ranging from everyday routine to protesters fights and war imagery. While the video and the song moves on, we see that an escape and exit is found, presented by walks in nature and transforming the scenery from black and white to duotone and full colored in the end.
The Ultimate Dreamers are Bertrand (guitar), Fred (vocals, second bass guitar), Jo (bass guitar) and Sandrine (keyboards, cello). After the triumphant comeback of "Echoing Reverie" and an electrifying tour across Europe, the Belgian quartet THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS is back in 2025 with “Paradoxical Sleep” - an album of entirely new material that reaffirms their place in the heart of the alternative scene.
Sanctuary (cz) · 16/01/2025 [article]
The Belgian four-piece confirm their return with their second album.The Ultimate Dreamers pushed back the lid on their own grave three years ago and have been a fairly agile fish in the post-punk pond ever since. Back in the fall, we informed you of the existence of the first single from the upcoming new album.
The record will be released on February 7, 2025, and will feature thirteen tracks, with guest appearances from Winter Severity Index's Simony Ferrucci on Into the Fog and Dead Crush's June Dune on The Knife alongside the core quartet. The collection was produced by Len Lemeire (who has previously worked with Implant, Anne Clark and 32Crash). The post-punk release will be released on the Spleen+ label digitally, on CD and two types of vinyl. You can pre-order the physical media on the label's website.
The record will be released on February 7, 2025, and will feature thirteen tracks, with guest appearances from Winter Severity Index's Simony Ferrucci on Into the Fog and Dead Crush's June Dune on The Knife alongside the core quartet. The collection was produced by Len Lemeire (who has previously worked with Implant, Anne Clark and 32Crash). The post-punk release will be released on the Spleen+ label digitally, on CD and two types of vinyl. You can pre-order the physical media on the label's website.
BLITZ! (fr) · 13/01/2025 [review]
Belgium's The Ultimate Dreamers are back with their new single “Digging”, the first taste of their album Paradoxical Sleep, due for release in early 2025. The track plunges into an eerie sonic universe where dark, depressive vocals collide with jagged guitar riffs, amplifying the track's oppressive, doomy atmosphere. It's a haunting introduction to what promises to be an intriguing new chapter for the band. As a bonus, the single also includes an exclusive version of their darkwave anthem “Japanese Death”, reimagined in 2024, reminding us of the band's more melodic and melancholy side.
The second track taken from the forthcoming album was released on 22 November; the dynamic “Spiritchaser” is accompanied by “Digging” as part of this 2-track single.
The second track taken from the forthcoming album was released on 22 November; the dynamic “Spiritchaser” is accompanied by “Digging” as part of this 2-track single.
Flight of Pegasus (be) · 12/01/2025 [review]
The lady and the three gentlemen that make up this band from Belgium offer a new album that will be appreciated first and foremost by those who have experiences from the '80s. They specialise in dark pop that has as its main exponents the Cure, Joy Division and other unsung heroes from the first half of that decade. Their songs clearly echo what they experienced at the time and the reason why they become convincing is that they manage the austerity of analogue sounds in that old way that made them absolutely atmospheric. This is not a retro situation, but an accurate reprint of an aesthetic that influenced even those who were not avid recipients of it. These musicians, however, did not appeal to bankrupt sensibilities and could have been a little more selective about which tracks made it onto the album. They are subtly expressed.
Gothic Empire (de) · 06/01/2025 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers: ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ - A masterpiece for dark wave fans - After their triumphant comeback with Echoing Reverie and a rousing tour of Europe, Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers are back in 2025 with a brand new album: 'Paradoxical Sleep'. The album, which will be released on 7 February 2025, marks another high point in the band's career and cements their place at the forefront of the alternative music scene.
Dark elegance meets modern production - With the highlights "Digging" and "Spiritchaser", the band shows its best side: hypnotising melodies, pulsating rhythms and a dark, introspective atmosphere reminiscent of the best moments of The Cure, Joy Division and The Psychedelic Furs. At the same time, producer Len Lemeire (Implant, Anne Clark) gives the songs a contemporary sound that combines classic post-punk and cold wave elements with modern soundscapes.
Guest appearances and special highlights - The collaborations with Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) on the track "Into the Fog" and June Dune (Dead Crush) on "The Knife" are particularly noteworthy. Sandrine's cello also enriches several tracks, giving them depth and a melancholy note that gets under your skin.
The special blend of penetrating melodies, captivating rhythms and profound lyrics makes 'Paradoxical Sleep' a work that effortlessly transcends time and genres. The album is also dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg), which adds to its emotional depth.
Dark elegance meets modern production - With the highlights "Digging" and "Spiritchaser", the band shows its best side: hypnotising melodies, pulsating rhythms and a dark, introspective atmosphere reminiscent of the best moments of The Cure, Joy Division and The Psychedelic Furs. At the same time, producer Len Lemeire (Implant, Anne Clark) gives the songs a contemporary sound that combines classic post-punk and cold wave elements with modern soundscapes.
Guest appearances and special highlights - The collaborations with Simona Ferrucci (Winter Severity Index) on the track "Into the Fog" and June Dune (Dead Crush) on "The Knife" are particularly noteworthy. Sandrine's cello also enriches several tracks, giving them depth and a melancholy note that gets under your skin.
The special blend of penetrating melodies, captivating rhythms and profound lyrics makes 'Paradoxical Sleep' a work that effortlessly transcends time and genres. The album is also dedicated to the memory of Philippe Pascal (Marquis de Sade, Marc Seberg), which adds to its emotional depth.
Musiczine (be) · 19/12/2024 [review]
We already wrote with the previous single that "Digging" was of a high standard, which definitely made us look forward to their new album “Paradoxical Sleep”. The new album is scheduled for 7 February 2025 but in the meantime, we get to hear a second soprano: "Spiritchaser".It gets right to the point. The song immediately starts in full force. It is an uptempo song that seems quite traditionally constructed, but it is a pleasantly catchy song. It contains some nice synth sounds, a warm bass ( in the style of New Order) and pleasant vocals. The whole thing is well produced and mixed. The video, too, is back by Amanita Noir. With the songs already unloaded, interest in the new album still remains piqued.
Music in Belgium (be) · 13/12/2024 [review]
Since making an unexpected return to the music scene during a pandemic after some thirty years of inactivity, The Ultimate Dreamers have not stood still. The Brussels-based band, led by Frédéric Cotton, will be releasing their long-awaited debut album next year. Called ‘Paradoxical Sleep’ and due out on 7 February, it's a logical next step in the development of the now perfectly honed project. It follows a compilation of vintage demos (‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’), an unstoppable single (‘Polarized’), a mini album (‘Echoing Reverie’) and a remix EP (‘Violent Ghost’). Like any self-respecting album, it was teased out with a series of early singles. The first, ‘Digging’, was released in September, and shows a side that's just as dark as ever, but much more mature. The sinister atmospheres pave the way for creepy vocals and a square rhythmic pattern softened by discreet but essential synthetic layers. And to draw a link with their past, an updated version of the excellent ‘Japanese Death’, with its frankly Curesque guitars, is a particularly relevant bonus. The second, ‘Spiritchaser’, won't be entirely unfamiliar to those who follow them live, as they played it when they supported Vox Low at Le Bota last February. Less oppressive, it's no less cavernous, with catchy riffs reminiscent of Depeche Mode's ‘Violator’ or New Order's ‘Movement’. We wouldn't go so far as to describe it as colourful, but it could well become one of the cornerstones of their future live performances.
Analogue Trash (uk) · 12/12/2024 [review]
Ahead of the release of their Paradoxical Sleep album in early 2025, Brussels-based quartet The Ultimate Dreamers give us a suitably brooding early taster in Spiritchaser. Spiritchaser shows the band wearing their influences lightly, drawing strongly from 80s alternative scenes without being overshadowed by the music of that era. Coldwave built upon a distinct EBM and post-punk framework; the moody vocals and driving melody make for a dark rock sound that is surprisingly easy to dance to. If you are a fan of iconic acts like Clan of Xymox and Xmal Deutschland, but have a hankering for the electronic sounds of TR/ST and Mareux, there’s a lot here for you to love. Can’t wait to hear what the band has in store for us on the new album!
Romu Rocks (fr) · 11/12/2024 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers have announced the release of their new album 'Paradoxical Sleep' on 7 February 2025 on Alfa Matrix / Spleen+.The Belgian band have unveiled a new single entitled “Spiritchaser”.Somewhere between cold wave and post-punk, their cold sounds combine perfectly on this track, which you can check out below.
Sun Burns Out (fr) · 3/12/2024 [review]
We may be used to it, but we love the sound from the first second: the bass that's very low on the knees like in the old days, the guitars that threaten and enchant, and the melancholic voice that's not without power. This second single from Belgium's The Ultimate Dreamers is a beautiful track, and as the first Digging also sounded insane, we're left thinking that their next album, Paradoxical Sleep, due out at the end of February, will surely be worth the trip. The aesthetically polished Brussels quartet, whose records can be found on Bandcamp⤵, are in fine form and are increasingly pushing the reminiscence envelope with this fascinating universe of the late 70s, where memories of The Cure, Joy Division and then New Order intersect, but also of the great era of Belgian synthpop and indus electro, a few groups of which (Front 242, for example) are still around. It's dark but luminous and romantic. It's committed and often remarkably lyrical, as is the case here on this single. The Ultimate Dreamers have some of the charm of the early Editors.
Rockola Indie (mx) · 2/12/2024 [review]
The raw, austere and dark sound of post-punk is just one of the conventions that this genre can have, a particular way of evoking certain melancholic melodies. The Ultimate Dreamers is a project that, along the way, has found a characteristic sound in the wake of these media, giving discourses that are dominated by dreams, the anguish of love and social disillusionment. With a series of unconventional elements they manage to create a spectrum of travel or not the interesting thanks to this single that could be launched this year on all digital platforms, entitled: ‘Spiritchaser’, a theme with a dark and hypnotic spectrum, has captivating guitars with this characteristic sound that creates a parallelism between the dreamlike and the ambient, also creating the prominence of this rather melancholic and cold synthesized drums. I love the combination of these genres; they faithfully capture the essence of the sombre experimental influences of post punk. With these quite accessible and pleasant electronic textures, resulting in this particular sound full of character.
Nene's Butler (at) · 2/12/2024 [review]
The deep inner restlessness and rejection of the empty and meaningless social interactions that often characterize modern life is the theme of The Ultimate Dreamers' new release. "Spiritchaser" conveys a strong longing for authenticity and individual freedom, far away from the false facades and superficial courtesies of society. One embarks on a search, feeling the need to free oneself from these negative influences and find one's own path. The desire to take their own, authentic path in life is at the forefront. Musically, the band succeeds in creating a unique melancholy that is reminiscent of big names and doesn't need to shy away from comparisons. Stylistically, the sound and atmosphere created by the bass, synthesizer, and guitar are more akin to The Cure, although the melancholy in the vocals is more attributable to early New Order, with a lingering Joy Division tendency. And so, at the end of the year, we get a cold/dark wave track that was born in the bosom of post-punk and has everything you love about these genres. If you haven't acquired a taste for it yet, this would be a good introductory song that won't let you go any time soon. We are eagerly awaiting the upcoming album.
Amplead Music (mx) · 2/12/2024 [review]
The raw, austere and dark sound of post-punk is just one of the conventions that this genre can have, a particular way of evoking certain melancholic melodies. The Ultimate Dreamers is a project that, along the way, has found a characteristic sound in the wake of these media, giving discourses that are dominated by dreams, the anguish of love and social disillusionment.
With a series of unconventional elements they manage to create a spectrum of travel or not the interesting thanks to this single that could be launched this year on all digital platforms, entitled: ‘Spiritchaser’, a theme with a dark and hypnotic spectrum, has captivating guitars with this characteristic sound that creates a parallelism between the dreamlike and the ambient, also creating the prominence of this rather melancholic and cold synthesized drums.
I love the combination of these genres; they faithfully capture the essence of the sombre experimental influences of post punk. With these quite accessible and pleasant electronic textures, resulting in this particular sound full of character.
With a series of unconventional elements they manage to create a spectrum of travel or not the interesting thanks to this single that could be launched this year on all digital platforms, entitled: ‘Spiritchaser’, a theme with a dark and hypnotic spectrum, has captivating guitars with this characteristic sound that creates a parallelism between the dreamlike and the ambient, also creating the prominence of this rather melancholic and cold synthesized drums.
I love the combination of these genres; they faithfully capture the essence of the sombre experimental influences of post punk. With these quite accessible and pleasant electronic textures, resulting in this particular sound full of character.
daMusic (be) · 30/11/2024 [review]
It seems as if The Ultimate Dreamers want to make up for their long absence with a string of new songs . Initially active between 1986 and 1991, the group reunited in 2021 to present a compilation of old demos titled ‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’. But look, blood crawls where it can't go and soon there was the first, all-new single Polarized, quickly followed by a new album and EP. Last September, there was Digging, the first harbinger of the new album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, to be released on 7 February. Those who were not quite convinced after Digging that The Ultimate Dreamers are fully back: Spiritchaser effortlessly blows away those last doubts. Melodious synthesizers, compelling vocals and dark bass lines create a dark, mysterious atmosphere that reminds us of a young Depeche Mode / New Order crusade. All this, cast in a handsome video by Amanita Noir, makes us look forward to that new record with great pleasure.
Luminous Dash (be) · 28/11/2024 [review]
Everything comes back and sometimes from unexpected quarters, which is also true for The Ultimate Dreamers, a Brussels coldwave collective that was active at the end of the 80s. Armed with trousers full of gusto, the foursome dove back into the studio to record an album that will be released early next year. A few months ago, the first single Digging was sent out into the world, and now Spiritchaser. Let's not be fainthearted about it. From the first to the last second, you can hear that these are kids from the dark 80s. Not the slightest effort is made to sound contemporary, which is exactly what we expect from this kind of band, right? Spiritchaser starts off as dark electro and soon you hear the typical bass line that Peter Hook has an eternal patent on. Dark, but also danceable due to the synths that sound a bit like Section 25. This is just to say that The Ultimate Dreamers have listened very well to old Factory records. A record that could just as well have been made in 1984, but if even the Cold War is allowed to make a comeback, so may the soundtrack that goes with it!
White Light // White Heat (it) · 27/11/2024 [review]
Brussels-based Belgian Cold Post Punk four-piece, made of Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass), and classical musician Sandrine (keyboards and cello). return to WL//WH with “Spiritchaser,” the second foretaste from the highly anticipated studio album “Paradoxical Sleep,”, due out on February 7, 2025, via Spleen+, accompanied by the evocative Video directed by Amanita Noir. Dealing with a shared way of life increasingly empty and phoney, the greyish and somber Cure-sque ambience of “Spiritchaser” stirs up constantly punchy, at times clinking, crisp drum patterns along with burbling pulsing bass lines underlying reiterated melancholic glistening guitar melodies and desolate whirls of wailing dim synth layers, drawing wistful introspective vocals to admit the truth and leave. In the Official Video by Amanita Noir, black and white clips of war, street protests, and drone like masses intersperse with a lonely soul who keeps walking up and down a short flight of stairs as if wrought by indecision. Then, a little over midway through, a shift into an open country area where the sun slowly shines color through the monochromatic vision to bring warmth, hope, and light. The Ultimate Dreamers‘ LP, “Paradoxical Sleep”, will be released on February 7, 2025, via Spleen+ label (the cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group).
Esprits Critiques (be) · 27/11/2024 [news]
We've already spoken highly of Ultimate Dreamers' latest album. This engaging single heralds the release of Paradoxical Sleep on 7 February 2025. We'll make a note of it and come back to you.
Jammerzine (us) · 24/11/2024 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers has released their new video for the track titled ‘Spiritchaser’. Dark surrealism with an anti-climatic and continuous sensibility for the subconscious mind, ‘Spiritchaser’ is exactly what it says it is and claims to be.
Retrotastically in tune with your inner dark self, The Ultimate Dreamers showcase the distress of the inner self and the torment of the socially suppressed and artistically subdued with a slacker anthem meant for the masses and mused from the rest of us.
Retrotastically in tune with your inner dark self, The Ultimate Dreamers showcase the distress of the inner self and the torment of the socially suppressed and artistically subdued with a slacker anthem meant for the masses and mused from the rest of us.
Zero Magazine (se) · 24/11/2024 [review]
Do you like The Cure, Joy Division and The Sisters of Mercy? Excellent! Then check out the Belgian cold wave band The Ultimate Dreamers from Brussels, who have previously been remixed by Patrick Codenys from Front 242, and now release ‘Spiritchaser’, the second single from their upcoming album Paradoxical Sleep. Don't miss the stylish video, signed Amanita Noir.
Obsküre (fr) · 23/11/2024 [review]
In the space of a few weeks, this is the second glimpse of the near future. Paradoxical Sleep will be released on 7 February 2025 and The Ultimate Dreamers are clarifying their intentions after the already confident first single ‘Digging’. The linear, blunt, coldwave bass, the airy details of the guitars, the controlled medium voice... a new single that promises at least as many great things as the first, and an album we're looking forward to with increasing impatience.
Kool Rock Radio · 22/11/2024 [review]
Belgian cold wave/post punk band The Ultimate Dreamers have unveiled their new single “Spiritchaser“ and its accompanying visuals. Following the dark, haunting vibes of their last release “Digging”, the band return with the second glimpse into their highly anticipated new album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’. Get it here. This time, they turn up the energy with an infectious, melodic synth-driven track that sticks with you from the beginning. Pulsing basslines, addictive electric guitars, and melancholic vocals intertwine, creating a hazy, darkwave atmosphere reminiscent of THE CURE or early NEW ORDER. True to their artistic vision, the band have also release a striking video, blending sound and visuals into a powerful, immersive experience.
Sanctuary (cz) · 7/11/2024 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers pave the way to a new album with a new single. The Belgian foursome suggests that the second phase of operation will have its continuation. Belgian, dark rock throwbacks The Ultimate Dreamers are back with new single "Digging", the first taste of their forthcoming album "Paradoxical Sleep", due for release in early 2025.
The first sample has a dense, weighty sound where dark electronics collide with thick guitar picking in a rhythmically jagged construction. As a bonus, the new single is accompanied by an exclusive reworked version of "2024" of the band's own dark anthem "Japanese Death", which recalls a more melodic, yet melancholic side of the band.
The first sample has a dense, weighty sound where dark electronics collide with thick guitar picking in a rhythmically jagged construction. As a bonus, the new single is accompanied by an exclusive reworked version of "2024" of the band's own dark anthem "Japanese Death", which recalls a more melodic, yet melancholic side of the band.
Atomium Magazine (cl) · 27/10/2024 [review]
Belgium's The Ultimate Dreamers return with a chilling new single, ‘Digging’, the first single from their forthcoming album Paradoxical Sleep, to be released in January 2025. The song delves into a sinister sonic universe where dark, depressive vocals intertwine with gut-wrenching guitar riffs, amplifying the oppressive, doomy atmosphere of the song. As a bonus, the single features a new version of their anthem ‘Japanese Death’, which recalls the band's melodic and melancholic side.
‘Digging’ is accompanied by a stunning video directed by the talented Amanita Noir, renowned for her dark and edgy art. This visual experience perfectly complements the haunting atmosphere of the song.
‘Digging’ is accompanied by a stunning video directed by the talented Amanita Noir, renowned for her dark and edgy art. This visual experience perfectly complements the haunting atmosphere of the song.
Musikepool (us) · 17/10/2024 [review]
On September 13, 2024, The Ultimate Dreamers unveiled their haunting new single, “Digging”, a track that plunges deep into an unsettling sonic landscape. This Brussels-based band, known for their captivating blend of darkwave and post-punk, has crafted a song that is as eerie as it is engaging. Produced in Ghent by Len Lemeire, “Digging” serves as a compelling introduction to their highly anticipated album, ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, set to release in early 2025. From the first notes, “Digging” immerses listeners in a chilling atmosphere. The song opens with a dissonant guitar riff that sets the tone for the oppressive vibe that follows. Fred’s deep, somber vocals weave through the sound, creating a sense of melancholy that resonates with anyone who has faced life’s darker moments. His delivery is raw and emotional, perfectly complementing the jagged instrumentation. The lyrics explore themes of suffering and the inevitable end of life, capturing a deep sense of introspection.
Bertrand’s guitar work is a standout feature of the track. His jagged riffs cut through the mix, providing an almost visceral edge that heightens the emotional intensity. Jo’s bassline anchors the song, offering a steady heartbeat beneath the swirling chaos of sound, while Sandrine’s keyboards and cello add a haunting melodic layer. Together, they create a rich, textured sound that is unmistakably The Ultimate Dreamers. Adding to the song’s allure is a visually striking music video directed by Amanita Noir. The visuals are dark and compelling, echoing the song’s themes and enhancing the listening experience. It’s a must-see for fans, providing a visual representation of the chilling emotions conveyed in the music.
“Digging” is not just a song; it’s an experience that showcases the band’s artistic growth and depth. This single hints at the exciting directions they’re exploring in their upcoming album. As they continue to draw inspiration from influences like Joy Division and Paradise Lost, The Ultimate Dreamers are carving out their own niche in the alternative music scene. As they prepare for the release of ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, “Digging” leaves listeners eager for more, promising a captivating journey into the darker sides of human experience. This track will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who appreciates music that pushes boundaries and evokes deep emotion.
Bertrand’s guitar work is a standout feature of the track. His jagged riffs cut through the mix, providing an almost visceral edge that heightens the emotional intensity. Jo’s bassline anchors the song, offering a steady heartbeat beneath the swirling chaos of sound, while Sandrine’s keyboards and cello add a haunting melodic layer. Together, they create a rich, textured sound that is unmistakably The Ultimate Dreamers. Adding to the song’s allure is a visually striking music video directed by Amanita Noir. The visuals are dark and compelling, echoing the song’s themes and enhancing the listening experience. It’s a must-see for fans, providing a visual representation of the chilling emotions conveyed in the music.
“Digging” is not just a song; it’s an experience that showcases the band’s artistic growth and depth. This single hints at the exciting directions they’re exploring in their upcoming album. As they continue to draw inspiration from influences like Joy Division and Paradise Lost, The Ultimate Dreamers are carving out their own niche in the alternative music scene. As they prepare for the release of ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, “Digging” leaves listeners eager for more, promising a captivating journey into the darker sides of human experience. This track will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who appreciates music that pushes boundaries and evokes deep emotion.
Buzzy Band (us) · 14/10/2024 [review]
Brussels-based quartet The Ultimate Dreamers are not your average indie rock band. They’re a sonic expedition into the shadowy realms of goth, post-punk, and industrial, drawing inspiration from legends like Joy Division and Paradise Lost. Their latest single, “Digging,” is a haunting dive into the depths of despair, a track that’s as unsettling as it is captivating. Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, Anne Clark) and accompanied by a visually striking music video directed by Amanita Noir, “Digging” is a sonic and visual feast for fans of the dark arts. The song opens with a somber, melancholic melody that sets the stage for the lyrical exploration of grief and loss. Fred’s vocals are raw and emotive, conveying a sense of deep despair and longing. The guitar riffs, played by Bertrand himself, are jagged and dissonant, creating a sense of tension and unease. But there’s a strange beauty to this darkness. The band’s ability to blend melancholic melodies with driving rhythms and industrial textures is what sets them apart. “Digging” is a song that both repels and attracts, a sonic exploration of the darker corners of the human psyche. The music video, directed by Amanita Noir, is a perfect visual companion to the song. Noir’s signature style, characterized by dark imagery and surreal symbolism, complements the track’s haunting atmosphere. “Digging” is a glimpse into The Ultimate Dreamers‘ upcoming album, “Paradoxical Sleep,” and it promises to be a dark and intriguing journey. This band is not afraid to explore the shadows, and they do it with a raw intensity that’s both captivating and unsettling. So, if you’re ready to dive into a world of gothic-inspired rock and roll, “Digging” is a must-listen. It’s a haunting, beautiful, and ultimately unforgettable track that will leave you wanting more.
The Big Takeover (us) · 3/10/2024 [review]
To say that “Digging,” the latest single from The Ultimate Dreamers, is a song built out of extreme sonic forces is an understatement, to say the least. We get used to opposing sounds clashing in such gothic/industrial/post-punk realms, but even those expectations don’t prepare us for what we find here.
This is more than just abrasive and heightened sounds imploding on a blank music canvas, for here, those sounds seem to be dropped from space and into the fathomless depths to create a musical contrast that goes way beyond the simple loud/quiet interface so loved by the alternative music world.
“Digging” is the blending of cold wave melancholia, Cold War winds, nuclear winter, apocalyptic sonics, atmosphere, and anticipation, all realized as, if not quite, song in the conventional sense, at least sound in a broader context.
As a first taste of their album Paradoxical Sleep, slated for release in early 2025, “Digging” is an intriguing proposition, a song that swerves the theatrics and cliche of the gothic world, tempers the bombast of the industrial realm and which blends ambient, cinematic moves with incendiary and doom-laden grooves.
Throw in the artful and slightly avant-garde video, one that is as cool and abstract as the music it seeks to act out, and you have one of the most impressive and memorable calling cards I have come across in a long time.
This is more than just abrasive and heightened sounds imploding on a blank music canvas, for here, those sounds seem to be dropped from space and into the fathomless depths to create a musical contrast that goes way beyond the simple loud/quiet interface so loved by the alternative music world.
“Digging” is the blending of cold wave melancholia, Cold War winds, nuclear winter, apocalyptic sonics, atmosphere, and anticipation, all realized as, if not quite, song in the conventional sense, at least sound in a broader context.
As a first taste of their album Paradoxical Sleep, slated for release in early 2025, “Digging” is an intriguing proposition, a song that swerves the theatrics and cliche of the gothic world, tempers the bombast of the industrial realm and which blends ambient, cinematic moves with incendiary and doom-laden grooves.
Throw in the artful and slightly avant-garde video, one that is as cool and abstract as the music it seeks to act out, and you have one of the most impressive and memorable calling cards I have come across in a long time.
Dark Entries (be) · 3/10/2024 [interview]
The Ultimate Dreamers are making new music at full speed. Last week, their new single ‘Digging’ was released, and it is the precursor to the album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’, which is due for release in January 2025. That will be the group’s second album since the 2021 reunion, when a compilation was released of their work from their early years from 1986 to 1991. On Saturday 12 October 2024, they will play at a Dark Entries Night in Ghent’s Kinky Star, and that drove us to contact Ultimate Dreamer Frédéric Cotton again.Hi Frédéric. The Ultimate Dreamers seem to be very busy. Since the band’s reunion in 2021, you have released a single, an album, an EP and a second single announcing the second album, which will be released in January 2025. How do you manage to be so productive? [click below to read the full interview]
Iggy Mag (fr) · 3/10/2024 [review]
With ‘Digging’, The Ultimate Dreamers mark a powerful return to the coldwave scene. The first single release from their forthcoming album Paradoxical Sleep, due out in January 2025, this track captivates from the very first notes with its heavy, almost suffocating atmosphere. The mix of sharp guitar riffs and the singer's deep, desperate voice plunges the listener into an oppressive world of sound. Produced in Ghent by Len Lemeire, this track is a striking example of the band's unique style, reminiscent of the shadow of Joy Division.
Accompanied by a haunting video directed by Amanita Noir, known for her dark, avant-garde work, ‘Digging’ transcends the simple auditory experience. The combination of image and sound reinforces the sinister atmosphere, and shows that The Ultimate Dreamers have perfectly mastered the art of visual storytelling. This synergy between music and image has become a trademark of the band.
The single also includes a new version of ‘Japanese Death’, a classic in their repertoire, underlining their ability to marry intensity and melancholy. With ‘Digging’, The Ultimate Dreamers confirm their key role on the Belgian darkwave scene, combining cold post-punk with electronic influences.
As we await the release of Paradoxical Sleep, this track builds up a feverish anticipation for their new opus, which promises to be as dark as it is fascinating.
Accompanied by a haunting video directed by Amanita Noir, known for her dark, avant-garde work, ‘Digging’ transcends the simple auditory experience. The combination of image and sound reinforces the sinister atmosphere, and shows that The Ultimate Dreamers have perfectly mastered the art of visual storytelling. This synergy between music and image has become a trademark of the band.
The single also includes a new version of ‘Japanese Death’, a classic in their repertoire, underlining their ability to marry intensity and melancholy. With ‘Digging’, The Ultimate Dreamers confirm their key role on the Belgian darkwave scene, combining cold post-punk with electronic influences.
As we await the release of Paradoxical Sleep, this track builds up a feverish anticipation for their new opus, which promises to be as dark as it is fascinating.
Edgar Allan Poets (us) · 2/10/2024 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers’ single “Digging” kicks off with a sharp hi-hat that sets a steady rhythm, almost like a clock ticking away time. The deep, dark vocals evoke shades of Peter Steele, with a compressed effect that adds a unique texture to the delivery, making it particularly intriguing. When the guitars hit, it’s like a sudden slap—sharp, direct, and powerful—leaving you wondering what might come next. The track sustains an intensity throughout, pulling you into an exploration of the darker corners of the subconscious. Amidst the heavy riffs, the song offers melodic shifts where the keys bring in a dystopian sense of hope, easing the overwhelming feeling of helplessness that the verses evoke. It’s a careful balance between darkness and light, with the band masterfully crafting a tension that hovers between the two. The Ultimate Dreamers’ dark and intense rock creates a purgatorial atmosphere, allowing the listener to gaze into the void while still catching glimpses of light. A remarkable discovery that I highly recommend.
Musiczine (be) · 19/09/2024 [review]
In early 2025, Brussels-based cold wave/dark wave band The Ultimate Dreamers will release their new album ‘Paradoxical Sleep’. ‘Digging’ is the first feat from this new record. In terms of atmosphere and so on, it sounds like a typical track from them: dark, cold, dystopian etc....
But in terms of mix and production, we can speak of a change/renewal here. We get a protracted build-up before the track picks up pace. In the beginning, we get a thin, cold synth and percussion under the vocals where after a while a heavy guitar comes to break the mood. Halfway through the song, the bass already picks up the rhythm. The song then breaks open on all levels towards the end. The second song on this single is a reworked version of ‘Japanese Death’.
Also check out the beautiful music video for ‘Digging’ made by Amanita Noir.
The evolution we get to hear in ‘Digging’, where they explore new horizons, is very successful. The mix and production is well done and the song has also been given a certain layering. With this track, there is even more of their own recognisable sound.
If all the tracks on the new album will be of this level then we are going to enjoy it a lot.
But in terms of mix and production, we can speak of a change/renewal here. We get a protracted build-up before the track picks up pace. In the beginning, we get a thin, cold synth and percussion under the vocals where after a while a heavy guitar comes to break the mood. Halfway through the song, the bass already picks up the rhythm. The song then breaks open on all levels towards the end. The second song on this single is a reworked version of ‘Japanese Death’.
Also check out the beautiful music video for ‘Digging’ made by Amanita Noir.
The evolution we get to hear in ‘Digging’, where they explore new horizons, is very successful. The mix and production is well done and the song has also been given a certain layering. With this track, there is even more of their own recognisable sound.
If all the tracks on the new album will be of this level then we are going to enjoy it a lot.
Electro Emotions (mx) · 19/09/2024 [review]
With their unmistakable post-punk and cold wave stamp, The Ultimate Dreamers return with "Digging", the first glimpse of what promises to be a masterpiece on their upcoming album "Paradoxical Sleep", to be released in early 2025 under the Alpha Matrix label.
This single invites us on an introspective journey, where the transition between life and death, the end of suffering and peace of the soul are transformed into ethereal soundscapes. In "Digging", the band channels deep emotions, wrapped in their characteristic sombre tone, achieving a musical reflection full of mysticism.
As if that were not enough, the release includes a reimagined version of their iconic darkwave piece "Japanese Death", which reappears in 2024 with a renewed nuance, but without losing that melodic and melancholic echo that so characterizes the band.
The sensory experience is completed with an impressive music video directed by the visionary Amanita Noir, an artist of dark avant-garde, who has managed to capture the disturbing essence of The Ultimate Dreamers. This visual short film not only amplifies the emotional impact of "Digging", but turns the song into an essential experience for faithful followers of the group's dark and enveloping sound universe.
This single invites us on an introspective journey, where the transition between life and death, the end of suffering and peace of the soul are transformed into ethereal soundscapes. In "Digging", the band channels deep emotions, wrapped in their characteristic sombre tone, achieving a musical reflection full of mysticism.
As if that were not enough, the release includes a reimagined version of their iconic darkwave piece "Japanese Death", which reappears in 2024 with a renewed nuance, but without losing that melodic and melancholic echo that so characterizes the band.
The sensory experience is completed with an impressive music video directed by the visionary Amanita Noir, an artist of dark avant-garde, who has managed to capture the disturbing essence of The Ultimate Dreamers. This visual short film not only amplifies the emotional impact of "Digging", but turns the song into an essential experience for faithful followers of the group's dark and enveloping sound universe.
Thoughts Words Action (rs) · 18/09/2024 [review]
Belgium’s The Ultimate Dreamers are back with a chilling new single, “Digging”, the first single release from their forthcoming album Paradoxical Sleep, due for release in January 2025.
The track plunges into a sinister sonic universe where dark, depressive vocals intertwine with ripping guitar riffs, amplifying the track’s oppressive, doomy atmosphere. As a bonus, the single features a brand new version of their anthem “Japanese Death”, recalling the band’s melodic and melancholy side.
“Digging” is accompanied by a striking video directed by the talented Amanita Noir, renowned for her dark, avant-garde art. This visual experience perfectly complements the track’s unsettling ambience.
The track plunges into a sinister sonic universe where dark, depressive vocals intertwine with ripping guitar riffs, amplifying the track’s oppressive, doomy atmosphere. As a bonus, the single features a brand new version of their anthem “Japanese Death”, recalling the band’s melodic and melancholy side.
“Digging” is accompanied by a striking video directed by the talented Amanita Noir, renowned for her dark, avant-garde art. This visual experience perfectly complements the track’s unsettling ambience.
Luminous Dash (be) · 17/09/2024 [review]
Brussels-based post-punk/coldwave band The Ultimate Dreamers were initially active between 1987 and 1990. The band then took a long break, until Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass) and classical musician Sandrine (keys, cello) revived the band. Anno 2024, they still put out an icy, sombre austere sound. It is no different in their new single Digging, the first single release from their upcoming album Paradoxical Sleep, due for release in January 2025.
Time ticks away daily. Seconds are audible in the eerie single Digging. Droning guitar attacks mark time, on which Fréderic showcases his darkly rarefied vocals. A melodic interlude of strings interrupts very briefly, after which the austere ticking of time continues. And only after about two minutes does the track seem to turn into a real song, within which shimmering keys light up like twinkling stars in a dark atmosphere, under a swaying dance rhythm. As a bonus, we also get a brand new version of The Ultimate Dreamers anthem Japanese Death’, which sounds more melodic and melancholic here than before.
Digging has been released digitally and will appear on the new album Paradoxical Sleep via Spleen+ in January 2025. The single is also accompanied by a handsome music video, made by Amanita Noir.
Time ticks away daily. Seconds are audible in the eerie single Digging. Droning guitar attacks mark time, on which Fréderic showcases his darkly rarefied vocals. A melodic interlude of strings interrupts very briefly, after which the austere ticking of time continues. And only after about two minutes does the track seem to turn into a real song, within which shimmering keys light up like twinkling stars in a dark atmosphere, under a swaying dance rhythm. As a bonus, we also get a brand new version of The Ultimate Dreamers anthem Japanese Death’, which sounds more melodic and melancholic here than before.
Digging has been released digitally and will appear on the new album Paradoxical Sleep via Spleen+ in January 2025. The single is also accompanied by a handsome music video, made by Amanita Noir.
ElectroSpank (gr) · 25/02/2024 [review]
"Big Violent (Front 242 cutter mix by P. Codenys)" is a harsh ride into the pulsating paths of pure electronic body music and old school industrial. The Ultimate Dreamers, hailing from Brussels, Belgium, released the EP "Violent Chost" back in October 2023. By no means, this release can't go unnoticed, since it takes 3 songs from the band's magnificent album, "Echoing Reverie" and trasforms them into powerful dark beats and catchy hits, in "Big Violent (Single Edit)" and "Piano Ghost (Rough Mix)" while "Midnight" is stripped down to its core and roots under the supervision of piano and cello.
All 3 tracks have, also, been revisited by the featured artists and bands who give a new dimension to the originals and to their new versions as well. "Big Violent" is left in the magic hands of Front 242's, Patrick Codenys. The result is a song that, instantly, sets the mechanical atmosphere, creating an absolute hit taken out from a dystopian soundscape. The elements used, already approved, including a throbbing bassline, a pure EBM energetic tempo, building an electrified atmosphere as the one coming straight out of the industrial core.
Vocals deliver with a compelling presence, holding their roughness and darkness and fitting into the mechanized sonic ambience. Production is gritty and raw, while the strong industrial elements keep the track evolving and the synth and beat variations make it a strong danceable track!
"Big Violent (Front 242 cutter mix by P. Codenys)" manages to transform into a pure EBM track, coming from the old school and the roots of the genre using the harsh sounds and the electro aggression that defines industrial genre. A cutter mix the commands the listener to play it loud!
The Ultimate Dreamers, "Violent Ghost" EP released on October 27th, 2023 via Spleen+ and it is available on all digital platforms and also available as a very limited edition on CD format via the band’s own official merchandising / Komakino Records.
All 3 tracks have, also, been revisited by the featured artists and bands who give a new dimension to the originals and to their new versions as well. "Big Violent" is left in the magic hands of Front 242's, Patrick Codenys. The result is a song that, instantly, sets the mechanical atmosphere, creating an absolute hit taken out from a dystopian soundscape. The elements used, already approved, including a throbbing bassline, a pure EBM energetic tempo, building an electrified atmosphere as the one coming straight out of the industrial core.
Vocals deliver with a compelling presence, holding their roughness and darkness and fitting into the mechanized sonic ambience. Production is gritty and raw, while the strong industrial elements keep the track evolving and the synth and beat variations make it a strong danceable track!
"Big Violent (Front 242 cutter mix by P. Codenys)" manages to transform into a pure EBM track, coming from the old school and the roots of the genre using the harsh sounds and the electro aggression that defines industrial genre. A cutter mix the commands the listener to play it loud!
The Ultimate Dreamers, "Violent Ghost" EP released on October 27th, 2023 via Spleen+ and it is available on all digital platforms and also available as a very limited edition on CD format via the band’s own official merchandising / Komakino Records.
Music in Belgium (be) · 25/02/2024 [concert review]
Worthy representatives of the dark electro side of the Born Bad Records label, the Parisians of Vox Low are back in force. Their new album, released last autumn, gave them the excuse to hit the road again, stopping off at the Museum du Botanique, a venue particularly well-suited to their bewitching atmospheres...
But first, let's take a look at The Ultimate Dreamers, a project born in the 80s near Lessines and reactivated during the confinement in the capital. Since the publication of a compilation of their demos, Frédéric Cotton and his colleagues have been looking clearly ahead. In the space of thirteen months, they have released a 7″ (Polarized), a mini album (Echoing Reverie) and a remix EP (Violent Ghost). They have no intention of stopping there, however, and are currently preparing a new album, a few extracts from which will be premiered tonight.
Among these, the creepy strings of ‘Spiritchaser’ and the steady rhythm of ‘Piano Ghost’ stand out, while ‘The Knife’ sees the surprise guest vocalist from Dead Crush providing a second, Hispanic, protesting voice as she strums her guitar. Earlier, the unstoppable ‘Polarized’ introduces ‘Big Violent’, which is as aggressive as the guy it refers to, who was terrorising the region at the time. As for ‘S'Envoler’, played with two basses (including Joël Grigolato's characteristic five-string bass), it illustrates the meeting point between Kraftwerk, Trisomie 21 and New Order. Influences that are asserted and fully assimilated.
But first, let's take a look at The Ultimate Dreamers, a project born in the 80s near Lessines and reactivated during the confinement in the capital. Since the publication of a compilation of their demos, Frédéric Cotton and his colleagues have been looking clearly ahead. In the space of thirteen months, they have released a 7″ (Polarized), a mini album (Echoing Reverie) and a remix EP (Violent Ghost). They have no intention of stopping there, however, and are currently preparing a new album, a few extracts from which will be premiered tonight.
Among these, the creepy strings of ‘Spiritchaser’ and the steady rhythm of ‘Piano Ghost’ stand out, while ‘The Knife’ sees the surprise guest vocalist from Dead Crush providing a second, Hispanic, protesting voice as she strums her guitar. Earlier, the unstoppable ‘Polarized’ introduces ‘Big Violent’, which is as aggressive as the guy it refers to, who was terrorising the region at the time. As for ‘S'Envoler’, played with two basses (including Joël Grigolato's characteristic five-string bass), it illustrates the meeting point between Kraftwerk, Trisomie 21 and New Order. Influences that are asserted and fully assimilated.
Obsküre (fr) · 29/12/2023 [review]
These things, on the shelf, a future for them envisaged outside the ‘classic’ format. The EP is a specific tool: you use it to present those faces that the shadow has kept to itself, those fixed materials whose intrinsic value you are certain of, those that represent you without being able to find a place for them in the album, the whole supposed to be a milestone. Or else, the EP is an appendix: an extension through reinvention of what already exists, of what is on the record.
Violent Ghost is an appendix. It's an opportunity for The Ultimate Dreamers, a Brussels-based project, to call on the help of ‘guests’: people who take the raw material and transform it as they see fit. A different angle, a refresher.
An aggregate of alternative versions, remixes and raw mixes, Violent Ghost focuses on three tracks from the first album released earlier, in 2023. Each is offered a diptych version. ‘Big Violent’ is the EP's flagship track: the first to arrive, presented first as a single edit, a form with sharp but sparing guitars. With its minimalism and mechanical coldness, the single anchors the EP in the swamps of suicidal 80s post-goth rock, but doesn't strictly circumscribe the contours of this half-hour of music. We noticed the black incision of this rock on the Echoing Reverie album, but the new single version revisits the synthetic flat tints, and the result is more frontal. The remix that follows is an opportunity for the Belgians to show off a big name. Patrick Codenys (F242) boosts the title track by reducing the rock part and giving it an electro/EBM armour. It's a combination that will ring a bell with connoisseurs. Belgium, talent and machines.
‘Midnight’ is also played twice, as is “Piano Ghost”. The pianistic minimalism of the ‘stripped down’ version suits the first one well: it's an opportunity to approach a sensitive dimension of the band's creation. With simplicity but gravity, the voice slips into the heart. A restraint that gives flavour and strength to the moment. The ‘rough mix’ of ‘Piano Ghost’ offers an electro reminder after the Codenys remix: the effect is that of an echo, helping to bind the EP's content together. Machinismo permeates the final remix by Hørd, whose technology bathes the original envelope in a chiaroscuro.
The EP is a tool and becomes an object. The discography parallel to the albums, prized as it may be by die-hard enthusiasts and other DJs, and in turn the club scene, attaches fetishistic favours and sometimes develops micro-cults. That's all we wish for the new EP from these Rêveurs, who have improved with time.
Violent Ghost is an appendix. It's an opportunity for The Ultimate Dreamers, a Brussels-based project, to call on the help of ‘guests’: people who take the raw material and transform it as they see fit. A different angle, a refresher.
An aggregate of alternative versions, remixes and raw mixes, Violent Ghost focuses on three tracks from the first album released earlier, in 2023. Each is offered a diptych version. ‘Big Violent’ is the EP's flagship track: the first to arrive, presented first as a single edit, a form with sharp but sparing guitars. With its minimalism and mechanical coldness, the single anchors the EP in the swamps of suicidal 80s post-goth rock, but doesn't strictly circumscribe the contours of this half-hour of music. We noticed the black incision of this rock on the Echoing Reverie album, but the new single version revisits the synthetic flat tints, and the result is more frontal. The remix that follows is an opportunity for the Belgians to show off a big name. Patrick Codenys (F242) boosts the title track by reducing the rock part and giving it an electro/EBM armour. It's a combination that will ring a bell with connoisseurs. Belgium, talent and machines.
‘Midnight’ is also played twice, as is “Piano Ghost”. The pianistic minimalism of the ‘stripped down’ version suits the first one well: it's an opportunity to approach a sensitive dimension of the band's creation. With simplicity but gravity, the voice slips into the heart. A restraint that gives flavour and strength to the moment. The ‘rough mix’ of ‘Piano Ghost’ offers an electro reminder after the Codenys remix: the effect is that of an echo, helping to bind the EP's content together. Machinismo permeates the final remix by Hørd, whose technology bathes the original envelope in a chiaroscuro.
The EP is a tool and becomes an object. The discography parallel to the albums, prized as it may be by die-hard enthusiasts and other DJs, and in turn the club scene, attaches fetishistic favours and sometimes develops micro-cults. That's all we wish for the new EP from these Rêveurs, who have improved with time.
Luminous Dash (be) · 5/12/2023 [concert review]
Opening the weekend, did The Ultimate Dreamers. The Brussels-based post-punk/coldwave band that went dormant in the late 1980s, but reawakened a few years ago with a release of demos from that era, also started writing songs again with which they soon hit the stages again.
Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals, programming), Joël (bass) and Sandrine (keys) released the album Echoing Reverie in March, followed by a complementary remix EP Violent Ghost.
From the latter record, we got to hear quite a few songs, from opener I Loved You?!, Polarized, Midnight and also a bolder version of Big Violence, where we liked the psychedelic guitar work and the occasional howling vocals.
The AC/DC cover Hells Bell was one of those that we didn't go wild for upon release. And neither did we now. After the death knell that heralded the song, we had already had it with the metal track, which was given a melancholic jacket here, with synth and bass lines weeping nostalgically over the bleak guitar chords. The perfect coldwaves sound perhaps, but not for this classic.
We also got to hear tracks that did not appear on the albums, such as Far Away, Kids Alone and the melancholic and featuring delicious retro synths, Replicant.
We were not always enthusiastic about everything the band released, but what we got to hear on stage tonight sounded strong! The foursome really stand there as a band, too. One deeply absorbed in guitar playing, the other elegantly behind the keys or in tight suits hidden behind sunglasses. The black thread that connects them on stage? Staying very angry looking (laughs). No, we saw a perfectly matched band, who seemed to enjoy it, despite their angry looks.
Piano Ghost, for instance, was one of the songs we liked best live, when it was not at all when we heard it on Echoing Reverie. The bitter chords ‘are putting a spell on us’, as are Frédéric's vocals, with a high Sisters Of Mercy content.
With Japanese Death, the foursome dipped briefly into the past, surprising us with how the rather ‘whiny’ vocals nevertheless completely flourished in the track's melodicism.
And then, just at the end... The Cure cover Lovesong. THAT was something they shouldn't have done. ‘I will allways love you’, we really only want to hear from Robert Smith's mouth now.
Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals, programming), Joël (bass) and Sandrine (keys) released the album Echoing Reverie in March, followed by a complementary remix EP Violent Ghost.
From the latter record, we got to hear quite a few songs, from opener I Loved You?!, Polarized, Midnight and also a bolder version of Big Violence, where we liked the psychedelic guitar work and the occasional howling vocals.
The AC/DC cover Hells Bell was one of those that we didn't go wild for upon release. And neither did we now. After the death knell that heralded the song, we had already had it with the metal track, which was given a melancholic jacket here, with synth and bass lines weeping nostalgically over the bleak guitar chords. The perfect coldwaves sound perhaps, but not for this classic.
We also got to hear tracks that did not appear on the albums, such as Far Away, Kids Alone and the melancholic and featuring delicious retro synths, Replicant.
We were not always enthusiastic about everything the band released, but what we got to hear on stage tonight sounded strong! The foursome really stand there as a band, too. One deeply absorbed in guitar playing, the other elegantly behind the keys or in tight suits hidden behind sunglasses. The black thread that connects them on stage? Staying very angry looking (laughs). No, we saw a perfectly matched band, who seemed to enjoy it, despite their angry looks.
Piano Ghost, for instance, was one of the songs we liked best live, when it was not at all when we heard it on Echoing Reverie. The bitter chords ‘are putting a spell on us’, as are Frédéric's vocals, with a high Sisters Of Mercy content.
With Japanese Death, the foursome dipped briefly into the past, surprising us with how the rather ‘whiny’ vocals nevertheless completely flourished in the track's melodicism.
And then, just at the end... The Cure cover Lovesong. THAT was something they shouldn't have done. ‘I will allways love you’, we really only want to hear from Robert Smith's mouth now.
Dark Entries (be) · 3/12/2023 [concert review]
The Ultimate Dreamers appeared on stage first as a duo and then as a quartet with a set of more familiar, but also a few new and thus previously unknown songs. The group, housed at Spleen +, has some physical carriers on shop shelves by now and packs in an electronically driven post punk style that didn't leave even a few ebm fans unmoved. At times I was somewhat reminded of the melodic ebm style of The Invincible Spirit, but then again not, ranging from melodic to biting but always within the lines. A handful of good songs for sure and, above all, huge potential. The band closed with the cover ‘Lovesong’ by The Cure, great to see some of those ‘die hard’ ebm'ers, because that's how Bimfest is known as an electro/ebm festival after all, singing along and putting their macho content aside for a moment. In short, good set from a Belgian band that deserves much more and better in their own country.
Musiczine (be) · 30/11/2023 [review]
It must be said that since their return a few years ago, they have been very active ever since. That in terms of releases and performances. This EP consists of two remixes each of three songs from their previous album ‘Echoing Reverie’: ‘Big Violent’, ‘Piano Ghost’ and ‘Midnight’.
We start with ‘Big Violent’ with a single edit of the song. The song is the same as on the album but the mix makes the song more even and accessible. The other mix is one by Patrick Codenys in the Front 242 cutter mix. This gives the song a slight EBM factor.
Of ‘Midnight’, we get to hear a ‘Stripped Down’ and a ‘Shad Shadows Version’.
The first version consists almost exclusively of vocals and piano. It also makes it clear that this is a very good song that does hold up even in its simplicity. The other mix is by Italian dark electro band Shad Shadows. The approach is well done and the mix of vocals is also very successful. Of ‘Piano Ghost’, there is the ‘Rough Mix’ of which the album version is actually better. The ‘Hørd Mix’, on the other hand, does add value compared to the original song. The song goes in a completely different direction due to the ethereal/spacy synths, modified percussion, etc., among other things.
This EP does not bring new songs but engaging mixes that show what and in what direction you can take a song. With some elements that might be carried over to a subsequent release.
We start with ‘Big Violent’ with a single edit of the song. The song is the same as on the album but the mix makes the song more even and accessible. The other mix is one by Patrick Codenys in the Front 242 cutter mix. This gives the song a slight EBM factor.
Of ‘Midnight’, we get to hear a ‘Stripped Down’ and a ‘Shad Shadows Version’.
The first version consists almost exclusively of vocals and piano. It also makes it clear that this is a very good song that does hold up even in its simplicity. The other mix is by Italian dark electro band Shad Shadows. The approach is well done and the mix of vocals is also very successful. Of ‘Piano Ghost’, there is the ‘Rough Mix’ of which the album version is actually better. The ‘Hørd Mix’, on the other hand, does add value compared to the original song. The song goes in a completely different direction due to the ethereal/spacy synths, modified percussion, etc., among other things.
This EP does not bring new songs but engaging mixes that show what and in what direction you can take a song. With some elements that might be carried over to a subsequent release.
Music in Belgium (be) · 29/11/2023 [review]
The warm reception given to ‘Echoing Reverie’ encouraged The Ultimate Dreamers to take the experiment a step further: entrusting a few extracts to expert hands for an original re-reading. And the result, available on the recent ‘Violent Ghost’ EP, is something of a surprise...
Remember The Ultimate Dreamers, a band from Lessines in the second half of the ‘80s, who were sacrificed on the altar of their studies and would probably never have had a second chapter had it not been for a certain pandemic. During this enforced rest, Frédéric Cotton reactivated the project, which has since continued to move forward from the capital. Alongside a busy concert schedule, the band's record releases have followed in quick succession.
‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’, a compilation of unedited vintage demos, accompanied their comeback in autumn 2021. The addictive single ‘Polarized’ followed twelve months later, heralding the release of ‘Echoing Reverie’, the first collection of new material in over three decades from a band whose line-up is now stable and firmly in place.
Today they're releasing ‘Violent Ghost’, a remix EP designed to bridge the gap between their current material and a new album due in 2024. Led by the particularly edgy and speedy single version of ‘Big Violent’ (whose video, like that of ‘Polarized’, was directed by Thomas De Moor), it features reworked versions of three extracts from ‘Echoing Reverie’. And not just by anyone...
Patrick Codenys of Front 242 lends a dark, spooky EBM touch to ‘Big Violent’, which was clearly intended to send the dancefloor into a frenzy. In the same vein, Italy's Shad Shadows give a hypnotic edge to ‘Midnight’, against a backdrop of synthetic layers, while France's Hørd brighten up ‘Piano Ghost’ with an unexpected lightness. The stripped-down piano version of ‘Midnight’ is another highlight. Proof that an outsider's vision can sometimes sublimate tracks without sending the bpm into overdrive.
Remember The Ultimate Dreamers, a band from Lessines in the second half of the ‘80s, who were sacrificed on the altar of their studies and would probably never have had a second chapter had it not been for a certain pandemic. During this enforced rest, Frédéric Cotton reactivated the project, which has since continued to move forward from the capital. Alongside a busy concert schedule, the band's record releases have followed in quick succession.
‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’, a compilation of unedited vintage demos, accompanied their comeback in autumn 2021. The addictive single ‘Polarized’ followed twelve months later, heralding the release of ‘Echoing Reverie’, the first collection of new material in over three decades from a band whose line-up is now stable and firmly in place.
Today they're releasing ‘Violent Ghost’, a remix EP designed to bridge the gap between their current material and a new album due in 2024. Led by the particularly edgy and speedy single version of ‘Big Violent’ (whose video, like that of ‘Polarized’, was directed by Thomas De Moor), it features reworked versions of three extracts from ‘Echoing Reverie’. And not just by anyone...
Patrick Codenys of Front 242 lends a dark, spooky EBM touch to ‘Big Violent’, which was clearly intended to send the dancefloor into a frenzy. In the same vein, Italy's Shad Shadows give a hypnotic edge to ‘Midnight’, against a backdrop of synthetic layers, while France's Hørd brighten up ‘Piano Ghost’ with an unexpected lightness. The stripped-down piano version of ‘Midnight’ is another highlight. Proof that an outsider's vision can sometimes sublimate tracks without sending the bpm into overdrive.
Dark Entries (be) · 26/11/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers are not sitting still. In March, their first record ‘Echoing Reverie’ was released, and then last month the new EP ‘Violent Ghost’ was released. Now, essentially this is an ep linked to ‘Echoing Reverie’, as it revisits three songs from that record in different mixes. Pairing a record with a remix EP is a common practice at Alfa Matrix, and thus also at Spleen+, the glorious record label's wavenumber.
For those who did not yet know The Ultimate Dreamers, we recap. Formed in 1986 in the Walloon town of Lessen, the group existed until 1991. At its head was Frédéric Cotton, who later created a furore as a concert organiser with Fantastique.Nights and Trolls & Légendes. When Frédéric was forced to sit at home during corona despite his busy job, he went in search of the old recordings in his attic, and went back through them.
With the recordings, he went to the now much-lamented Wool-E Discs, which issued a compilation of the old songs on CD and vinyl. Meanwhile, Frédéric had gathered his old companions to play live again, and even to play new songs. The result was the already mentioned ‘Echoing Reverie’, of which we wrote that it made a big leap towards more modern and complex music, but without renouncing its newwave roots.
So what does the remix EP ‘Violent Ghost’ taste like, you ask. Well, it kicks off with the single-edit of ‘Big Violent’, a song that was also crying out for attention on the original record. The song also gets a remix by Patrick Codenys of Front 242, which actually sounds like it's a Front song. Extremely successful, and highly recommended for any fan of the EBM pioneers.
The second track taken in hand is ‘Midnight’. Here we get a stripped-down version with only the bare minimum of piano and bass, as well as a more rhythmic remix by Italian electro group Shad Shadows. The originally dreamy ‘Piano Ghost’ also gets two modified versions here, a rawer remix by the group itself, and a soaring-melancholic version by French darkwave project hørd.
Conclusion: the ‘Violent Ghost’ EP once again highlights the qualities of The Ultimate Dreamers. The original compositions were strong and musical, but the originality of the remixes is also a big plus of this remix EP. If you don't already have the original album ‘Echoing Reverie’, I would recommend starting there, although I actually think this additional ep is also quite self-contained.
For those who did not yet know The Ultimate Dreamers, we recap. Formed in 1986 in the Walloon town of Lessen, the group existed until 1991. At its head was Frédéric Cotton, who later created a furore as a concert organiser with Fantastique.Nights and Trolls & Légendes. When Frédéric was forced to sit at home during corona despite his busy job, he went in search of the old recordings in his attic, and went back through them.
With the recordings, he went to the now much-lamented Wool-E Discs, which issued a compilation of the old songs on CD and vinyl. Meanwhile, Frédéric had gathered his old companions to play live again, and even to play new songs. The result was the already mentioned ‘Echoing Reverie’, of which we wrote that it made a big leap towards more modern and complex music, but without renouncing its newwave roots.
So what does the remix EP ‘Violent Ghost’ taste like, you ask. Well, it kicks off with the single-edit of ‘Big Violent’, a song that was also crying out for attention on the original record. The song also gets a remix by Patrick Codenys of Front 242, which actually sounds like it's a Front song. Extremely successful, and highly recommended for any fan of the EBM pioneers.
The second track taken in hand is ‘Midnight’. Here we get a stripped-down version with only the bare minimum of piano and bass, as well as a more rhythmic remix by Italian electro group Shad Shadows. The originally dreamy ‘Piano Ghost’ also gets two modified versions here, a rawer remix by the group itself, and a soaring-melancholic version by French darkwave project hørd.
Conclusion: the ‘Violent Ghost’ EP once again highlights the qualities of The Ultimate Dreamers. The original compositions were strong and musical, but the originality of the remixes is also a big plus of this remix EP. If you don't already have the original album ‘Echoing Reverie’, I would recommend starting there, although I actually think this additional ep is also quite self-contained.
Longueur d'Ondes (fr) · 17/11/2023 [review]
The Brussels-based band have had the good idea of revisiting some of the tracks on their excellent album Echoing Reverie, released last March. Here are 'Big violent', 'Midnight' and 'Piano ghost' in two different remixed versions. Whereas Echoing Reverie was part of a universe of cold and synth-wave with occasional goth accents, the 6-track album is decidedly brighter, with a strong EBM flavour (one of the two remixed versions of 'Big violent' - 'Big Violent (cutter mix)' - is by Patrick Codenys). - is remixed by Patrick Codenys of Front 242), without losing any of the band's musical identity. This highly successful EP of remixes offers a new reading of the chosen tracks, which will make those who have missed Echoing Reverie want to give it a go - and they certainly won't regret it, as the universe of The Ultimate Dreamers is full of wonderful surprises.
Desibeli (fi) · 15/11/2023 [review]
Aptly named The Ultimate Dreamers is a post-punk and cold wave band from Lessines, Belgium. Their latest EP, Echoing Reverie, released earlier this year, features three tracks from the band's long-playing album, each of which is varied and remixed twice, each time in a different way.
In its single form, the pounding Big Violent is tight gothic guitar rock in the spirit of the 80s, but when the EP's most frequent visitor Front 242 gets their hands on the song, the end result is something completely different. Working in raw electro, Front 242 have stripped away the guitars in a vision created with Patrick Codenys, and the harsh echoes reverberate off the concrete walls without mercy. Midnight, on the other hand, is a beautiful and quiet piano piece to begin with, but wait until Shad Shadows gets his way and you have a spacious and retro synapoptic piece. We get into post-punk with Piano Ghost - Rough Mix, which, as the name suggests, is rough and raw, but with a slightly higher granularity counting in its favour. Hørd Remix transforms the song into a super-modern dance club jangle that defies all genre and time classifications.
Three originals, six tracks and six completely different ways of seeing the possibilities of music. Let this EP also serve as a testimony, in case anyone doubts the necessity of versioning again.
In its single form, the pounding Big Violent is tight gothic guitar rock in the spirit of the 80s, but when the EP's most frequent visitor Front 242 gets their hands on the song, the end result is something completely different. Working in raw electro, Front 242 have stripped away the guitars in a vision created with Patrick Codenys, and the harsh echoes reverberate off the concrete walls without mercy. Midnight, on the other hand, is a beautiful and quiet piano piece to begin with, but wait until Shad Shadows gets his way and you have a spacious and retro synapoptic piece. We get into post-punk with Piano Ghost - Rough Mix, which, as the name suggests, is rough and raw, but with a slightly higher granularity counting in its favour. Hørd Remix transforms the song into a super-modern dance club jangle that defies all genre and time classifications.
Three originals, six tracks and six completely different ways of seeing the possibilities of music. Let this EP also serve as a testimony, in case anyone doubts the necessity of versioning again.
Sounds Good (it) · 08/11/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers are a post-punk/cold wave band born in Lessines (Belgium), the birthplace of René Magritte. Cold, organic tones, contaminated by melancholic melodies, perhaps catchy, perhaps leaning towards dissonant, provide the backdrop for themes dominated by raw dreams, anguished love and social criticism.
The compilation Live Happily While Waiting For Death, containing 11 self-produced demos recorded in the late 1980s, will be released in September 2021 by Wool-E Discs. The magic is back and so are The Ultimate Dreamers with a new line-up and an updated repertoire. During a series of concerts, the quartet records a new album, Echoing Reverie, released in March 2023.
In their new single, 'Big Violent', one can appreciate body and sonic depth blended to perfection with a good dose of grit and considerable sonic impact, all reinforced by vocals that make for energetic listening.
It is not the usual banal proposal, not even obvious, although the genre is now full of more or less valid projects (and we can certainly put that of The Ultimate Dreamers among the valid ones). A track whose fluid and dynamic setting manages to keep the listener amalgamated, giving a full-bodied track with a metric.
A clear sign of the band's versatility and how they manage to offer good music without falling into the usual mishmash of ideas.
The compilation Live Happily While Waiting For Death, containing 11 self-produced demos recorded in the late 1980s, will be released in September 2021 by Wool-E Discs. The magic is back and so are The Ultimate Dreamers with a new line-up and an updated repertoire. During a series of concerts, the quartet records a new album, Echoing Reverie, released in March 2023.
In their new single, 'Big Violent', one can appreciate body and sonic depth blended to perfection with a good dose of grit and considerable sonic impact, all reinforced by vocals that make for energetic listening.
It is not the usual banal proposal, not even obvious, although the genre is now full of more or less valid projects (and we can certainly put that of The Ultimate Dreamers among the valid ones). A track whose fluid and dynamic setting manages to keep the listener amalgamated, giving a full-bodied track with a metric.
A clear sign of the band's versatility and how they manage to offer good music without falling into the usual mishmash of ideas.
Skreen (uk) · 06/11/2023 [review]
Brussels-based band, The Ultimate Dreamers have just released Big Violent (Single Edit), a pleasing mix of murky, gothic guitar noise and grizzly vocals, held together within a pulsating electronic framework. A sort of sonic nightmare with a captivating percussive dance beat. The black and white video seems to show a down-and-out Santa Claus being chased, through a forest, back towards his own shallow grave. However, that might just be my twisted interpretation? This recording, which can be found on band's Violent Ghost EP, is a new version of the track from their latest album Echoing Reverie. Check it out!
Luminous Dash (be) · 31/10/2023 [review]
With punch and power, The Ultimate Dreamers are all the way back. After the release of their album Echoing Reverie, Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass) and classical musician Sandrine (keys, cello) toured Europe to get their coldwave and post-punk songs out there.
On this new EP Violent Ghost, three tracks from the album were 're-dressed' into alternative versions. So we get a rougher version of "Big Violent", to which Front 242's Patrick Codenys also added a ripping EBM mix.
"Midnight" was stripped down. Naked and much more emotional and spun around with cello and piano. A very minimalist, yet beautiful version! Italian duo Shad Shadows then did something completely different with it: tantalising synths and pumping beats transformed the track into a poppy, light dance number.
For "Piano Ghost", the Brussels foursome chose the rawer route. Repetitive, dull beats throughout the song provide the backbone for the bitterness in keys and vocals. France's H0RD gave the track a driving EBM dance tune in their remix.
Violent Ghost has been released digitally by Spleen+ and also as a very limited edition on CD format via the band's own official merchandising / Komakino Records.
On this new EP Violent Ghost, three tracks from the album were 're-dressed' into alternative versions. So we get a rougher version of "Big Violent", to which Front 242's Patrick Codenys also added a ripping EBM mix.
"Midnight" was stripped down. Naked and much more emotional and spun around with cello and piano. A very minimalist, yet beautiful version! Italian duo Shad Shadows then did something completely different with it: tantalising synths and pumping beats transformed the track into a poppy, light dance number.
For "Piano Ghost", the Brussels foursome chose the rawer route. Repetitive, dull beats throughout the song provide the backbone for the bitterness in keys and vocals. France's H0RD gave the track a driving EBM dance tune in their remix.
Violent Ghost has been released digitally by Spleen+ and also as a very limited edition on CD format via the band's own official merchandising / Komakino Records.
Vox Empirea (it) · 27/10/2023 [review]
The band's entire biography is available exhaustively in the previous review of the album-masterpiece "Echoing Reverie", published on this Vox Empirea page. The Extended Play "Violent Ghost" ( 2023 ) internalizes three representative episodes included in the full-length, reworking their original post-punker unconventionality and their coldwaver detached attitudes, giving to musics new exhilarating moods observed behind transversal optics. The six songs of the track-list, available digitally from the Spleen+ label and on limited edition CD by Komakino Records, feature re-arrangements and remixed reinterpretations that accentuate their innate appeal, making them perfectly suited to be listened to, danced and lived with maximum involvement, this also thanks to the skilful studio efficiency of three external projects to whom the reformulations of two songs were entrusted. The EP's name "Violent Ghost" comes from the fusion between the titles of the two songs "Big Violent" and "Piano Ghost" included in the album "Echoing Reverie". The Ultimate Dreamers once again demonstrate excellent artistic sense, an admirable intuition into collaborations and a perfect knowledge of how to entertain the listener by emotionally, captivating him from the beginning to the end of the release, disturbing the imagination with direct and subliminal sonic evocations that grant no respite.
"Big Violent ( Single Edit )" > Intensive increase in overall harshness, thundering frictions of electric riffs, midtempo drumming, toxic keyboard sub-flows, bass pulsations and an hoarse, angry vocalism, form the structure of the remix. A triumph of energy, darkness and chilling fury.
"Big Violent ( Front 242 Cutter Mix By P. Codenys )" > The aggressive emphasis of the track is transfigured into a linear, predominantly EBM / Industrial form, in which Patrick Codenys from the legendary Belgian project introduces electronic elements that cause perpetual states of alienation. The extrapolation of the disturbing vocalism, the long, caustic trail of the guitar sound, the symmetrical beats of the sequencing combined with a drier midtempo percussiveness, become a telluric wave of high magnitude, composed of cold and powerful vocal evolutions, scary reverberations and distortions of electric strings, under which the electronic rhythm flows impassively. A tornado of hatred, sensory alterations and sonic power.
"Midnight ( Stripped Down Version )" > Essentially piano-vocal theme of one of the absolute best tracks included in the album. This remake in neoclassical-symphonic mode with melancholy nocturnal atmospheres, touches the soul through the elegant decadence of the piano pentagram, a nostalgically depressed chant and the nobility of the cello sections expertly played in the final stretch. Magical suggestion and beauty intersect.
"Midnight ( Shad Shadows Remix )" > Revisited in a dark-electro version by the Italian duo Shad Shadows, the song acquires lively slenderness and a technological dance-oriented clubby dynamism, through pneumatic midtempo drum-programming beats, hypnotic sequenced straight lines and fascinating keyboard counterpoints, over which a dark vocalism full of nostalgia and sadness floats. Obscure sound technology and disturbed sentimentality will captivate you.
"Piano Ghost ( Rough Mix )" > If the original version bewitched with its sinister charm, this remix adds further charm and notable danceability to the track, thanks to a more solid midtempo drumming obsessively segmented by the bass lines of the sequencer, alienating pads, severe chant inflections and powerful reinforcements of guitarism electric. This sound is a generator of restlessness.
"Piano Ghost ( Hørd Remix )" > Reconceived in Dark-electro / Dark-Synthpop mode by the French solo-act Hørd, the song is a spectral technological-gothic fresco composed through an essential percussiveness of drum-machines, rhythmic sequencing reverberations, profound vocal tones loaded with mystery and diaphanous trails of keyboards. To be listened to under the freezing light of a full moon.
Conclusions: The "Violent Ghost" EP is characterized by an all-pervasive, seductive darkness and a surprising capacity for interaction with the imagination: it represents the sublimation of The Ultimate Dreamers, manage to materialize musically fears and nightmares, spreading them into the surrounding space until they are absorbed by the mind. This release, potent, well thought out and formidably capable of hitting the target with extraordinary effectiveness, is an honorable addition to the band's discography. The remixes contained in the tracklist have all the characteristics to launch the Belgian ensemble towards the highest peaks of the Post-Punk / Coldwave scene, promising to conquer an even wider audience of admirers of this genre. Epic!
"Big Violent ( Single Edit )" > Intensive increase in overall harshness, thundering frictions of electric riffs, midtempo drumming, toxic keyboard sub-flows, bass pulsations and an hoarse, angry vocalism, form the structure of the remix. A triumph of energy, darkness and chilling fury.
"Big Violent ( Front 242 Cutter Mix By P. Codenys )" > The aggressive emphasis of the track is transfigured into a linear, predominantly EBM / Industrial form, in which Patrick Codenys from the legendary Belgian project introduces electronic elements that cause perpetual states of alienation. The extrapolation of the disturbing vocalism, the long, caustic trail of the guitar sound, the symmetrical beats of the sequencing combined with a drier midtempo percussiveness, become a telluric wave of high magnitude, composed of cold and powerful vocal evolutions, scary reverberations and distortions of electric strings, under which the electronic rhythm flows impassively. A tornado of hatred, sensory alterations and sonic power.
"Midnight ( Stripped Down Version )" > Essentially piano-vocal theme of one of the absolute best tracks included in the album. This remake in neoclassical-symphonic mode with melancholy nocturnal atmospheres, touches the soul through the elegant decadence of the piano pentagram, a nostalgically depressed chant and the nobility of the cello sections expertly played in the final stretch. Magical suggestion and beauty intersect.
"Midnight ( Shad Shadows Remix )" > Revisited in a dark-electro version by the Italian duo Shad Shadows, the song acquires lively slenderness and a technological dance-oriented clubby dynamism, through pneumatic midtempo drum-programming beats, hypnotic sequenced straight lines and fascinating keyboard counterpoints, over which a dark vocalism full of nostalgia and sadness floats. Obscure sound technology and disturbed sentimentality will captivate you.
"Piano Ghost ( Rough Mix )" > If the original version bewitched with its sinister charm, this remix adds further charm and notable danceability to the track, thanks to a more solid midtempo drumming obsessively segmented by the bass lines of the sequencer, alienating pads, severe chant inflections and powerful reinforcements of guitarism electric. This sound is a generator of restlessness.
"Piano Ghost ( Hørd Remix )" > Reconceived in Dark-electro / Dark-Synthpop mode by the French solo-act Hørd, the song is a spectral technological-gothic fresco composed through an essential percussiveness of drum-machines, rhythmic sequencing reverberations, profound vocal tones loaded with mystery and diaphanous trails of keyboards. To be listened to under the freezing light of a full moon.
Conclusions: The "Violent Ghost" EP is characterized by an all-pervasive, seductive darkness and a surprising capacity for interaction with the imagination: it represents the sublimation of The Ultimate Dreamers, manage to materialize musically fears and nightmares, spreading them into the surrounding space until they are absorbed by the mind. This release, potent, well thought out and formidably capable of hitting the target with extraordinary effectiveness, is an honorable addition to the band's discography. The remixes contained in the tracklist have all the characteristics to launch the Belgian ensemble towards the highest peaks of the Post-Punk / Coldwave scene, promising to conquer an even wider audience of admirers of this genre. Epic!
Sounds Good (it) · 27/10/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers are a post-punk/cold wave band born in Lessines (Belgium), the birthplace of René Magritte. Cold, organic tones, contaminated by melancholic melodies, perhaps catchy, perhaps leaning towards dissonant, provide the backdrop for themes dominated by raw dreams, anguished love and social criticism.
With 'Big Violent (single edit)', the new track, the Belgian band proves that they know their way around their alt. Punk Rock , too often navigated by banal and predictable proposals, whereas in this case we are faced with a proposal, careful not to neglect any detail to propose a track that wins and convinces.
Sharp guitars intertwine with a full-bodied drum section well enhanced and blended with an intense and deep vocal line. "Big Violent (single edit)" is a track that deserves attention especially for lovers of pure and simple Alternative Punk Rock.
With 'Big Violent (single edit)', the new track, the Belgian band proves that they know their way around their alt. Punk Rock , too often navigated by banal and predictable proposals, whereas in this case we are faced with a proposal, careful not to neglect any detail to propose a track that wins and convinces.
Sharp guitars intertwine with a full-bodied drum section well enhanced and blended with an intense and deep vocal line. "Big Violent (single edit)" is a track that deserves attention especially for lovers of pure and simple Alternative Punk Rock.
Snoozecontrol (be) · 26/10/2023 [review]
Since the March 2023 release of the Echoing Reverie album, the Belgian gang of The Ultimate Dreamers have been heavily touring across Europe sharing with all of you their passionate cocktail of catchy cold wave and noisy post punk. Violent Ghost revisits 3 album songs through an alternative kaleidoscope pushing Big Violent and Piano Ghost on the rougher edge while Midnight simply gets beautifully stripped down to its core around lush cello and piano arrangements.
Big Violent (single edit) gets reshaped in such a way that this version is simply the better version. Feel the beats, feel the drum, feel the bass, feel the anger and the energy! This song was live already a big hit and with this newer sound it will become an even bigger hit! I hope radio’s like Radio Willy, Radio 21 and Studio Brussel will pick it up! Big Violent is accompanied by a new video directed by Thomas De Moor, featuring the theme of the inner demon, with renowned Belgian actor Olivier Bonjour in the lead role.
Each song is featured again in a remix form starting with Big Violent and a stunning sharp groovy EBM remix by Patrick Codenys of Front 242 that is bound to become a new club hit in no time. It's as if you hear on of the Front 242 man singing but it's still the original voice and this also shows that this could have been a new Front 242 track and gives hope for their fans too as the craftwork mastery is still excisting! Patrick did a great job! It’s another song that has to be played on all the radio’s and really deserves the massive airplay!
Midnight (stripped down version) is exactly worth the title and reminds me a bit of a Bauhaus track called Who Killed mr Moonlight. The strings also makes it worth it!
Italian duo Shad Shadows also gave a dark electronic twist to Midnight and make it worth it! I adore the tempo and the changes in the vocals and the sound! It’s a magistral version!
Piano Ghost (rough mix) is to be honest my least favourite track on this one. I miss a bit the fire and energy of the previous tracks.
The French project hørd reinforced the haunting dimension of Piano Ghost but fails to keep me interested as it’s a bit too repetitive. I think it’s a bit sad they couldn’t find out how to make it sound better like what the other artists managed to do with the 2 other tracks.
Well if you forget about this last track (remix included) you have gold in your hands! And as I also caught them many times on stage I can confirm you their gigs are absolutely worth it! Belgium has talented people and it has been proven here again!
This EP is available on all digital platforms via Spleen+ and also available as a limited edition on CD format via Komakino Records.
Big Violent (single edit) gets reshaped in such a way that this version is simply the better version. Feel the beats, feel the drum, feel the bass, feel the anger and the energy! This song was live already a big hit and with this newer sound it will become an even bigger hit! I hope radio’s like Radio Willy, Radio 21 and Studio Brussel will pick it up! Big Violent is accompanied by a new video directed by Thomas De Moor, featuring the theme of the inner demon, with renowned Belgian actor Olivier Bonjour in the lead role.
Each song is featured again in a remix form starting with Big Violent and a stunning sharp groovy EBM remix by Patrick Codenys of Front 242 that is bound to become a new club hit in no time. It's as if you hear on of the Front 242 man singing but it's still the original voice and this also shows that this could have been a new Front 242 track and gives hope for their fans too as the craftwork mastery is still excisting! Patrick did a great job! It’s another song that has to be played on all the radio’s and really deserves the massive airplay!
Midnight (stripped down version) is exactly worth the title and reminds me a bit of a Bauhaus track called Who Killed mr Moonlight. The strings also makes it worth it!
Italian duo Shad Shadows also gave a dark electronic twist to Midnight and make it worth it! I adore the tempo and the changes in the vocals and the sound! It’s a magistral version!
Piano Ghost (rough mix) is to be honest my least favourite track on this one. I miss a bit the fire and energy of the previous tracks.
The French project hørd reinforced the haunting dimension of Piano Ghost but fails to keep me interested as it’s a bit too repetitive. I think it’s a bit sad they couldn’t find out how to make it sound better like what the other artists managed to do with the 2 other tracks.
Well if you forget about this last track (remix included) you have gold in your hands! And as I also caught them many times on stage I can confirm you their gigs are absolutely worth it! Belgium has talented people and it has been proven here again!
This EP is available on all digital platforms via Spleen+ and also available as a limited edition on CD format via Komakino Records.
FrontView Magazine (be) · 21/10/2023 [review]
Since the March 2023 release of the Echoing Reverie album, the Belgian gang of The Ultimate Dreamers have been heavily touring across Europe sharing with all of you their passionate cocktail of catchy cold wave and noisy post punk.
Violent Ghost revisits 3 album songs through an alternative kaleidoscope pushing "Big Violent" and "Piano Ghost" on the rougher edge while “Midnight” simply gets beautifully stripped down to its core around lush cello and piano arrangements.
Each song is then featured again in a remix form starting with “Big Violent” and a stunning sharp groovy EBM remix by Patrick Codenys of Front 242 that is bound to become a new club hit in no time. Italian duo Shad Shadows also gave a dark electronic twist to "Midnight" while the French project hørd reinforced the haunting dimension of "Piano Ghost".
"Big Violent" is accompanied by a new video directed by Thomas De Moor, featuring the theme of the inner demon, with renowned Belgian actor Olivier Bonjour in the lead role.
This EP is available on all digital platforms via Spleen+ and also available as a limited edition on CD format via Komakino Records.
Violent Ghost revisits 3 album songs through an alternative kaleidoscope pushing "Big Violent" and "Piano Ghost" on the rougher edge while “Midnight” simply gets beautifully stripped down to its core around lush cello and piano arrangements.
Each song is then featured again in a remix form starting with “Big Violent” and a stunning sharp groovy EBM remix by Patrick Codenys of Front 242 that is bound to become a new club hit in no time. Italian duo Shad Shadows also gave a dark electronic twist to "Midnight" while the French project hørd reinforced the haunting dimension of "Piano Ghost".
"Big Violent" is accompanied by a new video directed by Thomas De Moor, featuring the theme of the inner demon, with renowned Belgian actor Olivier Bonjour in the lead role.
This EP is available on all digital platforms via Spleen+ and also available as a limited edition on CD format via Komakino Records.
Vox Empirea (it) · 19/10/2023 [review]
After their founding back in 1986 and a brief period of activity that lasted until 1990, the Belgian band The Ultimate Dreamers interrupted their career, later reforming in 2021, giving rise to a new - and more productive - creative phase. The line-up, composed of Frédéric ( vox / second bass / guitar / lyrics ) , Joël ( bass guitar ) , Bertrand ( guitar ) and the classical musician Sandrine ( synths / cello ) , is the architect of an extremely incisive, magnetic sound, genetically coming from a danceable, original combination among the austere, experimental aestheticism of English 80's Post-Punk, the melancholic, gloomy, hallucinated visionarity of the Belgian Coldwave and the harmonious fantasies of the New Wave, all this fused with an avveniristic interpretation of the popish concepts. Strongly motivated, the band translates intentions into concrete actions, releasing a series of excellent releases available on their Bandcamp page, including this album "Echoing Reverie" ( 2023 ) , published in CD and LP editions by the labels Spleen+ / Wave Tension Records. The release is produced by Len Lemeire, producer, vocalist, remixer, lyricist, as well as founder with Geert Machtelinck of the Belgian Electro / Industrial / EBM band Implant. The Ultimate Dreamers' musics, from the dawn of their appearance, are characterized by essential electronic percussiveness at varying speeds, perpetually dark, cold and nostalgic vocalism, pronounced through low modulations and combined with suggestive counterpoints of electric guitars, bass and synth, in a set of sonorities that transport the listener into an imaginary and highly engaging dimension in which he will get lost, but also into a cruelly disillusioned and pessimistic reality dominated by indifference, melancholy and broken dreams. The themes covered in the lyrics speak with cynical, introspective lucidity and surrealism of dreams, social criticism, the brevity of life, loneliness and the obscurity of the human soul. "Echoing Reverie" is an electric-electronic 'colossal' release with a dominant, resolute character, in which the eight tracks do not allow space for any compromise: everything is conceived to give maximum effectiveness to intransigent but assimilable modulations, formulated with art, versatility and a rare compositional perspicacity. Sonic retrospective meets avantgardism, in a convergence of post-punker/coldwaver identity and innovative momentum.
"Polarized" > The midtempo scans of the drumming generate trajectories, on which the rhythmic pulsations of the bass, the alienating guitarism and the darkness of the keyboard collide, in a vortex of danceability, dynamism and bombast, magnified by a chant with a mysterious aura. Superb track, antithesis of brightness.
"A Day In The Life" > Echoed vocals, overflowing with melancholy and decadent romanticism, spread desolate melodies, while midtempo-uptempo drum-programming metrics draw a double rhythmic path in which the vibrant depth of the bass, the electricity of the guitars and the atmospheric intensity of the keyboard resonate.
"Piano Ghost" > The spectral obsessiveness of the replicated synthetic-pianistic notes hovers parallel to the pulsations of the bass, imbued with the incendiary chemistry of the guitars, all this surrounded by vocals saturated with dark glaciality, torment and rationally divided by midtempo beats. Power, drama and emotional involvement subjugate the listener, generating restlessness and pleasure: the sensation of ice on the skin.
"Hell’s Bells" > Transposition in a dark-electric key of the famous AC / DC hit, this song develops from the mournful tolling of the bell and the black pads in the intro, to then evolve on cathartic keyboard sonances, ethereal guitar arpeggios, dry symmetries of drum-programming midtempo and subterranean bass cycles, above which stands out a sinisterly hoarse vocalism, little more than whispered. A one-way trip to the underworld.
"Midnight" > Stunning, killer and prospectively perfect track: its 80's minded musicality, full of melodic hooks, instantly conquers through terse vocal euphonies which in the refrain become so irresistible as to be indelibly fixed in the memory, all this supported by danceable midtempo drum-machine cadences, linear bass punctuations, dilated guitar sections and enveloping keyboard chords. To dance and listen to without pause from here to eternity. Stellar performance!
"Big Violent" > Episode in which lies an explicit vocal aggression expressed in the form of verses initially sung with controlled anger and later transformed into a distorted, liberating chant, torn by a high-sounding spiral of modulations overheated by the high voltage of the guitars, in a deflagration of red-hot sparks of electric strings, stabbing reverbs, solid midtempo drumming and regular bass patterns. Destabilizing sonic experience.
"I Loved You?!" > Electronically energetic, this song is designed by uptempo drum-programming grooves alongside sequencer straights, alienating chant and warm synth flows. Melodies that taste of futurism and retrospection at the same time.
"Implant Loved You?! ( Implant Remix )" > Clubby arrangements and greater instrumental incisiveness make this version a highly effective dancefloor filler. Implant reworks the structures, exponentially increasing the level of danceability. A must in the playlist of every alternative dee-jay.
Conclusions: Top album which can only be described in laudatory terms. The band possesses the enviable merit of having acquired in its DNA the most effective strategies of the legendary old-school background, managing to transform them today into sound choreographies that border on the sublime.This essential full-lenght conquers with disarming naturalness: you will love it with participation and sincerity, surprising yourself by humming lost in thought the catchiest refrains. The title track, varied and emotionally communicative, flows with surprising fluidity, enchanting and enrapturing the listener with the charm of sonorities that directly reach the soul without intermediate stops. The Ultimate Dreamers are not only advanced, valid revisionists of the musical phenomenon to which they belong, but, above all, they can be considered among the projects which, better than countless others, know how to interpret music in an authentic, spectacular way and with a notable charge of personality. But each of these written words is nothing compared to the magnificence you listen in "Echoing Reverie". Post-Punk / Coldwave in superlative mode.
"Polarized" > The midtempo scans of the drumming generate trajectories, on which the rhythmic pulsations of the bass, the alienating guitarism and the darkness of the keyboard collide, in a vortex of danceability, dynamism and bombast, magnified by a chant with a mysterious aura. Superb track, antithesis of brightness.
"A Day In The Life" > Echoed vocals, overflowing with melancholy and decadent romanticism, spread desolate melodies, while midtempo-uptempo drum-programming metrics draw a double rhythmic path in which the vibrant depth of the bass, the electricity of the guitars and the atmospheric intensity of the keyboard resonate.
"Piano Ghost" > The spectral obsessiveness of the replicated synthetic-pianistic notes hovers parallel to the pulsations of the bass, imbued with the incendiary chemistry of the guitars, all this surrounded by vocals saturated with dark glaciality, torment and rationally divided by midtempo beats. Power, drama and emotional involvement subjugate the listener, generating restlessness and pleasure: the sensation of ice on the skin.
"Hell’s Bells" > Transposition in a dark-electric key of the famous AC / DC hit, this song develops from the mournful tolling of the bell and the black pads in the intro, to then evolve on cathartic keyboard sonances, ethereal guitar arpeggios, dry symmetries of drum-programming midtempo and subterranean bass cycles, above which stands out a sinisterly hoarse vocalism, little more than whispered. A one-way trip to the underworld.
"Midnight" > Stunning, killer and prospectively perfect track: its 80's minded musicality, full of melodic hooks, instantly conquers through terse vocal euphonies which in the refrain become so irresistible as to be indelibly fixed in the memory, all this supported by danceable midtempo drum-machine cadences, linear bass punctuations, dilated guitar sections and enveloping keyboard chords. To dance and listen to without pause from here to eternity. Stellar performance!
"Big Violent" > Episode in which lies an explicit vocal aggression expressed in the form of verses initially sung with controlled anger and later transformed into a distorted, liberating chant, torn by a high-sounding spiral of modulations overheated by the high voltage of the guitars, in a deflagration of red-hot sparks of electric strings, stabbing reverbs, solid midtempo drumming and regular bass patterns. Destabilizing sonic experience.
"I Loved You?!" > Electronically energetic, this song is designed by uptempo drum-programming grooves alongside sequencer straights, alienating chant and warm synth flows. Melodies that taste of futurism and retrospection at the same time.
"Implant Loved You?! ( Implant Remix )" > Clubby arrangements and greater instrumental incisiveness make this version a highly effective dancefloor filler. Implant reworks the structures, exponentially increasing the level of danceability. A must in the playlist of every alternative dee-jay.
Conclusions: Top album which can only be described in laudatory terms. The band possesses the enviable merit of having acquired in its DNA the most effective strategies of the legendary old-school background, managing to transform them today into sound choreographies that border on the sublime.This essential full-lenght conquers with disarming naturalness: you will love it with participation and sincerity, surprising yourself by humming lost in thought the catchiest refrains. The title track, varied and emotionally communicative, flows with surprising fluidity, enchanting and enrapturing the listener with the charm of sonorities that directly reach the soul without intermediate stops. The Ultimate Dreamers are not only advanced, valid revisionists of the musical phenomenon to which they belong, but, above all, they can be considered among the projects which, better than countless others, know how to interpret music in an authentic, spectacular way and with a notable charge of personality. But each of these written words is nothing compared to the magnificence you listen in "Echoing Reverie". Post-Punk / Coldwave in superlative mode.
White Light // White Heat (it) · 18/10/2023 [review]
Conceived in Lessines, the birthplace of René Magritte, in the late ’80s and revitalized in the new millennium, the now Brussels-based, Belgian Post-punk / Cold Wave band The Ultimate Dreamers deliver edgy slices of British Post Punk dissonance fusing with West European Coldwave melancholia, charged at times with Industrial tones, as in the latest ‘single edit’ of “Big Violent”, paired with an Official Video by Thomas De Moor, starring Olivier Bonjour.
In 2021 a new line-up made up of Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass), and classical musician Sandrine (keyboards and cello) led to the 2023 ‘post hibernation’ first studio LP “Echoing Reverie”, produced by Len Lemeire. Now, a throwback is on the horizon, a 6-track EP “Violent Ghost”, 3 alternative and 3 remixed versions (from prominent artists such as Patrick Codenys of FRONT 242, Shad Shadows and H0RD) of “Big Violent,” “Piano Ghost,” and “Midnight”, scheduled for release on October 27, 2023, via Spleen+ and Komakino Records.
Aggressive and chaotic rattling mayhem, “Big Violent” ignites mechanical pounding beats, broody rumbling basslines, and scratchy abrasive guitar riffs, laced with discordant spirals of swooshing distortions, and loud menacing baritone growls, to seethe and rampage in ‘Big Violent’ moods against a noisy brawling backdrop of rowdy screams.
Dramatic black and white visions by Thomas De Moor star Olivier Bonjour as a mental fighter who wakes up, half buried in the woods, to find himself surrounded by black hooded occultists. Running for his life, disoriented, and exhausted, he begins to shadowbox invisible phantoms whilst skewed camera angles, on-point acting and symbolic suggestions slowly reveal reality, but with a surprise twist, open to viewer interpretation.
In 2021 a new line-up made up of Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass), and classical musician Sandrine (keyboards and cello) led to the 2023 ‘post hibernation’ first studio LP “Echoing Reverie”, produced by Len Lemeire. Now, a throwback is on the horizon, a 6-track EP “Violent Ghost”, 3 alternative and 3 remixed versions (from prominent artists such as Patrick Codenys of FRONT 242, Shad Shadows and H0RD) of “Big Violent,” “Piano Ghost,” and “Midnight”, scheduled for release on October 27, 2023, via Spleen+ and Komakino Records.
Aggressive and chaotic rattling mayhem, “Big Violent” ignites mechanical pounding beats, broody rumbling basslines, and scratchy abrasive guitar riffs, laced with discordant spirals of swooshing distortions, and loud menacing baritone growls, to seethe and rampage in ‘Big Violent’ moods against a noisy brawling backdrop of rowdy screams.
Dramatic black and white visions by Thomas De Moor star Olivier Bonjour as a mental fighter who wakes up, half buried in the woods, to find himself surrounded by black hooded occultists. Running for his life, disoriented, and exhausted, he begins to shadowbox invisible phantoms whilst skewed camera angles, on-point acting and symbolic suggestions slowly reveal reality, but with a surprise twist, open to viewer interpretation.
Sound & Vision (sp) · 12/10/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers have released this 2023 record of their new full-length album, Echoing Reverie, made up of eight tracks that make them sound fresh and rejuvenated, while revisiting some of the styles that have shaped their career since the 1980s.
They are pop and post-punk with gothic influences. They are melancholic coldwave too. They manage to never give up the dancefloors, even if the choreographies change from one track to another, even the intensity of their sound movements and the lights that illuminate the sparse corners where they take refuge. There, we will listen carefully to the songs that these Belgians dedicate to their inner demons.
They are pop and post-punk with gothic influences. They are melancholic coldwave too. They manage to never give up the dancefloors, even if the choreographies change from one track to another, even the intensity of their sound movements and the lights that illuminate the sparse corners where they take refuge. There, we will listen carefully to the songs that these Belgians dedicate to their inner demons.
Luminous Dash (be) · 11/10/2023 [review]
"I will always love you..." How many times have we heard that? Many times. From the mouth of Robert Smith, the ultimate new wave singer of The Cure, it cannot sound enough. But now Brussels-based post-punk band The Ultimate Dreamers also released their Lovesong from The Cure.
They cling tightly to the best of the best of the 1980s and what they did with it is thankfully not too bad. After all, messages like this still have a hard time entering our musical hearts (hairs coming straight, threatening to be ripped out of the head and all that...).
It cannot - obviously - match the original, but the slightly more sombre version of The Cure's Lovesong is duly put down by Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass) and Sandrine (keys, cello). A slightly slowed-down version, with a coldwave touch in the instrumental, vocals that match the voice of Andrew Eldrich (Sisters Of Mercy) and an extra load of reverb.
This cover by The Ultimate Dreamers can be found on the Spleen+/Alfa Matrix tribute compilation A Strange Play vol.2.
They cling tightly to the best of the best of the 1980s and what they did with it is thankfully not too bad. After all, messages like this still have a hard time entering our musical hearts (hairs coming straight, threatening to be ripped out of the head and all that...).
It cannot - obviously - match the original, but the slightly more sombre version of The Cure's Lovesong is duly put down by Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass) and Sandrine (keys, cello). A slightly slowed-down version, with a coldwave touch in the instrumental, vocals that match the voice of Andrew Eldrich (Sisters Of Mercy) and an extra load of reverb.
This cover by The Ultimate Dreamers can be found on the Spleen+/Alfa Matrix tribute compilation A Strange Play vol.2.
Rockportaal (nl) · 03/07/2023 [review]
Belgian label Alfa Matrix has a new tribute collector ready around the Cure and it's a treasure chest you can keep digging into. Granted, there are also a few among them that are not so memorable, or that when adding up band/artist and chosen Cure song, do not lead to the expected outcome, but with only a few tracks falling under that heading out of a total of 27 interpretations, that is still very neat. The bands and artists did not all choose the greatest hits. That, too, is nice about this collector....The Ultimate Dreamers don't quite turn Lovesong to their liking - they stick just a little too hard to the original for that - but in reenacting the original, they deliver one of the best performances on this collector. Fodder for Cure purists.
Boulimique de Musique (ca) · 14/07/2023 [review]
The Belgian band offers a captivating variation of industrial rock with cold-wave touches and post-punk accents. This slightly dark track revolves around a nervous rhythmic approach with synthetic sounds. The deep-toned male vocals add a touch of theatricality to this track, which is bursting with intensity. The monochrome images in the accompanying video add a touch of artistry without being hermetic.
SchwarzesBayern (de) · 29/06/2023 [review]
From fairy tale to modernity
I already introduced The Ultimate Dreamers from Belgium with their fantastic debut Live happily while waiting for death, which was released decades later (link to review). The band has been active again since then, and not just live. Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals and programming), Joël (bass) and Sandrine (keyboards and cello) now live in Brussels and have released their second album Echoing reverie on Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix and Wave Tension Records.
"Polarized" opens the album directly with a mighty pumping rhythm hammer. Just three bars and I'm in. The dark vocal colour fits perfectly. Dark, driving, full of energy, staged with skilful breaks - a great track. In contrast, "A day in the life" is in the best cold wave tradition. Although there are also energetic parts, the melancholy clearly predominates here, which is conveyed by the vocals. The synthesisers create this special chilled atmosphere. In "Piano ghost", a piano is used alongside all kinds of synth sounds. I actually find the atmosphere of the song somehow spooky. It's like exploring an old house on a gloomy afternoon, where all the furniture is covered with white sheets. The guitar parts add a certain drama. The choice to cover the legendary "Hell's bells" by AC/DC is certainly very surprising at first. As is well known, opinions are always divided when it comes to cover versions, but of course the song is not simply being played back, but interpreted in its own unique way. It is now much darker and emphasises the mysticism inherent in the original. I find this new facet extremely successful.
With "Midnight" it becomes a little more danceable again, and the bass playing also comes more to the fore here compared to the sound carpet, which I like. The rhythm is the first thing you notice in "Big Violent", followed by the almost eerie, dark atmosphere, which is further emphasised by the partly whispered vocals. This is definitely a cool number for plenty of fog on the dance floor. With "I loved you?!", The Ultimate Dreamers return to their song of almost the same name from their debut, but give it a comprehensive sound renovation and transport it into the modern era. It's now more danceable, while the original sounds dreamier, but I like both versions. The remix "Implant loved you?!" thumps even more clearly for club use.
Conclusion: Yes, Echoing reverie also clearly sounds like The Ultimate Dreamers, but it also shows that despite the fabulously long period of time since the recording of their debut Live happily while waiting for death, the band has not slept through the musical development. Modernity has found its way in without ignoring or even denying the roots. The cold wave of the early days is still there, but the sound has been modernised.
I already introduced The Ultimate Dreamers from Belgium with their fantastic debut Live happily while waiting for death, which was released decades later (link to review). The band has been active again since then, and not just live. Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals and programming), Joël (bass) and Sandrine (keyboards and cello) now live in Brussels and have released their second album Echoing reverie on Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix and Wave Tension Records.
"Polarized" opens the album directly with a mighty pumping rhythm hammer. Just three bars and I'm in. The dark vocal colour fits perfectly. Dark, driving, full of energy, staged with skilful breaks - a great track. In contrast, "A day in the life" is in the best cold wave tradition. Although there are also energetic parts, the melancholy clearly predominates here, which is conveyed by the vocals. The synthesisers create this special chilled atmosphere. In "Piano ghost", a piano is used alongside all kinds of synth sounds. I actually find the atmosphere of the song somehow spooky. It's like exploring an old house on a gloomy afternoon, where all the furniture is covered with white sheets. The guitar parts add a certain drama. The choice to cover the legendary "Hell's bells" by AC/DC is certainly very surprising at first. As is well known, opinions are always divided when it comes to cover versions, but of course the song is not simply being played back, but interpreted in its own unique way. It is now much darker and emphasises the mysticism inherent in the original. I find this new facet extremely successful.
With "Midnight" it becomes a little more danceable again, and the bass playing also comes more to the fore here compared to the sound carpet, which I like. The rhythm is the first thing you notice in "Big Violent", followed by the almost eerie, dark atmosphere, which is further emphasised by the partly whispered vocals. This is definitely a cool number for plenty of fog on the dance floor. With "I loved you?!", The Ultimate Dreamers return to their song of almost the same name from their debut, but give it a comprehensive sound renovation and transport it into the modern era. It's now more danceable, while the original sounds dreamier, but I like both versions. The remix "Implant loved you?!" thumps even more clearly for club use.
Conclusion: Yes, Echoing reverie also clearly sounds like The Ultimate Dreamers, but it also shows that despite the fabulously long period of time since the recording of their debut Live happily while waiting for death, the band has not slept through the musical development. Modernity has found its way in without ignoring or even denying the roots. The cold wave of the early days is still there, but the sound has been modernised.
Esprits Critiques (be) · 14/06/2023 [review]
The 80s vintage style has been around for decades. While it can obviously be practised by novices, we can't get enough of those who have experienced the events first-hand. As well as the Wire legends, there are others who have resurfaced from the past. Active in the mid-'80s, the Belgian quartet returned to the scene during the period of confinement that saw them dust off old demos. Here, it's all new material from an equally rejuvenated line-up.
The sound is a skilful blend of past influences and slightly more modern interpretations. At one end of the spectrum, they offer some abrasive guitar sounds, like those taken to extremes on the first A Place To Bury Strangers (Polarized, Big Violent). Obviously, the concept of crash-testing distortion pedals is taken less far than on New York.
But that's not the only thing they're pushing. There's the beautiful breadth of Piano Ghost, the more synthetic new-wave of Midnight and the straightforward beat of Big Violent. The bouncy I Loved You?! even gets its own remix, which adds a few bloodier techno keyboards. The cover of Hells Bells is more anecdotal, because while the result does not suggest its origin, it was not composed with this treatment in mind.
Obviously, you have to be a fan in the first place, but if you drop in from time to time, I imagine that won't be an obstacle. The Ultimate Dreamers uses every shade of grey in the style for an album that aims and hits quite a few targets.
The sound is a skilful blend of past influences and slightly more modern interpretations. At one end of the spectrum, they offer some abrasive guitar sounds, like those taken to extremes on the first A Place To Bury Strangers (Polarized, Big Violent). Obviously, the concept of crash-testing distortion pedals is taken less far than on New York.
But that's not the only thing they're pushing. There's the beautiful breadth of Piano Ghost, the more synthetic new-wave of Midnight and the straightforward beat of Big Violent. The bouncy I Loved You?! even gets its own remix, which adds a few bloodier techno keyboards. The cover of Hells Bells is more anecdotal, because while the result does not suggest its origin, it was not composed with this treatment in mind.
Obviously, you have to be a fan in the first place, but if you drop in from time to time, I imagine that won't be an obstacle. The Ultimate Dreamers uses every shade of grey in the style for an album that aims and hits quite a few targets.
Musiczine (be) · 06/06/2023 [review]
Active in the 80s, at the height of the British post-punk and cold wave wave wave, The Ultimate Dreamers wrote many songs that they played live, particularly in Wallonia.
In the midst of a lock-down, one of the band members dug out a crate from his attic containing around twenty audio cassettes recorded in a very home-made way at the time. Nevertheless, the soul of the eighties is very much present, and thanks to 2.0 technology, 11 tracks were released at the end of 2021 to form the album "Live Happily While Waiting For Death".
The band from Lessin surfed on this revival, adjusting their line-up and creating new tracks in the process, which are now being released in the form of a new album entitled 'Echoing Reverie'. Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), it opens with the unstoppable single 'Polarized', a dark little bombshell combining cold wave chills and heady beats.
The band constantly play with the contrast between cold metallic textures and burning tones and harmonies. All set to cynical lyrics about spleen and inner demons. Outbursts of luminous dream pop even round off this surge of dark atmospheres and keyboards typical of the 80s, as on 'I Loved You'.
He's back with a new video for "Midnight", a new demonstration of new wave with an unstoppable melody!
In the midst of a lock-down, one of the band members dug out a crate from his attic containing around twenty audio cassettes recorded in a very home-made way at the time. Nevertheless, the soul of the eighties is very much present, and thanks to 2.0 technology, 11 tracks were released at the end of 2021 to form the album "Live Happily While Waiting For Death".
The band from Lessin surfed on this revival, adjusting their line-up and creating new tracks in the process, which are now being released in the form of a new album entitled 'Echoing Reverie'. Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), it opens with the unstoppable single 'Polarized', a dark little bombshell combining cold wave chills and heady beats.
The band constantly play with the contrast between cold metallic textures and burning tones and harmonies. All set to cynical lyrics about spleen and inner demons. Outbursts of luminous dream pop even round off this surge of dark atmospheres and keyboards typical of the 80s, as on 'I Loved You'.
He's back with a new video for "Midnight", a new demonstration of new wave with an unstoppable melody!
Kollektiva (hu) · 22/05/2023 [review]
Song of the day by 3V01_
The Ultimate Dreamers a group of Belgian Coldwave and Post - Punk veterans hailing from Brussels,have released a 6-track EP Vinyl 12'' version of their debut 8- track studio album ''Echoing Reverie''. Produced by Len Lemeire of bands such as Implant,32 Crash,and Anne Clark,the band celebrates their new release with an intense music video for their melodic track '' Midnight'' directed by Thomas De Moor. The video portrayts an urban downtown setting,where fading dreams and hopeful connections lead to a dark psychological dystopia of obsession and gloom. The song boasts skipping drum beats and murky,brooding bass lines that set the steady pace for immersive misty auras,created by sprawling keyboard drifts and glistening guitar echoes. The vocals are haunted and dreamy,lost in cold grey moods of hope and dread,emotively with bristling aching intensity.
The Ultimate Dreamers a group of Belgian Coldwave and Post - Punk veterans hailing from Brussels,have released a 6-track EP Vinyl 12'' version of their debut 8- track studio album ''Echoing Reverie''. Produced by Len Lemeire of bands such as Implant,32 Crash,and Anne Clark,the band celebrates their new release with an intense music video for their melodic track '' Midnight'' directed by Thomas De Moor. The video portrayts an urban downtown setting,where fading dreams and hopeful connections lead to a dark psychological dystopia of obsession and gloom. The song boasts skipping drum beats and murky,brooding bass lines that set the steady pace for immersive misty auras,created by sprawling keyboard drifts and glistening guitar echoes. The vocals are haunted and dreamy,lost in cold grey moods of hope and dread,emotively with bristling aching intensity.
FrontView Magazine (be) · 21/05/2023 [review]
Echoing Reverie is the first new studio album from the Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers since they have been shaken out of their extended hibernation and just like the previous Polarized single & EP release suggested it, it was really worth the wait!
Active in the mid-80’s and heavily influenced by the British post-punk dissonant style and the Belgian cold-wave melancholic atmosphere, the band resurrected during the COVID lockdown, releasing a selection of old demos on the Live Happily While Waiting For Death CD and vinyl in 2021. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers not only back on stage but also into the studio with their new line-up with Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello. The magic is back!
Now signed to Spleen+ and Wave Tension Records, The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting Echoing Reverie album that is serving us a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic danceable dream pop with a retro noisy post-punk attitude with surrealistic introspective cynical lyrics dealing with fleeting life, melancholic solitude and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark…), the new songs intelligently merge nostalgic cold wave chills and alluring poignant vocals with carrying basslines and irresistible danceable beats to become “less is more” addictive tunes that capture you in no time. If you like bands such as New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomie 21 or yet Section 25, Echoing Reverie comes highly recommended for a timeless dusk sonic experience at the crossroads of darkness and brightness. Let us also notice their lingering electric interpretation of AC/DC’s classic “Hell’s Bells” as well as the bonus club hit remix of “I Loved You!?” by Implant.
Active in the mid-80’s and heavily influenced by the British post-punk dissonant style and the Belgian cold-wave melancholic atmosphere, the band resurrected during the COVID lockdown, releasing a selection of old demos on the Live Happily While Waiting For Death CD and vinyl in 2021. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers not only back on stage but also into the studio with their new line-up with Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello. The magic is back!
Now signed to Spleen+ and Wave Tension Records, The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting Echoing Reverie album that is serving us a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic danceable dream pop with a retro noisy post-punk attitude with surrealistic introspective cynical lyrics dealing with fleeting life, melancholic solitude and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark…), the new songs intelligently merge nostalgic cold wave chills and alluring poignant vocals with carrying basslines and irresistible danceable beats to become “less is more” addictive tunes that capture you in no time. If you like bands such as New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomie 21 or yet Section 25, Echoing Reverie comes highly recommended for a timeless dusk sonic experience at the crossroads of darkness and brightness. Let us also notice their lingering electric interpretation of AC/DC’s classic “Hell’s Bells” as well as the bonus club hit remix of “I Loved You!?” by Implant.
Dark Entries (be) · 21/05/2023 [review]
Covid thus had its advantages too. For instance, it meant a new relaunch for Brussels-based The Ultimate Dreamers. You can read the how and what in colleague Xavier's review (click here), but where Spleen+, the sublabel of Alfa Matrix, already threw a CD into the world, the Dutch Wave Tension Records now does the same with a vinyl of "Echoing Reverie", an album filled with new songs by this band that originally saw the light of day in 1986 and was resuscitated by covid some three years back.
Unlike the CD version, the vinyl has only six songs, you have to do without the Implant remix and the original of "I Loved You". You do get a scented vinyl in its place. That the sound is different from their "Live Happily While Wating For Death", released in 2021 when Wool-E Records was still breathing, is evident. Everything is more complex more elaborate but the new wave roots of yesteryear are still there, on the powerful "Big Violent" in a tight somewhat dandy-looking post punk jacket, on "A Day In Life" with a melancholy that reminds me a bit of Clan Of Xymox and then on "Midnight" (see clip) bathed in a dreamy, lovely wave pop/electro bath.
But all the songs are particularly strong in terms of composition. "Polarised" was already played out as an advance single and managed to stand out with a more electronic approach that ties in a bit with Clock DVA's early songs but in a hipper and more modern outfit. 'Hell's Bells' is an AC/DC cover that you just don't expect the way it is played in here, bold, brave and strong. "Piano Ghost" finally is, perhaps even more than the other songs 'dreamy', so in that sense The Ultimate Dreamers live up to their name, an observation fellow Xavier also made. On vinyl for real fans.
Unlike the CD version, the vinyl has only six songs, you have to do without the Implant remix and the original of "I Loved You". You do get a scented vinyl in its place. That the sound is different from their "Live Happily While Wating For Death", released in 2021 when Wool-E Records was still breathing, is evident. Everything is more complex more elaborate but the new wave roots of yesteryear are still there, on the powerful "Big Violent" in a tight somewhat dandy-looking post punk jacket, on "A Day In Life" with a melancholy that reminds me a bit of Clan Of Xymox and then on "Midnight" (see clip) bathed in a dreamy, lovely wave pop/electro bath.
But all the songs are particularly strong in terms of composition. "Polarised" was already played out as an advance single and managed to stand out with a more electronic approach that ties in a bit with Clock DVA's early songs but in a hipper and more modern outfit. 'Hell's Bells' is an AC/DC cover that you just don't expect the way it is played in here, bold, brave and strong. "Piano Ghost" finally is, perhaps even more than the other songs 'dreamy', so in that sense The Ultimate Dreamers live up to their name, an observation fellow Xavier also made. On vinyl for real fans.
Ca C'est Culte (be) · 20/05/2023 [review]
Active in the 80s at the height of the British post-punk wave, the very young Lessinois of The Ultimate Dreamers wrote many songs mixing post-punk and cold-wave, but were content to play them at a dozen or so concerts in Wallonia.
In the midst of the lockdown, one of the members dug out a crate from his attic containing around twenty audio cassettes recorded at the time, in a very home-made way. Nonetheless, the soul of the 80s was still very much present, and thanks to 2.0 technology, 11 tracks were released at the end of 2021 to form the album Live Happily While Waiting For Death.
The band capitalized on this revival, adjusting their line-up and creating new tracks in the process, which are now being released in the form of a new album entitled “Echoing Reverie”. Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and released on Spleen+, a new subdivision of the legendary Alfa Matrix label, and on Wave Tension Records (for the vinyl version), it opens with the unstoppable single “Polarized”, a little dark bomb combining cold wave thrills and heady beats.
The band constantly play with the contrast between cold metallic textures and burning tones and harmonies. All set to cynical lyrics about spleen and inner demons. Outbursts of luminous dream pop even round off this surge of dark atmospheres and 80s-style keyboards, as on the track “I Loved You”.
In the midst of the lockdown, one of the members dug out a crate from his attic containing around twenty audio cassettes recorded at the time, in a very home-made way. Nonetheless, the soul of the 80s was still very much present, and thanks to 2.0 technology, 11 tracks were released at the end of 2021 to form the album Live Happily While Waiting For Death.
The band capitalized on this revival, adjusting their line-up and creating new tracks in the process, which are now being released in the form of a new album entitled “Echoing Reverie”. Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and released on Spleen+, a new subdivision of the legendary Alfa Matrix label, and on Wave Tension Records (for the vinyl version), it opens with the unstoppable single “Polarized”, a little dark bomb combining cold wave thrills and heady beats.
The band constantly play with the contrast between cold metallic textures and burning tones and harmonies. All set to cynical lyrics about spleen and inner demons. Outbursts of luminous dream pop even round off this surge of dark atmospheres and 80s-style keyboards, as on the track “I Loved You”.
White Light // White Heat (it) · 18/05/2023 [review]
Belgian Coldwave / Post-Punk veterans out of Brussels, The Ultimate Dreamers, made up of Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass), and Sandrine (keyboards and cello), somehow celebrate the release of the 6-track EP Vinyl 12″ version of the recent debut 8-track studio album “Echoing Reverie”, produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), with another gripping video, directed by Thomas De Moor, for the lush, enveloping and melodic “Midnight.”
“Midnight” sets in over an urban downtown drama where fading dreams and hopeful connections manifest a dark psychological dystopia seeped in obsession and gloom.
Skipping drum beats along with murky broody bass lines throb steadily through immersive misty auras built by sprawling wistful keyboard drifts and glistening guitar echoes, to emotively soar with bristling aching intensity, around haunted, dreamy vocal longings, lost in cold grey moods of hope and dread.
A dark fantasy by Thomas De Moor stars Ellie Bellini as a bored, lonely, and vulnerable teen, who takes on a reckless adventure in the city at night, alone. Surreal flows of motion, on point acting, and a blurry dim-lit backdrop set the stage for a tragic missed encounter, opening an alternate timeline of mystery and danger.
The Ultimate Dreamers‘ debut studio LP, “Echoing Reverie”, is out now, CD & Digital via Spleen+ label (the cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group); and in Limited Vinyl 12″ EP edition through Wave Tension Records, and the band’s Bandcamp.
“Midnight” sets in over an urban downtown drama where fading dreams and hopeful connections manifest a dark psychological dystopia seeped in obsession and gloom.
Skipping drum beats along with murky broody bass lines throb steadily through immersive misty auras built by sprawling wistful keyboard drifts and glistening guitar echoes, to emotively soar with bristling aching intensity, around haunted, dreamy vocal longings, lost in cold grey moods of hope and dread.
A dark fantasy by Thomas De Moor stars Ellie Bellini as a bored, lonely, and vulnerable teen, who takes on a reckless adventure in the city at night, alone. Surreal flows of motion, on point acting, and a blurry dim-lit backdrop set the stage for a tragic missed encounter, opening an alternate timeline of mystery and danger.
The Ultimate Dreamers‘ debut studio LP, “Echoing Reverie”, is out now, CD & Digital via Spleen+ label (the cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group); and in Limited Vinyl 12″ EP edition through Wave Tension Records, and the band’s Bandcamp.
Obsküre (fr) · 12/05/2023 [review]
Reconfigure the entity, rethink the group, come back. There are times for doing things, and confinement has obviously opened up possibilities for some more than others. A context, a will. The Ultimate Dreamers are among those who have clearly benefited from the confinement: reassured, the new collective is reborn with a new opus whose mastery and level of rendering contrast singularly - and no doubt quite logically - with those of the collection of old Live Happily While Waiting For Death demos.
On the half-length Echoing Reverie (eight tracks are enough to qualify as an album, or at least a mini-album, even if the total includes a cover version and a remix), the Belgians demonstrate a cool, self-assured incisiveness: the rhythms are steady and dry, the vocals in the sepulchre but without accentuation. Not to be a paragon of theatricality, not to be gratuitous. Echoing Reverie: a search for balance in the flow. Something is working inside you. It's a tug of war, it's always moving and oscillating. Black & white / rhinestones, and the intention finds a physical outlet. It's achieved in a chiaroscuro, often successful in this case. Old Ikon or Xymox, or more recent things like Ist Ist, come to mind when listening to things like 'A Day in the Life'. And then there's the strength in the pitfalls avoided by the 2023 band (Bertrand, Frédéric, Joël, Sandrine): those of excess, unnecessary emphasis. A track like 'Piano Ghost' could have been adorned with more sepulchral vocals, and you'd have had your new Joy Division. But no, you'll just be imagining it, and that's its strength. All you had to do was stay true to yourself.
Leave no stone unturned. You have to start an album with a strong track, but you also have to think about it, and that's the thoughtful choice Les Rêveurs make with "Polarized". And in the cold linearity of the reliefs, the collective produces a sound with identity. A colour is announced, but the announcement is not exclusive of variations. Some of the later twists and turns reflect a fondness for their cousin, old school gothic rock. This is quite obvious on "Midnight", although here again the band avoids demonstration. They prefer a restrained, natural mode: mid-range vocals, curly, elegant guitars. The vocals are more penetrating and deeper on "Big Violent", where they remind us of an early Yorck Eysel (Love Like Blood), while Stoogian ghosts choke in the filth of the guitars. There's a culture at work here: history is kneading the musician's automatisms and reflexes. This history is perhaps not confined to the eighties, even if the prevailing reliefs engender a more obvious affiliation to certain spheres than to others. Everyone always wants to cut everything out, but time crosses the decades without saying its name.
Finally, there are other amusing exercises on Echoing Reverie. You'll have to decipher them in your own way, but time seems to have come a long way from goths' aversion to hard rock demonstrations of force (in the 80s, everyone was on their guard). Assuming that the reinvention of AC/DC's classic 'Hell's Bells' is a tribute - which from our point of view is easily justified (we're no longer in the 80s and we're tired of tribal stories) - The Ultimate Dreamers transport the eternal into their own cosmos. The band empty the classic of its black, saturated flame to create an icy, openly funereal block... which the original contains at the very heart of its story. No memory precludes a project. Echoing Reverie: a controlled, suggestive and stylish collection that ends with a remix of "I loved you?!" by Implant. At the end of the day, you had to dance. Dancing makes it easier to forget death.
On the half-length Echoing Reverie (eight tracks are enough to qualify as an album, or at least a mini-album, even if the total includes a cover version and a remix), the Belgians demonstrate a cool, self-assured incisiveness: the rhythms are steady and dry, the vocals in the sepulchre but without accentuation. Not to be a paragon of theatricality, not to be gratuitous. Echoing Reverie: a search for balance in the flow. Something is working inside you. It's a tug of war, it's always moving and oscillating. Black & white / rhinestones, and the intention finds a physical outlet. It's achieved in a chiaroscuro, often successful in this case. Old Ikon or Xymox, or more recent things like Ist Ist, come to mind when listening to things like 'A Day in the Life'. And then there's the strength in the pitfalls avoided by the 2023 band (Bertrand, Frédéric, Joël, Sandrine): those of excess, unnecessary emphasis. A track like 'Piano Ghost' could have been adorned with more sepulchral vocals, and you'd have had your new Joy Division. But no, you'll just be imagining it, and that's its strength. All you had to do was stay true to yourself.
Leave no stone unturned. You have to start an album with a strong track, but you also have to think about it, and that's the thoughtful choice Les Rêveurs make with "Polarized". And in the cold linearity of the reliefs, the collective produces a sound with identity. A colour is announced, but the announcement is not exclusive of variations. Some of the later twists and turns reflect a fondness for their cousin, old school gothic rock. This is quite obvious on "Midnight", although here again the band avoids demonstration. They prefer a restrained, natural mode: mid-range vocals, curly, elegant guitars. The vocals are more penetrating and deeper on "Big Violent", where they remind us of an early Yorck Eysel (Love Like Blood), while Stoogian ghosts choke in the filth of the guitars. There's a culture at work here: history is kneading the musician's automatisms and reflexes. This history is perhaps not confined to the eighties, even if the prevailing reliefs engender a more obvious affiliation to certain spheres than to others. Everyone always wants to cut everything out, but time crosses the decades without saying its name.
Finally, there are other amusing exercises on Echoing Reverie. You'll have to decipher them in your own way, but time seems to have come a long way from goths' aversion to hard rock demonstrations of force (in the 80s, everyone was on their guard). Assuming that the reinvention of AC/DC's classic 'Hell's Bells' is a tribute - which from our point of view is easily justified (we're no longer in the 80s and we're tired of tribal stories) - The Ultimate Dreamers transport the eternal into their own cosmos. The band empty the classic of its black, saturated flame to create an icy, openly funereal block... which the original contains at the very heart of its story. No memory precludes a project. Echoing Reverie: a controlled, suggestive and stylish collection that ends with a remix of "I loved you?!" by Implant. At the end of the day, you had to dance. Dancing makes it easier to forget death.
Kollektiva (hu) · 12/05/2023 [review]
No question, the past decade has been about the glory of the '80s post-punk/new-wave renaissance in the dark-underground scene. A new generation has turned to the music of their parents, but alongside the young titans are some now-forgotten bands who have returned to the scene after a long decade-long coma, and who better to sound more authentically '80s-inspired than those who shaped it from the beginning? That's exactly what Belgian coldwave The Ultimate Dreamers are proving, returning in 2021 after 30 years. But not only have they dusted off the old songs since then, Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joël (bass) and Sarah (synthesizer) have also been working on new songs, the fruit of which is 'Echoing Reverie', released in March! I suppose it's no surprise: the quartet's sound has evolved tremendously, the album is no longer a repetitive, boring '80s rehash, but offers a much deeper, more contemporary music where past, present and future meet. There is a delicate balance of light and darkness in their music: 'Echoing Reverie' is a fusion of futuristic danceable dreampop and dramatic coldwave with a noisy retro post-punk attitude, accompanied by surreal, introspective and cynical lyrics that explore the passing of life, melancholic loneliness and other inner demons. The Ultimate Dreamers offers fans a perfectly tuned 21st century coldwave album, with excellent songs on board such as the fantastic 'Midnight', for which the music video has just been released!
Side-Line (be) · 04/05/2023 [review]
Background/Info: Spleen +, a new Belgian label and subdivision of the established electronic label Alfa Matrix, brings a fresh focus on Dark-Wave, Post-Punk, and Minimal-Synth music. Their first signing is the iconic Belgian formation The Ultimate Dreamers, who rose to prominence in the 80s and re-emerged during the Covid-19 era. After releasing an album through Wool-E-Discs (“Live Happily While Waiting For Death”), they now present a new work produced by Len Lemaire (Implant), with a limited vinyl edition released by Wave Tension Records.
Content: Echoing Reverie showcases the band’s signature Dark-Wave style, featuring elements reminiscent of The Cure. One of the most surprising songs is a cover of AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells”. The second part of the album introduces more explicit electronic arrangements, evoking the sound of 1000 Ohm. The final track is a very captivating Electro version/remix of “I Loved You?!” by Implant, reimagined as “Implant Loved You?!”.
Positives: The second half of the album is particularly noteworthy, with standouts such as “Midnight” (a must-listen for The Cure fans) and the Dark/Cold-Wave infused “I Loved You?!”. Though initially hesitant about the Implant cover remix, it ultimately proves to be a fantastic and extended edit perfect for Electro dance floors.
Conclusion: Echoing Reverie is an album of contrasts, with a tentative first half that gives way to a magnificent second half, ultimately delivering a very satisfying listening experience.
Content: Echoing Reverie showcases the band’s signature Dark-Wave style, featuring elements reminiscent of The Cure. One of the most surprising songs is a cover of AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells”. The second part of the album introduces more explicit electronic arrangements, evoking the sound of 1000 Ohm. The final track is a very captivating Electro version/remix of “I Loved You?!” by Implant, reimagined as “Implant Loved You?!”.
Positives: The second half of the album is particularly noteworthy, with standouts such as “Midnight” (a must-listen for The Cure fans) and the Dark/Cold-Wave infused “I Loved You?!”. Though initially hesitant about the Implant cover remix, it ultimately proves to be a fantastic and extended edit perfect for Electro dance floors.
Conclusion: Echoing Reverie is an album of contrasts, with a tentative first half that gives way to a magnificent second half, ultimately delivering a very satisfying listening experience.
Bloody Mary (br) · 27/04/2023 [review]
Echoing Reverie is the first new studio album from Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers since they were shaken out of their prolonged hibernation and, just as the previous Polarised single and EP release suggested, it was worth the wait!
Now signed to Brussels-based label Spleen+ (coldwave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix group), The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future in this exciting album Echoing Reverie which is serving us a subtle balance between light and dark: a poignant fusion of cold waves of futuristic dance pop with a noisy retro post-punk attitude with cynical introspective surreal lyrics that deal with fleeting life, melancholic loneliness and other inner demons.
Now signed to Brussels-based label Spleen+ (coldwave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix group), The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future in this exciting album Echoing Reverie which is serving us a subtle balance between light and dark: a poignant fusion of cold waves of futuristic dance pop with a noisy retro post-punk attitude with cynical introspective surreal lyrics that deal with fleeting life, melancholic loneliness and other inner demons.
Rock Shock (it) · 25/04/2023 [review]
Straight from the 80s, The Ultimate Dreamers from Belgium return after a long hibernation. I'll spoil you right away that it was worth the wait for such a long time to get an album so pleasantly in-between British post-punk and Belgian electronica.
Straight from the 80s, The Ultimate Dreamers from Belgium are back after a long hibernation. I'll spoil you right away that it was worth the wait for such a long time to get a record so pleasantly in between British post-punk and Belgian electronica.
Echoing Reverie combines what has been the past, what is the present and what will probably be the future of The Ultimate Dreamers, pleasantly poised between pop melodies, post-punk attitude and dancefllor temptation, all seasoned with lyrics that are surreal to say the least.
As crepuscular as Minimal Compact or The Cure, as pop as New Order, as electronic as Anne Clark, with vocals that often sound like they come from a cave and a bass as throbbing as the over-aged like it: these are The Ultimate Dreamers of 2023.
And who knows what AC/DC will say about the funereal minimal wave cover of Hell's Bells, which peeps halfway through the playlist and comes just before Midnight, perhaps the coldest wave track on the album.
Big Violent is... violent in name and in fact, I Loved You? sounds like it was made to be remixed in all kinds of ways and become a track-filler, as much as Implant Love You? (but even at home it is impossible to sit still listening to it).
In short, The Ultimate Dreamers are back in a big way and Echoing Reverie is an album that can be an effective soundtrack to different moods.
We also know that the band will be touring next summer to tread the stages of several festivals: do I hope too much to wish them in Italy too?
Straight from the 80s, The Ultimate Dreamers from Belgium are back after a long hibernation. I'll spoil you right away that it was worth the wait for such a long time to get a record so pleasantly in between British post-punk and Belgian electronica.
Echoing Reverie combines what has been the past, what is the present and what will probably be the future of The Ultimate Dreamers, pleasantly poised between pop melodies, post-punk attitude and dancefllor temptation, all seasoned with lyrics that are surreal to say the least.
As crepuscular as Minimal Compact or The Cure, as pop as New Order, as electronic as Anne Clark, with vocals that often sound like they come from a cave and a bass as throbbing as the over-aged like it: these are The Ultimate Dreamers of 2023.
And who knows what AC/DC will say about the funereal minimal wave cover of Hell's Bells, which peeps halfway through the playlist and comes just before Midnight, perhaps the coldest wave track on the album.
Big Violent is... violent in name and in fact, I Loved You? sounds like it was made to be remixed in all kinds of ways and become a track-filler, as much as Implant Love You? (but even at home it is impossible to sit still listening to it).
In short, The Ultimate Dreamers are back in a big way and Echoing Reverie is an album that can be an effective soundtrack to different moods.
We also know that the band will be touring next summer to tread the stages of several festivals: do I hope too much to wish them in Italy too?
El Garaje de Frank (sp) · 21/04/2023 [review]
Belgian post-punk/coldwave act The Ultimate Dreamers have recently released Echoing Reverie, their new album. Although the band started in the mid-eighties, it is only now that they are releasing what could be considered their first full-length. Before that, we could enjoy their selection of demos Live Happily Whie Waiting for Death, released in 2021, and the EP Polarized. The album, which has appeared in a limited edition on vinyl, CD and digital download has been released by the label Spleen +, which is a subdivision of the popular Alfa Matrix.
Last year we had the opportunity to see the band on Halloween night in Brussels and they played a fantastic gig where we could listen to some of the new tracks and also buy the material released so far. If they play near your city during the tour for this album, don’t hesitate and go to see them.
When I heard that this album was going to be released, I didn’t hesitate to order it in one of my favourite shops, but sadly, it hasn’t arrived yet. So, I am commenting the Bandcamp version. In this new work, produced by Len Lemeire, we find two of the songs we already knew from the previous single, a remix of Implant and a cover of AC/DC‘s “Hell Bells”! “Polarized” is a very good start for the album, a very catchy and powerful track with a edgy sound. A great sample of coldwave properly updated resulting in great single. “A Day in The Life”, which shares its name with the famous Beatles‘ song, also has a quite dreamy part with a more direct ending. I also highlight Frédéric’s heartfelt interpretation. It is another track that will captivate you. “Piano Ghost” is a curious piece, with a very careful atmosphere thanks to some haunting keyboards and with somegood guitar playing. The version of “Hell’s Bell” is dark and sinister, with another great vocal performance. For a moment you might think it’s one of their own songs and the other a cover, because it really suits the band. “Midnight” is another passionate and quite catchy song. “Big Violent” sounds original, again haunting and with a great guitar sound.
The digital version also contains “I Loved You?!”, already known from their demo version and from the Polarized EP. It’s another of their great tracks, powerful and direct in equal measure. And finally, we have Implant‘s remix of this track, which he gives a slightly more danceable touch.
Last year we had the opportunity to see the band on Halloween night in Brussels and they played a fantastic gig where we could listen to some of the new tracks and also buy the material released so far. If they play near your city during the tour for this album, don’t hesitate and go to see them.
When I heard that this album was going to be released, I didn’t hesitate to order it in one of my favourite shops, but sadly, it hasn’t arrived yet. So, I am commenting the Bandcamp version. In this new work, produced by Len Lemeire, we find two of the songs we already knew from the previous single, a remix of Implant and a cover of AC/DC‘s “Hell Bells”! “Polarized” is a very good start for the album, a very catchy and powerful track with a edgy sound. A great sample of coldwave properly updated resulting in great single. “A Day in The Life”, which shares its name with the famous Beatles‘ song, also has a quite dreamy part with a more direct ending. I also highlight Frédéric’s heartfelt interpretation. It is another track that will captivate you. “Piano Ghost” is a curious piece, with a very careful atmosphere thanks to some haunting keyboards and with somegood guitar playing. The version of “Hell’s Bell” is dark and sinister, with another great vocal performance. For a moment you might think it’s one of their own songs and the other a cover, because it really suits the band. “Midnight” is another passionate and quite catchy song. “Big Violent” sounds original, again haunting and with a great guitar sound.
The digital version also contains “I Loved You?!”, already known from their demo version and from the Polarized EP. It’s another of their great tracks, powerful and direct in equal measure. And finally, we have Implant‘s remix of this track, which he gives a slightly more danceable touch.
Nene's Butler (at) · 15/04/2023 [review]
Active in the mid-80’s and heavily influenced by the British post-punk dissonant style and the Belgian cold-wave melancholic atmosphere, the band resurrected during the COVID lock-down, releasing a selection of old demos on the “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” CD and vinyl in 2021. A dynamic impulse that brought THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS not only back on stage but also into the studio with their new line-up with Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello. The magic is back!
Aqui Musica (ar) · 1/04/2023 [review]
Echoing Reverie is the first new studio album from Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers since they awoke from their extended hibernation. The band re-emerged during the COVID pandemic and isolation, during which they released their selection of demos on the Live Happily While Waiting For Death CD and vinyl in 2021.
Echoing Reverie offers a subtle balance between light and dark: a poignant fusion of cold-wave with a retro post-punk sound and introspective, surreal and cynical lyrics.
Echoing Reverie offers a subtle balance between light and dark: a poignant fusion of cold-wave with a retro post-punk sound and introspective, surreal and cynical lyrics.
Sonic Seducer (de) · 1/04/2023 [review]
Unfortunately not the announced new full-time album, but almost. Because there are now six new tracks; there are even two more mixes on CD and digital as a bonus. A song, "Polarized" is already well known. The song was released at the beginning of the year on many formats and in many versions. And yes, what was true for “Polarized” now applies to the entire new work: The Ultimate Dreamers sound crisper, more electronic in 2023. And fuller, more dynamic in terms of vocals and production. The music simply has more bite, and also more character than in the 80s. Because at the beginning they sounded like a school band - that's not meant as negatively as it might sound, because they were simply very young. They were a real school band. All the more remarkable that today, almost 40 years later, their music from back then is still being heard. But what connects 'Echoing Reverie' with the compilation of the very old songs, 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death', is that this album will also be released in all common formats such as CD, LP and digital. And musically there are also similarities between old and new: you can still hear your old heroes like Clan Of Xymox, The Cure, Bauhaus, Trisomie 21 clearly.Uwe Marx
Sonic Seducer (de) · 01/03/2023 [interview - part 2]
THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS - Dark and respectfulThe Belgian cold wave/postpunk band made a remarkable comeback last year. With many concerts and releases. But it wasn't a really classic comeback, because after all, during their active period from 1986 to 1990, The Ultimate Dreamers were only on stage in their home country of Belgium. And hasn't released any songs either. That has recently changed. And now we're adding 'Echoing Reverie'.Fortunately, The Ultimate Dreamers are not a typical project in which the old singer wants to do it again with new colleagues, because most of the old line-up are still there, as singer Frédéric Cotton explains:
“Joel plays now bass and Bertrand has switched to guitar. They are both original members, just on different instruments. Sandrine is the new member, she plays keyboards and cello. I'm still the singer and play second bass on some songs."First there was supposed to be an album called 'Echoing Reverie', right? Why it has now become just an EP is quickly explained:
"We wanted to present new material. We have "Polarized", a limited edition 7" single, released in September 2022 on Komakino Records, our own label. Our plans were then to make an EP with 'Polarized' and five other songs. We found Wave Tension Records for the vinyl release. And of course we still have the deal with Spleen+. The digital version and a CD are available here. Both with eight songs. We kind of consider these versions in particular to be an album." For the release they recorded an AC/DC cover version - bizarre, but true:
"I'm not a fan of AC/DC at all, but "Hell's Bells" is a great song and I thought it would be interesting to do a completely different, respectful version - darker and slower. We played it a few times at concerts and people loved it."Concerts are important to them anyway. Did you play live in your early phase? Apparently gigs were already an important topic for Cotton & Co. back then:
“We played a dozen concerts in the late 80s. We lived in a region where nothing happened. So we decided to organize a few events ourselves and had some problems with the police, who believed that dark music was synonymous with drugs and violence. It all stayed very local, but it was successful."Uwe Marx
“Joel plays now bass and Bertrand has switched to guitar. They are both original members, just on different instruments. Sandrine is the new member, she plays keyboards and cello. I'm still the singer and play second bass on some songs."First there was supposed to be an album called 'Echoing Reverie', right? Why it has now become just an EP is quickly explained:
"We wanted to present new material. We have "Polarized", a limited edition 7" single, released in September 2022 on Komakino Records, our own label. Our plans were then to make an EP with 'Polarized' and five other songs. We found Wave Tension Records for the vinyl release. And of course we still have the deal with Spleen+. The digital version and a CD are available here. Both with eight songs. We kind of consider these versions in particular to be an album." For the release they recorded an AC/DC cover version - bizarre, but true:
"I'm not a fan of AC/DC at all, but "Hell's Bells" is a great song and I thought it would be interesting to do a completely different, respectful version - darker and slower. We played it a few times at concerts and people loved it."Concerts are important to them anyway. Did you play live in your early phase? Apparently gigs were already an important topic for Cotton & Co. back then:
“We played a dozen concerts in the late 80s. We lived in a region where nothing happened. So we decided to organize a few events ourselves and had some problems with the police, who believed that dark music was synonymous with drugs and violence. It all stayed very local, but it was successful."Uwe Marx
BLITZ! (fr) · 31/03/2023 [review]
Echoing Reverie, the new album by Belgian post-punk/cold wave quartet The Ultimate Dreamers, will be officially released in digital and CD formats on 17 March 2023 on Spleen+, a new subdivision of the Alfa Matrix label. The vinyl will be released in May on Wave Tension Records. A live presentation evening will be held on Saturday 18 March at the CaliClub (Drogenbos/Brussels). Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), the new songs cleverly fuse nostalgic cold wave chills and poignant vocals with driving bass lines and often danceable rhythms. Of particular note is the unexpectedly successful cover of AC/DC classic 'Hell's Bells' and the bonus remix of Implant's club hit "I Loved You!"
Sounds Good (it) · 28/03/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers are a post-punk / cold wave band born in Lessines (Belgium), the birthplace of René Magritte. Cold, organic tones contaminated by melancholic melodies, perhaps catchy, perhaps bordering on dissonance, provide the backdrop for themes dominated by raw dreams, anguished love and social criticism. The Ultimate Dreamers return with a new line-up and an updated repertoire. During a series of concerts, the quartet records a new album, Echoing Reverie, released in March 2023.
A track can be categorised within the ranks of a redundant Alternative Pop/Rock, a dynamic proposal, with some references to more open sounds, where a constantly voluminous atmosphere by means of sounds that enhance the sound, in a fine way, give a sound impact with positive vibrations.
An excellent track, which shows a good technical mastery in the genre it is intended to propose. The overall sound is full-bodied and fluid, which amalgamates the track very well, characterised by a series of soft sounds that further enhance its structure. A track that draws the listener into an optimal dimension. Lovers of classic Alternative Punk Rock will certainly appreciate this new original release.
A track can be categorised within the ranks of a redundant Alternative Pop/Rock, a dynamic proposal, with some references to more open sounds, where a constantly voluminous atmosphere by means of sounds that enhance the sound, in a fine way, give a sound impact with positive vibrations.
An excellent track, which shows a good technical mastery in the genre it is intended to propose. The overall sound is full-bodied and fluid, which amalgamates the track very well, characterised by a series of soft sounds that further enhance its structure. A track that draws the listener into an optimal dimension. Lovers of classic Alternative Punk Rock will certainly appreciate this new original release.
Destroy//Exist (gr) · 27/03/2023 [review]
Post punk/coldwave band from Lessines, Belgium, The Ultimate Dreamers return with their new album, Echoing Reverie, released in March 2023 on Spleen+/Alfa Matrix and Wave Tension Records. The quartet's new studio album is their first since their reemergence from a protracted standby mode.
The band, which was productive in the mid-eighties and was greatly influenced by Belgian coldwave atmosphere and the sharp British post punk sound, was brought back to life during the COVID lockdown, and released a collection of old demos.
Piano Ghost is a solemn track which blends solemn dreampop with a noisier post punk mindset. It makes excellent use of somber repetitiveness and presents a nuanced harmony between darkness and light. The lyrics of this dreamlike and rather introverted song bring up themes of inner turmoil, melancholy, isolation and life's ephemerality. The song comes with a fantastic, stark video by Thomas De Moor.
The new songs from The Ultimate Dreamers, which were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), cleverly combine an overarching sense of nostalgia with enchanting and deeply moving vocals and enticing beats to create an immersive mood. With an energizing and refreshing feel to it, The Ultimate Dreamers' new material feels uniquely reminiscent of the dark minimal style of the darkwave frontline, like Minimal Compact, Trisomie 21 and Section 25.
The band, which was productive in the mid-eighties and was greatly influenced by Belgian coldwave atmosphere and the sharp British post punk sound, was brought back to life during the COVID lockdown, and released a collection of old demos.
Piano Ghost is a solemn track which blends solemn dreampop with a noisier post punk mindset. It makes excellent use of somber repetitiveness and presents a nuanced harmony between darkness and light. The lyrics of this dreamlike and rather introverted song bring up themes of inner turmoil, melancholy, isolation and life's ephemerality. The song comes with a fantastic, stark video by Thomas De Moor.
The new songs from The Ultimate Dreamers, which were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), cleverly combine an overarching sense of nostalgia with enchanting and deeply moving vocals and enticing beats to create an immersive mood. With an energizing and refreshing feel to it, The Ultimate Dreamers' new material feels uniquely reminiscent of the dark minimal style of the darkwave frontline, like Minimal Compact, Trisomie 21 and Section 25.
Luminous Dash (be) · 25/03/2023 [review]
Post-punk/coldwave band The Ultimate Dreamers are all the way back! In the 1980s, their sound hovered somewhere between the dissonant British post-punk style and melancholic Belgian coldwave. And then it stayed quiet. For years.
During the lockdown period in 2021, we got a selection of old demos from the Brussels foursome on the album 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death', after which they entered the studio in a new line-up. Their ep Polarised announced their new album 'Echoing Reverie' after years of silence. Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joel (bass) and classical musician Sandrine (keys, cello) meld their past, present and future on this new album in very diverse-sounding songs about the fleetingness of life, melancholic loneliness and other inner demons.
On the one hand, we hear some dreampoppy danceable tracks, where the vocal lines sound airy and accessible, such as Midnight, A Day In The Life and Big Violent. We hear a clear contract between the tracks bathed in light and the more dark, chilly coldwave songs. A monotonous drum punch, minimal synth lines that come in hard and deep, slicing guitar and accompanying dark bass line characterise Polarized, which does break open with a dirtier edge in the choruses. We are less enthusiastic about Piano Ghost, as the strong dissonance seems to suddenly rip away the track's atmosphere and emotion.
How exactly do you rip out the soul of a song? Make a coldwave cover of Hell's Bells by AC/DC. Listen and then step outside for a moment. Keep breathing and don't try to find words. We didn't with this one either.
On the digital release we find 2 extra songs, I Loved You?! and its Implant remix Implant Loved You?!, which we also heard on the Polarized EP.
An album with which The Ultimate Dreamers returns with the same spirit as 40 years ago, albeit in a new jacket. A jacket that doesn't sound bad, but that unfortunately doesn't really take us in, absorb us or stick around our skin either. But listen above all. And judge for yourself, because maybe it will stick to you and this Brussels band certainly deserves that!
Echoing Reverie was cleverly produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32crash, Anne Clark...) and has been released digitally and on vinyl by Spleen+ and Wave Tension Records.
During the lockdown period in 2021, we got a selection of old demos from the Brussels foursome on the album 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death', after which they entered the studio in a new line-up. Their ep Polarised announced their new album 'Echoing Reverie' after years of silence. Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals), Joel (bass) and classical musician Sandrine (keys, cello) meld their past, present and future on this new album in very diverse-sounding songs about the fleetingness of life, melancholic loneliness and other inner demons.
On the one hand, we hear some dreampoppy danceable tracks, where the vocal lines sound airy and accessible, such as Midnight, A Day In The Life and Big Violent. We hear a clear contract between the tracks bathed in light and the more dark, chilly coldwave songs. A monotonous drum punch, minimal synth lines that come in hard and deep, slicing guitar and accompanying dark bass line characterise Polarized, which does break open with a dirtier edge in the choruses. We are less enthusiastic about Piano Ghost, as the strong dissonance seems to suddenly rip away the track's atmosphere and emotion.
How exactly do you rip out the soul of a song? Make a coldwave cover of Hell's Bells by AC/DC. Listen and then step outside for a moment. Keep breathing and don't try to find words. We didn't with this one either.
On the digital release we find 2 extra songs, I Loved You?! and its Implant remix Implant Loved You?!, which we also heard on the Polarized EP.
An album with which The Ultimate Dreamers returns with the same spirit as 40 years ago, albeit in a new jacket. A jacket that doesn't sound bad, but that unfortunately doesn't really take us in, absorb us or stick around our skin either. But listen above all. And judge for yourself, because maybe it will stick to you and this Brussels band certainly deserves that!
Echoing Reverie was cleverly produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32crash, Anne Clark...) and has been released digitally and on vinyl by Spleen+ and Wave Tension Records.
Musiczine (be) · 23/03/2023 [review]
The least we can say is that The Ultimate Dreamers are back-on-track. Since the release of their old work by Wool-e-works in 2021, they have not fallen silent and you can find them all over the country. After the well-received EP 'Polarised', there is now a studio album on Spleen+ , a sub-division of Alfa Matrix.
We find "Polarized" on it as an opener, by the way. A track that sounds uplifting and quite modern and thus ideal as an opening track. "A Day in the Life" starts as a midtempo song that slowly builds up before breaking open. The effects on the vocals remind me a bit of John Wolf (Mildreda). The fact that Len Lemeire (including Implant, Anne Clark...) may also have something to do with it. "Piano Ghost" floats on a piano riff and forms the basis on which the rest is built. The vocals here are a little more subdued and warm. Putting an AC/DC cover of "Hell Bell's" on a cold wave record is a risk you take as a band, though. But it does work. And so, once again, you notice the strength of this song. "Midnight" is a good-listening song that somewhat references The Cure. But with Robert Smith's influence on this genre, it's hard not to think of that now and then. "Big Violent" is a dark track with balls. I think this could be a blast live. "Loved You?!" we know from the 'Polarized' EP. To close, there is an Implant mix of "Loved You?!" A successful mix that is somewhat in the direction of I Am X, Depeche Mode etc.
It has become a very solid album that is well produced and mixed. They pick up where they left off with "Polarized".
We find "Polarized" on it as an opener, by the way. A track that sounds uplifting and quite modern and thus ideal as an opening track. "A Day in the Life" starts as a midtempo song that slowly builds up before breaking open. The effects on the vocals remind me a bit of John Wolf (Mildreda). The fact that Len Lemeire (including Implant, Anne Clark...) may also have something to do with it. "Piano Ghost" floats on a piano riff and forms the basis on which the rest is built. The vocals here are a little more subdued and warm. Putting an AC/DC cover of "Hell Bell's" on a cold wave record is a risk you take as a band, though. But it does work. And so, once again, you notice the strength of this song. "Midnight" is a good-listening song that somewhat references The Cure. But with Robert Smith's influence on this genre, it's hard not to think of that now and then. "Big Violent" is a dark track with balls. I think this could be a blast live. "Loved You?!" we know from the 'Polarized' EP. To close, there is an Implant mix of "Loved You?!" A successful mix that is somewhat in the direction of I Am X, Depeche Mode etc.
It has become a very solid album that is well produced and mixed. They pick up where they left off with "Polarized".
Music in Belgium (be) · 22/03/2023 [concert review]
Double release party this Saturday at the cosy CaliClub in Drogenbos, featuring The Ultimate Dreamers and At Night. They celebrated the release of their new albums 'Echoing Reverie' and 'Teen Crisis' respectively. It was a very special evening for the second nominees, as it was their first official concert.We've already spoken to you many times about The Ultimate Dreamers, a project that was born in the mid-80s and then, like many teenage dreams, put aside when studies and the world of work came knocking at the door. Without Covid-19, there would probably never have been a version 2.0, because it was during the confinements that Frédéric Cotton went back into his memories and got the project back on track. A few months later, an album compiling the demos of the time, 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death', was released.
During the many concerts that followed (including a support slot for And Also The Trees at Le Bota), new tracks were honed, including Polarized. Released as a single last autumn, it now accompanies the highly successful 'Echoing Reverie' EP, the culmination of a year's work and the subject of this release party.
The EP, currently available on CD (the vinyl version arrives in May), includes "Big Violent", arguably the band's angriest track to date. It's a track on which the frontman will be particularly frustrated this evening. This was due to technical problems at the start of the set, which upset the band but allowed us to discover that, without a microphone, the environment of "Midnight" clearly draws its influences from the Cure and that the instrumental version of 'Polarized' holds up really well.
None of this did the musicians any favours, of course, but like true professionals, they meticulously went back to the beginning of the set once the problems had been sorted out (with the exception of that almost haunted intro). The six tracks of 'Echoing Reverie' were wisely swept aside from the start, including the two mentioned above, now in full option. The potential of the excellent "A Day In The Life" will then overshadow "Piano Ghost", the new single sung tonight in the company of Eleonor Burgo, the actress who carries the video at arm's length. And let's not forget the dark version of AC/DC's "Hells Bells" in Depeche Mode circa 'Violator', which is as good as ever.
These influences are also reflected in "The Corpse", where a cello takes the band into other realms, while the second bass played by the leader on "Awakening" heightens the sensations tenfold without reducing the tension. There's more tension to come on 'Traum', a new track this time featuring the rhythm of regular bassist Joël Grigolato, demonstrating that the band aren't resting on their laurels. And the seductive "Spiritchaser", with its crescendo of synth-pop strings, played live for the first time, hints at new possibilities....
It's also a good opportunity to reflect on how far they've come in just over two years. "A Long Time Ago" (with its distinct New Order vibe) has gained in intensity, while "Replicant" and especially "Japanese Death" have never been so gripping. The feeling was shared during the encores, which began with a solid "I Loved You" (b-side of "Polarized" and featured on the CD version of 'Echoing Reverie'). The atypical "S'envoler" then adds a creepy touch to the whole with its soaring synthetic strings, somewhere between Kraftwerk and Joy Division. As for the cover of The Cure's "Lovesong", it brings the concert to a close with a touch of lightness that contrasts with the irritation of the previous hour. It's hard to imagine how a flawless soundsystem would have boosted the crowd...
During the many concerts that followed (including a support slot for And Also The Trees at Le Bota), new tracks were honed, including Polarized. Released as a single last autumn, it now accompanies the highly successful 'Echoing Reverie' EP, the culmination of a year's work and the subject of this release party.
The EP, currently available on CD (the vinyl version arrives in May), includes "Big Violent", arguably the band's angriest track to date. It's a track on which the frontman will be particularly frustrated this evening. This was due to technical problems at the start of the set, which upset the band but allowed us to discover that, without a microphone, the environment of "Midnight" clearly draws its influences from the Cure and that the instrumental version of 'Polarized' holds up really well.
None of this did the musicians any favours, of course, but like true professionals, they meticulously went back to the beginning of the set once the problems had been sorted out (with the exception of that almost haunted intro). The six tracks of 'Echoing Reverie' were wisely swept aside from the start, including the two mentioned above, now in full option. The potential of the excellent "A Day In The Life" will then overshadow "Piano Ghost", the new single sung tonight in the company of Eleonor Burgo, the actress who carries the video at arm's length. And let's not forget the dark version of AC/DC's "Hells Bells" in Depeche Mode circa 'Violator', which is as good as ever.
These influences are also reflected in "The Corpse", where a cello takes the band into other realms, while the second bass played by the leader on "Awakening" heightens the sensations tenfold without reducing the tension. There's more tension to come on 'Traum', a new track this time featuring the rhythm of regular bassist Joël Grigolato, demonstrating that the band aren't resting on their laurels. And the seductive "Spiritchaser", with its crescendo of synth-pop strings, played live for the first time, hints at new possibilities....
It's also a good opportunity to reflect on how far they've come in just over two years. "A Long Time Ago" (with its distinct New Order vibe) has gained in intensity, while "Replicant" and especially "Japanese Death" have never been so gripping. The feeling was shared during the encores, which began with a solid "I Loved You" (b-side of "Polarized" and featured on the CD version of 'Echoing Reverie'). The atypical "S'envoler" then adds a creepy touch to the whole with its soaring synthetic strings, somewhere between Kraftwerk and Joy Division. As for the cover of The Cure's "Lovesong", it brings the concert to a close with a touch of lightness that contrasts with the irritation of the previous hour. It's hard to imagine how a flawless soundsystem would have boosted the crowd...
Benzine (fr) · 22/03/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers bring back cold-wave from thirty years of cryogenics with an encouraging debut album, Echoing Reverie, which follows on from a single released last year.We already had the opportunity to review Polarized, a 45t from Brussels-based band The Ultimate Dreamers released last year. Their debut album Echoing Reverie includes the three tracks from that single, plus five new ones. The sound has gained in amplitude and, in a major development, Frédéric Cotton's voice is anchored in a fairly modern sound treatment, while electronic drums, synths and saturated guitars revel in dark, light spectrums.
The excellent A Day in my Life oscillates between a harshness and a flamboyance that bends the set. The track's soaring harmonies are reminiscent of The Chameleons or a cold-wave version of Phoenix. As an introduction, Polarized launches into electro-dark mode, galvanised by a neurotic guitar and sepulchral vocals. With a ghostly piano loop, Piano Ghost takes a minimalist approach until the guitars kick in to boost the chorus before a serene return.
Bells ring out and AC/DC's Hell's Bell bursts in. Their version would not go amiss with Nosferatu on a trip to the flat country, while Midnight takes the opposite tack with light, infectious synth-pop. The more aggressive Big Violent suffers from an organ that's too soft on the verses, unnecessarily softening this venomous track. At full throttle, I Love You, with its Implant remix, leaps like an Indochine adventurer.
The spectrum of 80s references is rich enough for The Ultimate Dreamers to step into the breach with enthusiasm and bite.
The excellent A Day in my Life oscillates between a harshness and a flamboyance that bends the set. The track's soaring harmonies are reminiscent of The Chameleons or a cold-wave version of Phoenix. As an introduction, Polarized launches into electro-dark mode, galvanised by a neurotic guitar and sepulchral vocals. With a ghostly piano loop, Piano Ghost takes a minimalist approach until the guitars kick in to boost the chorus before a serene return.
Bells ring out and AC/DC's Hell's Bell bursts in. Their version would not go amiss with Nosferatu on a trip to the flat country, while Midnight takes the opposite tack with light, infectious synth-pop. The more aggressive Big Violent suffers from an organ that's too soft on the verses, unnecessarily softening this venomous track. At full throttle, I Love You, with its Implant remix, leaps like an Indochine adventurer.
The spectrum of 80s references is rich enough for The Ultimate Dreamers to step into the breach with enthusiasm and bite.
Turn Up The Volume (be) · 20/03/2023 [review]
Band: THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS
Who: Darkwave act from BrusselsActive in the mid-80’s and heavily influenced by the British post-punk dissonant style and the Belgian cold-wave melancholic atmosphere, the band resurrected during the COVID lockdown, releasing a selection of old demos. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers not only back on stage but also into the studio with their new line-up.NEW EP: ECHO REVERIE
6 tracks on Vinyl (15 May). The CD and digital format (out now) comes with 2 bonus cuts: I Loved You and Implant Love You. The EP is a characteristically post-darkwave-punk affair with infectious twilight melodies embedded in a whirlpool of booming beats, scintillating synths, gloomy stories, cinematic orchestrations and tenebrous vocals. And if you’re a fan of Aussie hard rock giants AC/DC you’ll be really surprised by The UD’s haunting cover.Watch the B/W video clips for footstomper Polarized and amplified reverie Piano Ghost.
Who: Darkwave act from BrusselsActive in the mid-80’s and heavily influenced by the British post-punk dissonant style and the Belgian cold-wave melancholic atmosphere, the band resurrected during the COVID lockdown, releasing a selection of old demos. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers not only back on stage but also into the studio with their new line-up.NEW EP: ECHO REVERIE
6 tracks on Vinyl (15 May). The CD and digital format (out now) comes with 2 bonus cuts: I Loved You and Implant Love You. The EP is a characteristically post-darkwave-punk affair with infectious twilight melodies embedded in a whirlpool of booming beats, scintillating synths, gloomy stories, cinematic orchestrations and tenebrous vocals. And if you’re a fan of Aussie hard rock giants AC/DC you’ll be really surprised by The UD’s haunting cover.Watch the B/W video clips for footstomper Polarized and amplified reverie Piano Ghost.
Musiczine (be) · 19/03/2023 [review]
The new studio album from Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers was released on 17 March. Active in the mid-'80s and heavily influenced by British post-punk and the melancholy atmosphere of cold-wave, the band resurrected during the COVID lockdown, burning a selection of old demos on the long-playing 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death'. It's a momentum that has brought the band back, not only on stage, but also in the studio under a new line-up.
'Echoing Reverie' strikes a subtle balance between light and darkness, while awakening the spectres of New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomie 21 and Section 25. The album includes a highly personal interpretation of the AC/DC classic "Hell's Bells" and a bonus remix of Implant's club hit "I Loved You!".
'Echoing Reverie' strikes a subtle balance between light and darkness, while awakening the spectres of New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomie 21 and Section 25. The album includes a highly personal interpretation of the AC/DC classic "Hell's Bells" and a bonus remix of Implant's club hit "I Loved You!".
Music in Belgium (be) · 17/03/2023 [review]
Since its second life during the pandemic, The Ultimate Dreamers project seems to have reached cruising speed. Between concerts, festivals and prestigious support acts, Frédéric Cotton and his cohorts have been recording and releasing new material. First heralded by the unstoppable 'Polarized', released on 7inch last autumn, the 'Echoing Reverie' EP continues the adventure with five brand new tracks influenced by cold wave synth pop, the workings of which they have mastered to perfection.
Followers will already be familiar with the live versions, but will be won over by the crystal-clear production by Len Lemaire (32Crash, Anne Clark), whose greatest success is undoubtedly 'A Day In The Life', which is both sinister and euphoric. Two adjectives that also apply to their very personal cover of AC/DC's 'Hells Bells' and a tension-filled 'Piano Ghost'. Mention should also be made of the heady strings of 'Midnight' and the channelled energy of 'Big Violent'. The digital version of the EP is out on 17 March, with vinyl to follow in May on Wave Tension Records. The release party will take place on Saturday 18 March at the CaliClub in Drogenbos, in conjunction with Montois band At Night, who will be presenting their debut EP, 'Teen Crisis'.
Followers will already be familiar with the live versions, but will be won over by the crystal-clear production by Len Lemaire (32Crash, Anne Clark), whose greatest success is undoubtedly 'A Day In The Life', which is both sinister and euphoric. Two adjectives that also apply to their very personal cover of AC/DC's 'Hells Bells' and a tension-filled 'Piano Ghost'. Mention should also be made of the heady strings of 'Midnight' and the channelled energy of 'Big Violent'. The digital version of the EP is out on 17 March, with vinyl to follow in May on Wave Tension Records. The release party will take place on Saturday 18 March at the CaliClub in Drogenbos, in conjunction with Montois band At Night, who will be presenting their debut EP, 'Teen Crisis'.
Dark Entries (be) · 17/03/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers had originally barely survived the 1980s. In their first release, they existed from 1986 to 1991. A miracle resurrected the group during the lockdown, when frontman Frédéric searched his old archive boxes for the group's remaining recordings. Then in 2021, 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' was released, featuring a selection of songs from the early years.
But it didn't just stop at collecting and remastering old songs. Frédéric contacted old members of the group, and lo and behold, he found Bertrand (guitar) and Joël (bass) willing to perform again. The group was joined by Sarah on keys, who had a past in the excellent post-punk group Les Panties. Meanwhile, Sarah was replaced by Sandrine, who is classically trained and plays cello in addition to keys.
The group initially concentrated on revisiting the old songs, but soon they started writing new ones as well, and of that this 'Echoing Reverie' is the result. Whereas 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' was still mainly a record meant for eighties nostalgics, this new record shows a very modern sound, albeit still drenched in new wave.
The band's choice to be accompanied on the recordings by Len Lemeire - a man who has earned his credentials with Implant, and has worked with 32Crash and Anne Clark - bodes well. We got to hear the new songs live recently when The Ultimate Dreamers were even allowed to play the support act of The Legendary Pink Dots, and we already noticed quite an evolution from the older songs then.
We also already knew the single 'Polarised', and we had noticed that this song sounded more complex, with various sounds and an interesting build-up. Incidentally, the song was accompanied by a beautiful clip by Thomas De Moor, which we share with you again below. 'A Day In The Life' starts a bit slower, but speeds up after a short stanza, with which The Ultimate Dreamers want to link the dreamy - they are still Dreamers, after all - with the danceable.
'Piano Ghost' was chosen for a second beautiful clip by Thomas De Moor, and of course starts again with a dreamy piano, which again becomes one of the many parts of an ingeniously constructed song. Among the six songs on the vinyl is also a cover. The victim is zany AC/DC and their 'Hell's Bells'. The song did well at the group's gigs, and so is now also available in studio version.'Midnight' features atmospheric guitars and synths to a driven rhythm, and with 'Big Violent', the vinyl ends with a violent outburst. Those who go for the digital version get two more new versions of the already older track 'I Love You?!', with an emphasis on danceability. 'I Loved You?!' is the new version according to the band itself, and 'Implant Loved You?!' is of course by Len Lemeire. By the way, we already knew those songs from the single of 'Polarized', although it's nice that they are also included here.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Dreamers prove with this that they are still relevant, even if there is more than 30 years between the new recordings and their former work. They don't linger in nostalgia, though they stay true to their newwave roots. The new compositions are carefully constructed and varied. This is the work of excellent musicians, although I'm sure Len Lemeire's expert support has also contributed to the fact that I can only recommend this ep.
But it didn't just stop at collecting and remastering old songs. Frédéric contacted old members of the group, and lo and behold, he found Bertrand (guitar) and Joël (bass) willing to perform again. The group was joined by Sarah on keys, who had a past in the excellent post-punk group Les Panties. Meanwhile, Sarah was replaced by Sandrine, who is classically trained and plays cello in addition to keys.
The group initially concentrated on revisiting the old songs, but soon they started writing new ones as well, and of that this 'Echoing Reverie' is the result. Whereas 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' was still mainly a record meant for eighties nostalgics, this new record shows a very modern sound, albeit still drenched in new wave.
The band's choice to be accompanied on the recordings by Len Lemeire - a man who has earned his credentials with Implant, and has worked with 32Crash and Anne Clark - bodes well. We got to hear the new songs live recently when The Ultimate Dreamers were even allowed to play the support act of The Legendary Pink Dots, and we already noticed quite an evolution from the older songs then.
We also already knew the single 'Polarised', and we had noticed that this song sounded more complex, with various sounds and an interesting build-up. Incidentally, the song was accompanied by a beautiful clip by Thomas De Moor, which we share with you again below. 'A Day In The Life' starts a bit slower, but speeds up after a short stanza, with which The Ultimate Dreamers want to link the dreamy - they are still Dreamers, after all - with the danceable.
'Piano Ghost' was chosen for a second beautiful clip by Thomas De Moor, and of course starts again with a dreamy piano, which again becomes one of the many parts of an ingeniously constructed song. Among the six songs on the vinyl is also a cover. The victim is zany AC/DC and their 'Hell's Bells'. The song did well at the group's gigs, and so is now also available in studio version.'Midnight' features atmospheric guitars and synths to a driven rhythm, and with 'Big Violent', the vinyl ends with a violent outburst. Those who go for the digital version get two more new versions of the already older track 'I Love You?!', with an emphasis on danceability. 'I Loved You?!' is the new version according to the band itself, and 'Implant Loved You?!' is of course by Len Lemeire. By the way, we already knew those songs from the single of 'Polarized', although it's nice that they are also included here.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Dreamers prove with this that they are still relevant, even if there is more than 30 years between the new recordings and their former work. They don't linger in nostalgia, though they stay true to their newwave roots. The new compositions are carefully constructed and varied. This is the work of excellent musicians, although I'm sure Len Lemeire's expert support has also contributed to the fact that I can only recommend this ep.
Snoozecontrol (be) · 17/03/2023 [review]
Echoing Reverie is the first new studio album from the Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers since they have been shaken out of their extended hibernation and just like the previous Polarized single & EP release suggested it, it was really worth the wait!Active in the mid-80’s and heavily influenced by the British post-punk dissonant style and the Belgian cold-wave melancholic atmosphere, the band resurrected during the COVID lockdown, releasing a selection of old demos on the Live Happily While Waiting For Death CD and vinyl in 2021. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers not only back on stage but also into the studio with their new line-up with Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello. The magic is back!
Now signed to Brussels-based label Spleen+ (cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group), The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting Echoing Reverie album that is serving us a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic danceable dream pop with a retro noisy post-punk attitude with surrealistic introspective cynical lyrics dealing with fleeting life, melancholic solitude and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark…), the new songs intelligently merge nostalgic cold wave chills and alluring poignant vocals with carrying basslines and irresistible danceable beats to become “less is more” addictive tunes that capture you in no time. If you like bands such as New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomie 21 or yet Section 25, Echoing Reverie comes highly recommended for a timeless dusk sonic experience at the crossroads of darkness and brightness. Let us also notice their lingering electric interpretation of AC/DC’s classic “Hell’s Bells” as well as the bonus club hit remix of “I Loved You!?” by Implant. The release of the album is accompanied by the publication of an esoteric and sensual video directed by Thomas De Moor for “Piano Ghost”.
Polarized clearly has been influenced by Len Lemeire and gives it a cool electro vibe. The vocals sound perfect, the guitar player adds his 80’s influences, you also hear very clearly the bass guitar and the synths synch’s in like a pro! This song has been written and mixed to conquer the world! I also feel like this song will open more doors and get this Belgian band an international tour by the bias of mayor festivals all over the world! Be ready to dance on it if the DJ starts the first notes of this song too!
A Day In The Life is one of the newest songs and starts with a darker feel. I like the special effects on the vocals reminding me a bit of Jacquy Bitch and some other alternative bands from the early 90’s). I also adore the high tempo the more batcave rock minded sound. This song will be for sure a good one to perform on stage and get great feedback from the audience! I’m only 2 songs far And I’m already thinking about calling out this one the best EP of the year!
Piano Ghost gets the lead of a piano (synth) and has a dark electro/guitar minded touch. Somewhere in the back I hear a slice of The Cure influences (from their darkest period). The cut off spoken word passage was also a good idea.
Hell’s Bells (AC/DC cover) is not a surprise to me as I heard them performing it on stage a lot of times. The way it sound now that it’s recorded is a different story! I’m sure AC/DC will be absolutely surprised by the sound of this reworked version! The song sounds like dark, gloomy and smoked out! The song mixes electro, rock, minimal wave and gothic! I also hear a bit of a Halloween touch (hence the spooky sounds). They dared to change it and did it in a great way, a bit like David Bowie did with his live version of The Man Who Sold The World (after Nirvana covered it during an MTV unplugged session). Thumbs up!
Midnight is yet another great track, this time we get a more cold wave minded touch with clearly 80’s influences (drums, synth, bass …). Halfway the track I even feel a little clap your hands moment, just before the guitar takes the lead.
Big Violent sounds heavy and has a lot of violence within it (related to the lyrics). I heard this one already on stage and am really happy with the actual studio sound. It also sounds as if I’m hearing Len Lemeire and not Frédéric Cotton. The guitar player also does a great job here, next to the bass player! I’m sur this newer version will be translated into a perfect live version! People will enjoy it even more!
I Loved You?! Is an older track that gets the perfect Len Lemeire revamp! Now it has become an up-tempo cold wave/electro touch. I also hope that DJ’s will use it and test it out and check if it’s a dancefloor filler or not!
Implant Loved You?! (Implant remix): the result is a typical Implant song with dancefloor vibes, a good tempo and a little bit more electronics. The old school Implant break down is also included.
Yes, this album has it all to make it world wide! It all sounds great and I have a feelings the tracks will be also a hit on stage and on the dancefloor! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This one is yet again a great one made in Belgium!
Now signed to Brussels-based label Spleen+ (cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group), The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting Echoing Reverie album that is serving us a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic danceable dream pop with a retro noisy post-punk attitude with surrealistic introspective cynical lyrics dealing with fleeting life, melancholic solitude and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark…), the new songs intelligently merge nostalgic cold wave chills and alluring poignant vocals with carrying basslines and irresistible danceable beats to become “less is more” addictive tunes that capture you in no time. If you like bands such as New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomie 21 or yet Section 25, Echoing Reverie comes highly recommended for a timeless dusk sonic experience at the crossroads of darkness and brightness. Let us also notice their lingering electric interpretation of AC/DC’s classic “Hell’s Bells” as well as the bonus club hit remix of “I Loved You!?” by Implant. The release of the album is accompanied by the publication of an esoteric and sensual video directed by Thomas De Moor for “Piano Ghost”.
Polarized clearly has been influenced by Len Lemeire and gives it a cool electro vibe. The vocals sound perfect, the guitar player adds his 80’s influences, you also hear very clearly the bass guitar and the synths synch’s in like a pro! This song has been written and mixed to conquer the world! I also feel like this song will open more doors and get this Belgian band an international tour by the bias of mayor festivals all over the world! Be ready to dance on it if the DJ starts the first notes of this song too!
A Day In The Life is one of the newest songs and starts with a darker feel. I like the special effects on the vocals reminding me a bit of Jacquy Bitch and some other alternative bands from the early 90’s). I also adore the high tempo the more batcave rock minded sound. This song will be for sure a good one to perform on stage and get great feedback from the audience! I’m only 2 songs far And I’m already thinking about calling out this one the best EP of the year!
Piano Ghost gets the lead of a piano (synth) and has a dark electro/guitar minded touch. Somewhere in the back I hear a slice of The Cure influences (from their darkest period). The cut off spoken word passage was also a good idea.
Hell’s Bells (AC/DC cover) is not a surprise to me as I heard them performing it on stage a lot of times. The way it sound now that it’s recorded is a different story! I’m sure AC/DC will be absolutely surprised by the sound of this reworked version! The song sounds like dark, gloomy and smoked out! The song mixes electro, rock, minimal wave and gothic! I also hear a bit of a Halloween touch (hence the spooky sounds). They dared to change it and did it in a great way, a bit like David Bowie did with his live version of The Man Who Sold The World (after Nirvana covered it during an MTV unplugged session). Thumbs up!
Midnight is yet another great track, this time we get a more cold wave minded touch with clearly 80’s influences (drums, synth, bass …). Halfway the track I even feel a little clap your hands moment, just before the guitar takes the lead.
Big Violent sounds heavy and has a lot of violence within it (related to the lyrics). I heard this one already on stage and am really happy with the actual studio sound. It also sounds as if I’m hearing Len Lemeire and not Frédéric Cotton. The guitar player also does a great job here, next to the bass player! I’m sur this newer version will be translated into a perfect live version! People will enjoy it even more!
I Loved You?! Is an older track that gets the perfect Len Lemeire revamp! Now it has become an up-tempo cold wave/electro touch. I also hope that DJ’s will use it and test it out and check if it’s a dancefloor filler or not!
Implant Loved You?! (Implant remix): the result is a typical Implant song with dancefloor vibes, a good tempo and a little bit more electronics. The old school Implant break down is also included.
Yes, this album has it all to make it world wide! It all sounds great and I have a feelings the tracks will be also a hit on stage and on the dancefloor! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This one is yet again a great one made in Belgium!
Sound & Vision (sp) · 16/03/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers' experience: 3 new singles, a video and an EP on the wayExperienced Belgian darkwave band The Ultimate Dreamers have had a very active first half of the year, with high creative aspirations, as since January they haven't stopped releasing music, including the release of several single tracks and the final release of their next EP, which is on its way.
We started the year with "Polarized" and "I Loved You?!", which were featured on Bandcamp with their respective remixes that you can listen to on their eponymous EP.
Now, more recently, the Brussels outfit have released another new single, this time accompanied by a black and white music video. Although their percussion is once again electronic, they have added to the formula a good dose of opaque electric guitars, which are in perfect harmony with those melancholic pianos that can be heard constantly in the background.
We are referring to "Piano Ghost", the first official preview of an EP entitled Echoing Riverie, which will be released in a few days.
We started the year with "Polarized" and "I Loved You?!", which were featured on Bandcamp with their respective remixes that you can listen to on their eponymous EP.
Now, more recently, the Brussels outfit have released another new single, this time accompanied by a black and white music video. Although their percussion is once again electronic, they have added to the formula a good dose of opaque electric guitars, which are in perfect harmony with those melancholic pianos that can be heard constantly in the background.
We are referring to "Piano Ghost", the first official preview of an EP entitled Echoing Riverie, which will be released in a few days.
RTBF Génération 21 (be) · 15/03/2023 [article/interview]
The adventure of The Ultimate Dreamers, the band I have the pleasure of presenting to you, is like a childhood dream that catches up with you...On paper, The Ultimate Dreamers have only been around for two years... In reality, and if you dig deep into the musicians' archives, they date back to the late 80s, when Frédéric and his band were still at school. "Things came to an end quite quickly, for various reasons. Many years later, when nobody was thinking about the project any more, not even us, in the middle of a pandemic, some home-made demos from the time came into the hands of the owner of a label in Ghent... who offered to put out a compilation. We had the recordings restored and remastered. And the magic quickly returned, around the original line-up, completed by a new keyboard player... We played one concert after another and one thing led to another, and here we are!
The Ultimate Dreamers are back, with a debut album out on Friday 17 March, following on from a self-released single. This rekindled youthful dream has already been realised with a number of concerts, mainly in Belgium, and the signing to two labels, a Dutch label and Spleen+, a new division of the independent Belgian label Alfa Matrix. The group's matrix is based on a few simple desires... "We want to present this new album live, in Belgium and especially abroad. We've got a festival planned in Germany in September, followed by other dates in France and in the pipeline. We've already started recording the follow-up, with some new songs written. We'd like to continue collaborating with our producer, the graphic designer, the film-maker... These collaborations form this coherent universe that we want to present."
It's a world that shines through in the music and video for the recently unveiled track 'Piano Ghost'. The track is true to the cold wave spirit of The Ultimate Dreamers, who like to play with double meanings tinged with darkness... "We're not particularly keen on sending out specific messages, or defending great values... We're not particularly keen on getting specific messages across, or defending great values... Originally, our lyrics were inspired by dreams, but I also like to use automatic writing, to see the coherence emerge from a series of slightly esoteric words, to which I add a good dose of cynicism, of second degree to better muddy the waters..."
The Ultimate Dreamers are back, with a debut album out on Friday 17 March, following on from a self-released single. This rekindled youthful dream has already been realised with a number of concerts, mainly in Belgium, and the signing to two labels, a Dutch label and Spleen+, a new division of the independent Belgian label Alfa Matrix. The group's matrix is based on a few simple desires... "We want to present this new album live, in Belgium and especially abroad. We've got a festival planned in Germany in September, followed by other dates in France and in the pipeline. We've already started recording the follow-up, with some new songs written. We'd like to continue collaborating with our producer, the graphic designer, the film-maker... These collaborations form this coherent universe that we want to present."
It's a world that shines through in the music and video for the recently unveiled track 'Piano Ghost'. The track is true to the cold wave spirit of The Ultimate Dreamers, who like to play with double meanings tinged with darkness... "We're not particularly keen on sending out specific messages, or defending great values... We're not particularly keen on getting specific messages across, or defending great values... Originally, our lyrics were inspired by dreams, but I also like to use automatic writing, to see the coherence emerge from a series of slightly esoteric words, to which I add a good dose of cynicism, of second degree to better muddy the waters..."
Industrial Complexx (sp) · 13/03/2023 [review]
It is a pleasant surprise to find recent projects that are seriously committed to genres such as post-punk. Spleen+ is a new subsidiary of the Belgian label Alfa Matrix, a label with more than two decades of history that has been releasing great releases by famous bands and authors such as Front 242 or Plastic Noise Experience. Among the objectives of Spleen+ is to give a chance to all those artists and bands with talent that need support, and that their style is linked to some of the musical genres that emerged as a result of post-punk, although they emphasize that it is a new label oriented to musical genres such as post-punk, coldwave or new wave.
Spleen+ was born in 2023, and so far the results have been quite satisfactory. In a very short time it has released an EP and an album by the Italian IMJUDAS and an EP and two albums by The Ultimate Dreamers. On the first album, the Belgian quartet compiles unreleased tracks created between 1986 and 1990, while the second album is a new studio work produced by this long-lived band that, despite having been inactive for so many years, was resurrected during the period of confinement we suffered with COVID, releasing a series of old demos.
The Ultimate Dreamers return with the same spirit but with an updated sound. Echoing Reverie proves that this band still has many years of life left in them and that the passing of the years suits them very well. With a powerful punch and strong bass lines, their new sonic approach shows that The Ultimate Dreamers are a renewed band and very well prepared for the current scene.
Spleen+ was born in 2023, and so far the results have been quite satisfactory. In a very short time it has released an EP and an album by the Italian IMJUDAS and an EP and two albums by The Ultimate Dreamers. On the first album, the Belgian quartet compiles unreleased tracks created between 1986 and 1990, while the second album is a new studio work produced by this long-lived band that, despite having been inactive for so many years, was resurrected during the period of confinement we suffered with COVID, releasing a series of old demos.
The Ultimate Dreamers return with the same spirit but with an updated sound. Echoing Reverie proves that this band still has many years of life left in them and that the passing of the years suits them very well. With a powerful punch and strong bass lines, their new sonic approach shows that The Ultimate Dreamers are a renewed band and very well prepared for the current scene.
Gothic Empire (de) · 13/03/2023 [review]
Echoing Reverie is the first new studio album from Belgian quartet The Ultimate Dreamers since they were shaken out of their long hibernation, and as the previous single and EP release Polarised suggested, it was well worth the wait!
Active in the mid-80s and heavily influenced by British post-punk dissonance style and Belgian cold-wave melancholy, the band was revitalised during the COVID lockdown and released a selection of old demos on the CD Live Happily While Waiting For Death and on vinyl in 2021. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers back not only on stage but also in the studio with their new line-up with Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello. The magic is back!
Now signed to the Brussels label Spleen+ (cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group), The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting album that serves us a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic, danceable dream pop with a retro, noisy post-punk attitude and surreal, introspective, cynical lyrics that deal with fleeting life, melancholic loneliness and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark...), the new songs intelligently blend nostalgic cold-wave chills and seductive, poignant vocals with sustaining basslines and irresistible, danceable beats to create addictive "less is more" melodies that will have you hooked in no time. If you like bands like New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomy 21 or Section 25, Echoing Reverie is highly recommended for a timeless twilight experience at the crossroads of darkness and lightness. Also check out the echoing electric interpretation of the AC/DC classic "Hell's Bells" and the bonus club hit remix of "I Loved You!?" by Implant.
Experience the magic and let The Ultimate Dreamers take you into their echoing reverie...
Active in the mid-80s and heavily influenced by British post-punk dissonance style and Belgian cold-wave melancholy, the band was revitalised during the COVID lockdown and released a selection of old demos on the CD Live Happily While Waiting For Death and on vinyl in 2021. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers back not only on stage but also in the studio with their new line-up with Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello. The magic is back!
Now signed to the Brussels label Spleen+ (cold wave/minimal synth division of the Alfa Matrix label group), The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting album that serves us a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic, danceable dream pop with a retro, noisy post-punk attitude and surreal, introspective, cynical lyrics that deal with fleeting life, melancholic loneliness and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark...), the new songs intelligently blend nostalgic cold-wave chills and seductive, poignant vocals with sustaining basslines and irresistible, danceable beats to create addictive "less is more" melodies that will have you hooked in no time. If you like bands like New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, John Maus, Trisomy 21 or Section 25, Echoing Reverie is highly recommended for a timeless twilight experience at the crossroads of darkness and lightness. Also check out the echoing electric interpretation of the AC/DC classic "Hell's Bells" and the bonus club hit remix of "I Loved You!?" by Implant.
Experience the magic and let The Ultimate Dreamers take you into their echoing reverie...
Sonic Seducer (de) · 01/03/2023 [review]
Already released on vinyl as a single at the end of last year, "Polarized" is now available as an EP with more songs and versions. After the band's old demos, all of which were created between 1986 and 1990, were released under the name " Live Happily While Waiting For Death" were released, it is now obviously time for new material from the Belgians. “Polarized”, the new song, is, not surprisingly, better produced, more electronic and more charismatic in terms of vocals than the old recordings. The Belgian producer Len Lemeire, who is part of the band Implant, ensured a contemporary sound -Studios. This digital touch is very good for the more organic post-punk sound. And things continue in May - there comes a completely new work with "Echoing Reverie". This was also created in the tried and tested constellation with an implant. The old and new worlds also meet on this EP: The EP contains their insider hit, "I Love You" from 1987. A remake of it was made: the old synth hit became "I Loved You?!”.Uwe Marx
Sonic Seducer (de) · 01/03/2023 [interview - part 1]
THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS - Waiting for deathThis post-punk band has been on hiatus for exactly 30 years: from 1990 to 2020. The songs from their early era will appear on the album “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” in 2021. Now new tracks appear on the 'Polarized EP'.The band was active from 1986 to 1990. However, there are no "real" releases from this time. Only private cassettes, confirms singer Frédéric Cotton:
“Back then we were still quite young and quite isolated. We had few contacts and no real goal. We made little songs that we... recorded in our bedrooms and in the rehearsal room."Who were your heroes back then? Let me guess: Joy Division, New Order, Fad Gadget, The Cure, right? The singer laughs:
“Joy Division and New Order for some of us, especially me. The Cure for others. And also Dead Can Dance, D.A.F. or Prince, but the list of what we listened to would be very long. Trisomie 21 was my favorite band and Howard Jones was my personal hero. Still like him."And so the release of their old tracks came about in 2021:
"The reactions were pretty good and the record received good reviews, except in a Belgian webzine where someone wrote that dead cows should be left in the river. I had to laugh when I read that. First we reformed the band to present the compilation. Many old friends and schoolmates came to the release show. It was shortly after the pandemic and the event was sold out."During the pandemic, many people calmed down and suddenly had time for other things. So the question of why they made music again is not as interesting as the question of why did the band break up in 1990? Cotton explains:
"After the release show, we received suggestions for concerts. The magic was back and we were writing new songs. It was a bit like we had never stopped. There are various reasons, why we stopped in 1990: our drummer left us to play guitar in a shoegaze band. Joel, who played synthesizers at the time, started as a bassist in a pop band. Then he founded a house music label and made a career as a wrestler ! I concentrated on my studies and later started organizing concerts."Uwe Marx
“Back then we were still quite young and quite isolated. We had few contacts and no real goal. We made little songs that we... recorded in our bedrooms and in the rehearsal room."Who were your heroes back then? Let me guess: Joy Division, New Order, Fad Gadget, The Cure, right? The singer laughs:
“Joy Division and New Order for some of us, especially me. The Cure for others. And also Dead Can Dance, D.A.F. or Prince, but the list of what we listened to would be very long. Trisomie 21 was my favorite band and Howard Jones was my personal hero. Still like him."And so the release of their old tracks came about in 2021:
"The reactions were pretty good and the record received good reviews, except in a Belgian webzine where someone wrote that dead cows should be left in the river. I had to laugh when I read that. First we reformed the band to present the compilation. Many old friends and schoolmates came to the release show. It was shortly after the pandemic and the event was sold out."During the pandemic, many people calmed down and suddenly had time for other things. So the question of why they made music again is not as interesting as the question of why did the band break up in 1990? Cotton explains:
"After the release show, we received suggestions for concerts. The magic was back and we were writing new songs. It was a bit like we had never stopped. There are various reasons, why we stopped in 1990: our drummer left us to play guitar in a shoegaze band. Joel, who played synthesizers at the time, started as a bassist in a pop band. Then he founded a house music label and made a career as a wrestler ! I concentrated on my studies and later started organizing concerts."Uwe Marx
daMusic (be) · 11/02/2023 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers announce new album
New work is finally arriving from the Brussels-based band.The Ultimate Dreamers had their first musical existence in the mid-1980s, heavily influenced by dissonant British post-punk but equally influenced by melancholic Belgian coldwave. During the covid lockdown, the Brussels-based band rose from its ashes and released a selection of old demos on the album 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' (2021). This new dynamic not only brought them back on stage in a new line-up, but also into the studio to work on brand new songs.
We already got a first taste of that a few months ago in the form of the single Polarized, which is now followed up by A Day In The Life. This is to announce the EP 'Echoing Reverie', which will be released mid-March on the recently founded Spleen+, Alfa Matrix's new coldwave/minimal synth sublabel. A limited vinyl release of the album will also follow on Dutch Wave Tension Records in May
New work is finally arriving from the Brussels-based band.The Ultimate Dreamers had their first musical existence in the mid-1980s, heavily influenced by dissonant British post-punk but equally influenced by melancholic Belgian coldwave. During the covid lockdown, the Brussels-based band rose from its ashes and released a selection of old demos on the album 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' (2021). This new dynamic not only brought them back on stage in a new line-up, but also into the studio to work on brand new songs.
We already got a first taste of that a few months ago in the form of the single Polarized, which is now followed up by A Day In The Life. This is to announce the EP 'Echoing Reverie', which will be released mid-March on the recently founded Spleen+, Alfa Matrix's new coldwave/minimal synth sublabel. A limited vinyl release of the album will also follow on Dutch Wave Tension Records in May
Underdog (de) · 05/02/2023 [review]
Active in the mid-80’s and heavily influenced by the British post-punk dissonant style and the Belgian cold-wave melancholic atmosphere, the band resurrected during the COVID lock-down, releasing a selection of good old songs on the “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” CD and vinyl in 2021. A dynamic impulse that brought The Ultimate Dreamers not only back on stage but also into the studio to work on new material. The magic is back!
The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting “Echoing Reverie” EP
In their new line-up, The Ultimate Dreamers reach a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic danceable dream pop with a retro noisy post-punk attitude with surrealistic introspective cynical lyrics dealing with fleeting life, melancholic solitude and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32crash, Anne Clark…), the new songs intelligently merge nostalgic cold wave chills and alluring poignant vocals with carrying basslines and irresistible danceable beats to become “less is more” addictive tunes that capture you in no time. If you like bands such as New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, Trisomie 21 or yet Section 25, “Echoing Reverie” comes highly recommended for a timeless dusk sonic experience at the crossroads of darkness and brightness. Let us also notice their lingering electric interpretation of AC/DC’s classic “Hell’s Bells”.
The Ultimate Dreamers feel stronger than ever and enjoy uniting past, present and future on this exciting “Echoing Reverie” EP
In their new line-up, The Ultimate Dreamers reach a subtle balance between light and darkness: a poignant cold wave fusion of futuristic danceable dream pop with a retro noisy post-punk attitude with surrealistic introspective cynical lyrics dealing with fleeting life, melancholic solitude and other inner demons.
Produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32crash, Anne Clark…), the new songs intelligently merge nostalgic cold wave chills and alluring poignant vocals with carrying basslines and irresistible danceable beats to become “less is more” addictive tunes that capture you in no time. If you like bands such as New Order, The Cure, Minimal Compact, Trisomie 21 or yet Section 25, “Echoing Reverie” comes highly recommended for a timeless dusk sonic experience at the crossroads of darkness and brightness. Let us also notice their lingering electric interpretation of AC/DC’s classic “Hell’s Bells”.
Sanctuary (cz) · 22/01/2023 [review]
The revived band is doing well. The history of The Ultimate Dreamers from Brussels goes back to 1986, but thanks to a long hiatus, the gentlemen and the lady didn't manage to do much. The important thing is that after their resurrection they have the appetite to work and after their long-playing debut "Live Happily While Waiting For Death" from 2021 they have thrown in another one.
Three tracks were released under the title "Polarized" last year on Komakino Records and now the band has added two more remixes and released the whole thing as "Polarized EP". An interesting fact is that with this title the label Alfa Matrix will launch its subdivision Spleen+. Its motto should be "minimal music + maximum style" and it should focus on cold wave, postpunk and minimal synth recordings.
The title track also has its own black and white music video.
Three tracks were released under the title "Polarized" last year on Komakino Records and now the band has added two more remixes and released the whole thing as "Polarized EP". An interesting fact is that with this title the label Alfa Matrix will launch its subdivision Spleen+. Its motto should be "minimal music + maximum style" and it should focus on cold wave, postpunk and minimal synth recordings.
The title track also has its own black and white music video.
Snoozecontrol (be) · 21/01/2023 [review]
Thanks to Covid-19 and the accompanying lockdown, the group above was written from under the dust: old demos were given a new life (this got a lot of attention from the underground press), the first gigs became a fact and with the growing success came the realisation that there was a need for new songs (in addition to the new line-up) and so they came to one of the best underground master producer/mixer: Len Lemeire (Implant / 32 Crash / Anne Clark)!
The fact that Len is mainly active with the Belgian Alfa-Matrix label and that just this label had plans for a sub-label soon provided even more good news: this first EP will therefore be one of the first to appear on Spleen +, ensuring a Belgian first in style!
On Polarized you can also hear very well the influence Len has on the result. Len is no stranger to me, which is partly why I can hear his influence in the electro sounds. The vocals have also improved, making the whole thing thoroughly professional! The bass player also plays an important role here, as does the synthesiser! It is time to conquer the world and with this also get into the professional magazines and hit the bigger festivals! Those who can listen carefully will recognise the word spleen in the lyrics (or at least something similar). As far as I am concerned, this song is particularly successful! Whether it is post-punk or cold wave does not matter to me: the result is there and feel free to put it in any box: people will enjoy it!
I Loved You! Is an old song that gets a second life here and a Len Lemeire stamp! This song is clearly an uptempo cold wave/electro track. Overall, I Loved You?! may definitely be tested by a DJ to see if it is indeed a dancefloor filler!
Polarised (Faust Project lsr remix) emphasises the basslines and eclectic touch. The vocals also come out a bit more. Furthermore, I also hear a retro 80s touch. The song also sounds quite pleasant in this version.
Implant was also allowed to tackle I Loved You?!: the result is therefore a typical Implant song and is clearly aimed at the dance floor and will definitely be liked by the DJs! Let those beats pop and hup with those legs! This is electro / New Wave of the highest order and ready to conquer the world! I hope this version will end up on a number of collectors to attract more attention!
I Love You (original 1987 demo) shows that there was indeed potential in the original, especially once you can filter out some elements. The synthesiser of the time does not sound very pleasant and the vocals ... I dare not give my honest opinion on that. I'm also glad that the French accent in the vocals is gone on the new version. Anyway: so you can clearly hear what Len's merits are!
Except for the last track, these are all potential hits and with that this brand-new label may open in a particularly strong way and thanks also for doing so with Belgian artists who are clearly ready to conquer the world! Go The Ultimate Dreamers!
The fact that Len is mainly active with the Belgian Alfa-Matrix label and that just this label had plans for a sub-label soon provided even more good news: this first EP will therefore be one of the first to appear on Spleen +, ensuring a Belgian first in style!
On Polarized you can also hear very well the influence Len has on the result. Len is no stranger to me, which is partly why I can hear his influence in the electro sounds. The vocals have also improved, making the whole thing thoroughly professional! The bass player also plays an important role here, as does the synthesiser! It is time to conquer the world and with this also get into the professional magazines and hit the bigger festivals! Those who can listen carefully will recognise the word spleen in the lyrics (or at least something similar). As far as I am concerned, this song is particularly successful! Whether it is post-punk or cold wave does not matter to me: the result is there and feel free to put it in any box: people will enjoy it!
I Loved You! Is an old song that gets a second life here and a Len Lemeire stamp! This song is clearly an uptempo cold wave/electro track. Overall, I Loved You?! may definitely be tested by a DJ to see if it is indeed a dancefloor filler!
Polarised (Faust Project lsr remix) emphasises the basslines and eclectic touch. The vocals also come out a bit more. Furthermore, I also hear a retro 80s touch. The song also sounds quite pleasant in this version.
Implant was also allowed to tackle I Loved You?!: the result is therefore a typical Implant song and is clearly aimed at the dance floor and will definitely be liked by the DJs! Let those beats pop and hup with those legs! This is electro / New Wave of the highest order and ready to conquer the world! I hope this version will end up on a number of collectors to attract more attention!
I Love You (original 1987 demo) shows that there was indeed potential in the original, especially once you can filter out some elements. The synthesiser of the time does not sound very pleasant and the vocals ... I dare not give my honest opinion on that. I'm also glad that the French accent in the vocals is gone on the new version. Anyway: so you can clearly hear what Len's merits are!
Except for the last track, these are all potential hits and with that this brand-new label may open in a particularly strong way and thanks also for doing so with Belgian artists who are clearly ready to conquer the world! Go The Ultimate Dreamers!
Musiczine (be) · 03/11/2022 [review]
In 2021, an album was released ('Live Happily Waiting For Death') with old recordings from the late 1980s. Because these were old re-purposed recordings, the quality was rather variable. The quality of the songs was there though. For the review of this album, see the link Live Happily while waiting for Death (musiczine.net).On this single, we get new work. The shortcoming of the audio quality is gone and everything comes out better. But the songs have also improved on it. "Polarised" opens a bit with beats and bass akin to Front 242. Then the song opens up and we get heavily distorted synths and howling guitars. Links to The Soft Moon also emerge.
In any case, we get a rousing track here that sounds quite modern. The vocals blend nicely with the rest. The song is cleverly put together and live this should pop.
I am pleasantly surprised and a fan of this song. "I Loved You?!" has a bit of the same structure and build-up but sounds a bit less dark. There are more electropop/coldwave elements in the music. The synths are more melodic and mixed in the foreground.
The last track is an Implant mix (Glen Lemeire) of "I Loved You?!". This mix pours the song into a typical club mix to make the dance floor unsafe.
I would like to hear "Polarized" in a dance mix or industrial mix. I think it would definitely work on the dance floor. With this single, The Ultimate Dreamers have taken a step forward on several levels. "Polarized" is a little gem.
In any case, we get a rousing track here that sounds quite modern. The vocals blend nicely with the rest. The song is cleverly put together and live this should pop.
I am pleasantly surprised and a fan of this song. "I Loved You?!" has a bit of the same structure and build-up but sounds a bit less dark. There are more electropop/coldwave elements in the music. The synths are more melodic and mixed in the foreground.
The last track is an Implant mix (Glen Lemeire) of "I Loved You?!". This mix pours the song into a typical club mix to make the dance floor unsafe.
I would like to hear "Polarized" in a dance mix or industrial mix. I think it would definitely work on the dance floor. With this single, The Ultimate Dreamers have taken a step forward on several levels. "Polarized" is a little gem.
Benzine (fr) · 16/10/2022 [review]
Belgian cold-wave outfit The Ultimate Dreamers make an unlikely but successful comeback with an unstoppable single.The Ultimate Dreamers have been around since 1986, recorded just a handful of cassettes and went on hiatus in the 90s. It was in 2020 that singer Frédéric Coton rediscovered the tapes, played a few extracts and saw them released as a Live Happily While Waiting For Death compilation by Belgian new-wave specialist Dans Les Profondeurs Records.
In any case, the group launched into new compositions backed up by rereadings of old tracks. Their first 45T features two tracks, plus a remix on the digital version.
On the A side, Polarized dances with the dark abyss of falling bass riffs and keyboards. The catacomb vocals offer themselves to the sharpened guitar in a dancing and threatening atmosphere. On the other side, I Loved You ?! is revisited and transformed into a dancefloor Batmobile. Ultra-fast with an old-fashioned edge, the knees will remember it with a smile. No doubt Frédéric (vocals), Bertrand (guitar), Joël (bass) and newcomer Sandrine (keyboards) have stripped the new version of its original cold-wave trappings to give it a more contemporary sound without betraying the style. The digital version features a minimalist, relentless remix of the same track by Len Lemeire, who also works with Implant and 32Crash. It's a beautiful postcard of sound that could do with a From Brussels With Love sticker.
In any case, the group launched into new compositions backed up by rereadings of old tracks. Their first 45T features two tracks, plus a remix on the digital version.
On the A side, Polarized dances with the dark abyss of falling bass riffs and keyboards. The catacomb vocals offer themselves to the sharpened guitar in a dancing and threatening atmosphere. On the other side, I Loved You ?! is revisited and transformed into a dancefloor Batmobile. Ultra-fast with an old-fashioned edge, the knees will remember it with a smile. No doubt Frédéric (vocals), Bertrand (guitar), Joël (bass) and newcomer Sandrine (keyboards) have stripped the new version of its original cold-wave trappings to give it a more contemporary sound without betraying the style. The digital version features a minimalist, relentless remix of the same track by Len Lemeire, who also works with Implant and 32Crash. It's a beautiful postcard of sound that could do with a From Brussels With Love sticker.
BLITZ! (fr) · 06/10/2022 [review]
Reactivated in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos (Live Happily While Waiting For Death - Wool-E-Discs / Dans Les Profondeurs). Dans Les Profondeurs), The Ultimate Dreamers are back with new material in the form of a single preceding a forthcoming EP. At once dark and luminous, 'Polarized' combines the chills of cold waves with irresistibly danceable rhythms and highly effective bass lines. The single also includes 'I Loved You ?!', a new version of the underground hit 'I Love You ?! The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for 'Polarized' was shot in beautiful black and white by Thomas De Moor. It illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The digital version of the single includes a remix of 'I Loved You?!' by Len Lemeire.
POST-PUNK.COM (us) · 26/09/2022 [review]
The magic is back. Coldwave outfit The Ultimate Dreamers are but reverie no more; they are a phoenix risen anew. Conceived in Lessines (Belgium), the birthplace of surrealist master René Magritte, the band’s new configuration consists of Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals, and Joël on bass; with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello.
The band’s repertoire has been exhumed, resuscitated, and enriched with new creations. After a very long hiatus, the recordings resurfaced and were brought to the ear of Dimitri, the record label magnate behind Wool-E Discs, who immediately offered an album deal. After selection and mastering, eleven tracks were to be selected under the banner of Live Happily While Waiting For Death, released on September 20, 2021.
Their frigid, organic tones are tainted with melancholy melodies verging on the dissonant, serving as a backdrop for themes dominated by raw dreams, distressed love, and social criticism. Both dark and bright, “Polarized” combines cold wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also features “I Loved You?!”, a new version of the band’s underground hit.
Director Thomas De Moor illustrates the menacing track with a compelling, mysterious monochromatic video. Decrepit technology in an abandoned space intercut with close-ups of faces, we see increasing frustration…and apathy. It illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The cinematography is intriguing and unsettling.
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark). The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track I Loved You?! by Len Lemeire.
The band’s repertoire has been exhumed, resuscitated, and enriched with new creations. After a very long hiatus, the recordings resurfaced and were brought to the ear of Dimitri, the record label magnate behind Wool-E Discs, who immediately offered an album deal. After selection and mastering, eleven tracks were to be selected under the banner of Live Happily While Waiting For Death, released on September 20, 2021.
Their frigid, organic tones are tainted with melancholy melodies verging on the dissonant, serving as a backdrop for themes dominated by raw dreams, distressed love, and social criticism. Both dark and bright, “Polarized” combines cold wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also features “I Loved You?!”, a new version of the band’s underground hit.
Director Thomas De Moor illustrates the menacing track with a compelling, mysterious monochromatic video. Decrepit technology in an abandoned space intercut with close-ups of faces, we see increasing frustration…and apathy. It illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The cinematography is intriguing and unsettling.
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark). The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track I Loved You?! by Len Lemeire.
Kollektiva (hu) · 26/09/2022 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers /@theultimatedreamers/ have released an excellent single and music video.The story of the band is worth a short story: the Belgian post-punk, coldwave trio formed in 1986, fell into a thirty-year deep sleep in 1990, only to release their recordings, unearthed under COVID, as a special album in 2021! The trio of Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals) and Joël (bass) has now expanded into a quartet, with the addition of Sarah on synthesizers. 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' features the band's long-recorded songs, which have lost none of their lustre after 30 years in the wake of the all-encompassing post-punk revival!
Fortunately, The Ultimate Dreamers didn't sleep for another 30 years, but instead released 'Polarized', a coldwave song with hypnotic bass and scratchy guitars, surfing the waves of ice-cold synths. A great track, accompanied by an impressive video.
Fortunately, The Ultimate Dreamers didn't sleep for another 30 years, but instead released 'Polarized', a coldwave song with hypnotic bass and scratchy guitars, surfing the waves of ice-cold synths. A great track, accompanied by an impressive video.
Schwarzes Bayern (de) · 22/09/2022 [review]
Reactivated in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos (Live Happily While Waiting For Death – Wool-E-Discs / Dans Les Profondeurs / Review: read here), The Ultimate Dreamers are back with new material in the form of a single preceding a forthcoming EP. Both dark and bright, “Polarized” combines cold wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also features “I Loved You?!”, a new version of the underground hit “I Love You?!”.
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for „Polarized“ was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track “I Loved You?!” by Len Lemeire.
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for „Polarized“ was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track “I Loved You?!” by Len Lemeire.
Dark Entries (be) · 19/09/2022 [concert review]
But before And Also The Trees will take office, The Ultimate Dreamers may take the stage. The Ultimate Dreamers are a new wave group from Lessen who had their first life between 1986 and 1991. However, singer Frédéric Cotton - also known as the organiser of Fantastigue.Nights concerts and Club New Wave parties - revived the group after he released a record on vinyl and CD based on his archives in corona times.
Originally formed back to perform that archive CD live, the group soon proved sufficiently motivated to venture into new work as well. I've seen The Ultimate Dreamers at work before, when they played a lot of songs from the record, but had been expecting a lot of new songs at this concert. And that exceeded my expectations. Only closing track 'Japanese Death' I could recognise from the record.
Of course, it is hard to say what new songs are, because The Ultimate Dreamers obviously had a lot more songs than what appeared on the record, but my impression is that the set consisted mainly of new work. The new single 'Polarized' you have hopefully already heard, and we also heard the new keyboardist play cello on 'The Corpse', which was played here pretty much for the first time. The performance makes us look forward to the EP the band has promised for early 2023.
Originally formed back to perform that archive CD live, the group soon proved sufficiently motivated to venture into new work as well. I've seen The Ultimate Dreamers at work before, when they played a lot of songs from the record, but had been expecting a lot of new songs at this concert. And that exceeded my expectations. Only closing track 'Japanese Death' I could recognise from the record.
Of course, it is hard to say what new songs are, because The Ultimate Dreamers obviously had a lot more songs than what appeared on the record, but my impression is that the set consisted mainly of new work. The new single 'Polarized' you have hopefully already heard, and we also heard the new keyboardist play cello on 'The Corpse', which was played here pretty much for the first time. The performance makes us look forward to the EP the band has promised for early 2023.
Thoughs Words Action (sr) · 16/09/2022 [review]
Reactivated in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos (Live Happily While Waiting For Death – Wool-E-Discs / Dans Les Profondeurs), The Ultimate Dreamers are back with new material in the form of a single preceding a forthcoming EP. Both dark and bright, “Polarized” combines cold wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also features “I Loved You?!”, a new version of the underground hit “I Love You?!”.
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for “Polarized” was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track “I Loved You?!” by Len Lemeire.
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for “Polarized” was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track “I Loved You?!” by Len Lemeire.
White Light // Whlte Heat (it) · 15/09/2022 [review]
After getting back in 2021 with a collection of old demos, “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” via Wool-E-Discs/Dans Les Profondeurs), the seasoned Belgian Cold Wave / Post-punk band based in Brussels, The Ultimate Dreamers, comprised of Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello, return with a brand new 2-track single, “Polarized”, produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark), as a foretaste from an upcoming new EP.
The cynical, both dark and bright, lead track “Polarized” combines Cold Wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats and is imagined by a cinematic video directed by Thomas De Moor.
Contemplative lyrics struggle in an obsessive realm of disenchantment to emerge into a distorted wasteland forged by the spectacular views of others.
Buzzing, crepuscular synthetic spirals stir thumping, stumbling percussive patterns, menacing undulating bass line throbs, and jagged, lacerating effect-laden guitar obsessions into disruptive waves of angst and gloom around hushed, urgent, nervous vocal secrets and distant backup shouts, hopelessly swaying into a final polarized frenzy of groovy yet doomy moods.
The black and white video by Thomas De Moor alternates time and space betwixt daydreams and reality to construct a weary thought form wrought in bondage and decay. Keen editing, dizzying camera work, and suggestive acting captures the frustrated and restrained nuances of the soundtrack, whilst candidly seizing the dystopic lyrical malady of an enslaved soul trapped in an invisible prison of the mind.
The physical 7″ Vinyl format release of The Ultimate Dreamers‘ new single “Polarized”, with “I Loved You?!” (a new version of the underground hit “I Love You?!”) on the flip, is scheduled for October 15, 2022, via Komakino Records.
The cynical, both dark and bright, lead track “Polarized” combines Cold Wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats and is imagined by a cinematic video directed by Thomas De Moor.
Contemplative lyrics struggle in an obsessive realm of disenchantment to emerge into a distorted wasteland forged by the spectacular views of others.
Buzzing, crepuscular synthetic spirals stir thumping, stumbling percussive patterns, menacing undulating bass line throbs, and jagged, lacerating effect-laden guitar obsessions into disruptive waves of angst and gloom around hushed, urgent, nervous vocal secrets and distant backup shouts, hopelessly swaying into a final polarized frenzy of groovy yet doomy moods.
The black and white video by Thomas De Moor alternates time and space betwixt daydreams and reality to construct a weary thought form wrought in bondage and decay. Keen editing, dizzying camera work, and suggestive acting captures the frustrated and restrained nuances of the soundtrack, whilst candidly seizing the dystopic lyrical malady of an enslaved soul trapped in an invisible prison of the mind.
The physical 7″ Vinyl format release of The Ultimate Dreamers‘ new single “Polarized”, with “I Loved You?!” (a new version of the underground hit “I Love You?!”) on the flip, is scheduled for October 15, 2022, via Komakino Records.
Dark Entries (be) · 15/09/2022 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers are one of the well-kept secrets of the 1980s that are finally surfacing today. 2021 saw the release of their debut 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death', which actually collected old recordings from the group's early life, from 1986 to 1991. By then, it was already clear that The Ultimate Dreamers saw it bigger, as they had reconstituted the old group to play live, and didn't hide the fact that they wanted to release new work.
That moment has now come with the single 'Polarised'. The song is a delicious mix of post-punk and synthpop, accompanied by a fantastic clip by Thomas De Moor. A single also needs a B-side, and that is 'I Loved You?!', a new version of 'I Love You?!' that featured on the debut. It also features a remix of the same song, by Implant-brain Len Lemeire, who also produced the single. The single is available both digitally and on vinyl. The Ultimate Dreamers are working on an EP that should be released in early 2023.
That moment has now come with the single 'Polarised'. The song is a delicious mix of post-punk and synthpop, accompanied by a fantastic clip by Thomas De Moor. A single also needs a B-side, and that is 'I Loved You?!', a new version of 'I Love You?!' that featured on the debut. It also features a remix of the same song, by Implant-brain Len Lemeire, who also produced the single. The single is available both digitally and on vinyl. The Ultimate Dreamers are working on an EP that should be released in early 2023.
Terra Relicta (si) · 14/09/2022 [review]
Belgian post-punk/cold wave band, The Ultimate Dreamers, has released the Polarized maxi single containing two tracks (plus a remix in the digital version). The single is digitally available on Bandcamp and will be, on 15 October, also available in vinyl format. The band has also served a video for the "Polarized" track, which awaits you in the player below.
Reactivated in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos, Live Happily While Waiting For Death, The Ultimate Dreamers is back with new material in the form of a single preceding a forthcoming EP. Both dark and bright, Polarized combines cold wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also features "I Loved You?!", a new version of the underground hit "I Love You?!". The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark); the video for "Polarized" was directed by Thomas De Moor, and it illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet.
Reactivated in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos, Live Happily While Waiting For Death, The Ultimate Dreamers is back with new material in the form of a single preceding a forthcoming EP. Both dark and bright, Polarized combines cold wave chills with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also features "I Loved You?!", a new version of the underground hit "I Love You?!". The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark); the video for "Polarized" was directed by Thomas De Moor, and it illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet.
ElectroZombies (de) · 13/09/2022 [review]
Official music video 'Polarized' performed by the Belgian band 'The Ultimate Dreamers'. Video by Thomas De Moor.
With a deep bass line and grim, gritty punching sounds, 'Polarized' hammers its way into the auditory canal. The vocals are perfectly matched to the sound composition, as they sound just as dark, almost menacing as the instruments themselves. 'Polarized' is a dark wave song that tests the limits. It's like trying to construct a dark wave cover version of an EBM song. Nevertheless, I think the band has succeeded very well. Just listen to this quite interesting genre mix.
This song is part of our Spotify playlist ‘New Synth Pop Songs 2022‘. The playlist is updated continuously. Follow this playlist now and don’t miss any of the latest synth pop hits in 2022.
With a deep bass line and grim, gritty punching sounds, 'Polarized' hammers its way into the auditory canal. The vocals are perfectly matched to the sound composition, as they sound just as dark, almost menacing as the instruments themselves. 'Polarized' is a dark wave song that tests the limits. It's like trying to construct a dark wave cover version of an EBM song. Nevertheless, I think the band has succeeded very well. Just listen to this quite interesting genre mix.
This song is part of our Spotify playlist ‘New Synth Pop Songs 2022‘. The playlist is updated continuously. Follow this playlist now and don’t miss any of the latest synth pop hits in 2022.
Snoozecontrol (be) · 12/09/2022 [review]
Reactivated in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos (Live Happily While Waiting For Death – Wool-E-Discs/Dans Les Profondeurs), The Ultimate Dreamers are back with new material in the form of a single preceding a forthcoming EP. The new single has been launched today 12 September (digital) and will get a vinyl release on 15 October!
The single has been recorded in Len Lemaire's (Implant / 32 Crash / Anne Clark) studio. You can clearly hear Len's influence (as sometime you would wander if it's not Len at work). Soundiwse it's a mix between cold wave and electro. The vocals sound cool, so I'm sure it will be a hit!
The single also has a B-side and is called I Loved You?! It's an up-tempo cold-wave/electro track. The song sounds like crafted for the dancefloor and for DJ's. If you listen to both songs it's almost impossible to say wich one deserve's to be the A-side single!
Implant also did a remix of the same song (I Loved You). The result is a typical Implant song with dancefloor vibes, a good tempo and a little bit more electronics. The old school Implant break down is also included.
It's impossible to say which of the 3 songs is the best and that means that you only get good stuff! It will be hard for the DJ's to decide abou which song to play on the radio/dancefloor! It's also nice to hear that the band has stepped into 2022 and evolved in the best way compaired to the demo's from the 80's! Thumbs up and maximal score for all 3 songs!
The single has been recorded in Len Lemaire's (Implant / 32 Crash / Anne Clark) studio. You can clearly hear Len's influence (as sometime you would wander if it's not Len at work). Soundiwse it's a mix between cold wave and electro. The vocals sound cool, so I'm sure it will be a hit!
The single also has a B-side and is called I Loved You?! It's an up-tempo cold-wave/electro track. The song sounds like crafted for the dancefloor and for DJ's. If you listen to both songs it's almost impossible to say wich one deserve's to be the A-side single!
Implant also did a remix of the same song (I Loved You). The result is a typical Implant song with dancefloor vibes, a good tempo and a little bit more electronics. The old school Implant break down is also included.
It's impossible to say which of the 3 songs is the best and that means that you only get good stuff! It will be hard for the DJ's to decide abou which song to play on the radio/dancefloor! It's also nice to hear that the band has stepped into 2022 and evolved in the best way compaired to the demo's from the 80's! Thumbs up and maximal score for all 3 songs!
Sounds Good (it) · 12/09/2022 [review]
Reactivated in 2021 with the release of an album collecting old demos (Live Happily While Waiting For Death - Wool-E-Discs / Dans Les Profondeurs), The Ultimate Dreamers are back with a new single 'Polarized' preceding the release of the forthcoming Epl
Both dark and bright, 'Polarized' combines chills of cold waves with irresistibly danceable rhythms. The single also features "I Loved You?!", a new version of the underground hit "I Love You?!".
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for 'Polarized' was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track "I Loved You?!" by Len Lemeire.
An enthralling journey full of melodic sounds, even if it is all very minimal and determined to make the atmosphere redundant by means of synths and sampled sounds that enhance and in some circumstances cut through the sound without hurting but rather caressing, leaving a good impression from the very first bars so as to give the listener sounds full of dynamics.
A single that succeeds in being incisive and pleasant to listen to, and which denotes how The Ultimate Dreamers know how to convey passion and positive feelings with the minimum use of instrumentation, because after all, the simplest things are the most difficult to do, but in this also the most successful.
Both dark and bright, 'Polarized' combines chills of cold waves with irresistibly danceable rhythms. The single also features "I Loved You?!", a new version of the underground hit "I Love You?!".
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for 'Polarized' was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the cynicism classically developed by the quartet. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the track "I Loved You?!" by Len Lemeire.
An enthralling journey full of melodic sounds, even if it is all very minimal and determined to make the atmosphere redundant by means of synths and sampled sounds that enhance and in some circumstances cut through the sound without hurting but rather caressing, leaving a good impression from the very first bars so as to give the listener sounds full of dynamics.
A single that succeeds in being incisive and pleasant to listen to, and which denotes how The Ultimate Dreamers know how to convey passion and positive feelings with the minimum use of instrumentation, because after all, the simplest things are the most difficult to do, but in this also the most successful.
Luminous Dash (be) · 12/09/2022 [review]
They resurrected from their dreams in 2021 with a compilation album of old demos. Live Happily While Waiting For Death (Wool-E-Discs / Dans Les Profondeurs) gave The Ultimate Dreamers a second life, and they are now all the way back with a new single that also announces an EP.
A gloomy coldwaves sound thunders through Polarized. With both dark and bright elements among the danceable beats, we hear quite a lot of repetition popping up. From the simple deep bassline, the synth loops to the eclectic ripping guitar that keeps popping up in the chorus. A dark, quite austere song, we enjoy listening to, but are not blown over by it.
Besides Polarised, we also get the Dreamers new version of the undergroud hit I Love You?!, renamed Did I Loved You?!! for this occasion. On the digital version of the single, we also get an Implant - remix by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark).
Handsomely produced by Len Lemeire and the video for Polarized - which depicts the cynicism the foursome developed over the years - was directed by Thomas De Moor.
A gloomy coldwaves sound thunders through Polarized. With both dark and bright elements among the danceable beats, we hear quite a lot of repetition popping up. From the simple deep bassline, the synth loops to the eclectic ripping guitar that keeps popping up in the chorus. A dark, quite austere song, we enjoy listening to, but are not blown over by it.
Besides Polarised, we also get the Dreamers new version of the undergroud hit I Love You?!, renamed Did I Loved You?!! for this occasion. On the digital version of the single, we also get an Implant - remix by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark).
Handsomely produced by Len Lemeire and the video for Polarized - which depicts the cynicism the foursome developed over the years - was directed by Thomas De Moor.
Music in Belgium (be) · 12/09/2022 [review]
On the sidelines of a week that will see them play at the Botanique and Zik-Zak, The Ultimate Dreamers release a new single. "Polarized" is released digitally this Monday ahead of a 7″ scheduled for October 15 via Komakino Records.
Since its introduction in their live sets late last year, "Polarized" has continued to improve to the point of concluding, chained to "A Long Time Ago" and "The Game", a solid trilogy from the start. Combining catchy melody, dark vocals and groovy bass, the recorded version also opens up new horizons, with the metronomic beats clearly geared towards the dancefloor.
It is also the first new official song written by the band since their post-confinement reunion. Indeed, 'Live Happily While Waiting Dor Death' was a collection of demos recorded in the second half of the 80's on audio cassettes with basic equipment. Here, everything was recorded in a professional studio by Len Lemeire, known for his work with Anne Clark, 32Crash and Implant.
The latter offer a marked EBM vision to "I Loved You?!" (renamed "Implant Loved You?!" for the occasion), a bonus track to be found on the digital version of the single, alongside a rather effective remix signed by Len Lemeire himself on the B side of the single. For the sake of completeness, the video was directed by Thomas De Moor.
Since its introduction in their live sets late last year, "Polarized" has continued to improve to the point of concluding, chained to "A Long Time Ago" and "The Game", a solid trilogy from the start. Combining catchy melody, dark vocals and groovy bass, the recorded version also opens up new horizons, with the metronomic beats clearly geared towards the dancefloor.
It is also the first new official song written by the band since their post-confinement reunion. Indeed, 'Live Happily While Waiting Dor Death' was a collection of demos recorded in the second half of the 80's on audio cassettes with basic equipment. Here, everything was recorded in a professional studio by Len Lemeire, known for his work with Anne Clark, 32Crash and Implant.
The latter offer a marked EBM vision to "I Loved You?!" (renamed "Implant Loved You?!" for the occasion), a bonus track to be found on the digital version of the single, alongside a rather effective remix signed by Len Lemeire himself on the B side of the single. For the sake of completeness, the video was directed by Thomas De Moor.
ElectroSpank (gr) · 9/09/2022 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers return with a new single, titled "Polarized", coming out on September 12th and preceding the forthcoming EP!
Formed back in 1986, the Brussels based four-piece band, released their first album, "Live Happily While Waiting For Death", a year ago, in 2021, including 11 tracks resurfaced by Wool-E-Discs.
Now, a year later, The Ultimate Dreamers are back with a, completely, new song, coming out in the form of a single. "Polarized" is the title of the new song, coming out with the new version of their underground hit, "I Love You?!", as a b-side, while the digital version includes a remix of "I Love Yo?" by Len Lemeire, titled "Implant Loved You?!".
"Polarized" balances between darkness and light. Strong basslines and sharp guitar riffs build the dark, post-punk ambience while melody gives the cold wave tone. A dark wave track with a danceable beat and a catchy arrangement. "Polarized" is looking back to its 80's roots with an eye of the new wave of post-punk. The "I Love You?!" b-side version gives a new power to the opening track of their 2021's album, going deeper into the electronic and new wave side of their music. Lem Lemeire gives a new dimension to the "I Love You?" with the "Implant Loved You?!", sending signs of Implant, 32crash and his influences.
Lee Lemeire (Implant, 32crash, Anne Clark) has done the production for "Polarized, the video which illustrates the cynicism developed by the quartet was directed by Thomas De Moor.
"Polarized" is out on September 12th (digital) and October 15th (vinyl), via Komakino Records.
The Ultimate Dreamers are Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello.
Formed back in 1986, the Brussels based four-piece band, released their first album, "Live Happily While Waiting For Death", a year ago, in 2021, including 11 tracks resurfaced by Wool-E-Discs.
Now, a year later, The Ultimate Dreamers are back with a, completely, new song, coming out in the form of a single. "Polarized" is the title of the new song, coming out with the new version of their underground hit, "I Love You?!", as a b-side, while the digital version includes a remix of "I Love Yo?" by Len Lemeire, titled "Implant Loved You?!".
"Polarized" balances between darkness and light. Strong basslines and sharp guitar riffs build the dark, post-punk ambience while melody gives the cold wave tone. A dark wave track with a danceable beat and a catchy arrangement. "Polarized" is looking back to its 80's roots with an eye of the new wave of post-punk. The "I Love You?!" b-side version gives a new power to the opening track of their 2021's album, going deeper into the electronic and new wave side of their music. Lem Lemeire gives a new dimension to the "I Love You?" with the "Implant Loved You?!", sending signs of Implant, 32crash and his influences.
Lee Lemeire (Implant, 32crash, Anne Clark) has done the production for "Polarized, the video which illustrates the cynicism developed by the quartet was directed by Thomas De Moor.
"Polarized" is out on September 12th (digital) and October 15th (vinyl), via Komakino Records.
The Ultimate Dreamers are Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals and Joël on bass with Sandrine, a classical musician, on keyboards and cello.
Atomium Magazine (cl) · 6/09/2022 [review]
Cold wave/post punk band The Ultimate Dreamers return with the single "Polarized". The single is a preview of their forthcoming album.
Revived in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos (Live Happily While Waiting For Death - Wool-E-Discs / Dans Les Profondeurs), The Ultimate Dreamers return with new material in the form of a single that precedes a forthcoming EP.
Both dark and bright, "Polarized" combines cold wave sounds with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also includes "I Loved You?!", a new version of the underground hit "I Love You?!".
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for "Polarized" was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the quartet's classically developed cynicism. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the song "I Loved You?!" by Len Lemeire.
Revived in 2021 with the release of an album compiling old demos (Live Happily While Waiting For Death - Wool-E-Discs / Dans Les Profondeurs), The Ultimate Dreamers return with new material in the form of a single that precedes a forthcoming EP.
Both dark and bright, "Polarized" combines cold wave sounds with irresistibly danceable beats. The single also includes "I Loved You?!", a new version of the underground hit "I Love You?!".
The tracks were produced by Len Lemeire (Implant, 32Crash, Anne Clark) and the video for "Polarized" was directed by Thomas De Moor. The video illustrates the quartet's classically developed cynicism. The digital version of the single includes a remix of the song "I Loved You?!" by Len Lemeire.
Twice (#78) (fr) · 1/06/2022 [interview]
No Télé (be) · 13/05/2022 [TV]
The Ultimate Dreamers reform and launch the "This is not a dark fest" in LessinesAt the end of the 80s, the "summer end festival" dedicated to cold wave and post punk was born in Lessines. More than 35 years later, "This is not a dark fest" is the worthy heir of this event. At the helm is the group "The ultimate dreamers", which reformed a few months ago.
El Garaje de Frank (sp) · 15/04/2022 [review]
In the face of adversity, we sometimes forget to look on the bright side. From a certain point of view, the pandemic has been good for some artists, even if many events have been cancelled. This is the case for the Belgian band The Ultimate Dreamers, who were active between 1986 and 1990, and whose recordings were rediscovered thirty years later by the owner of Wool-E Discs. This rediscovery resulted in a selection of eleven tracks composing an amazing album to discover (or rediscover for some) and to enjoy. Released in September 2021, Live Happily While Waiting For Death is available in digital, compact disc and vinyl.
Anchored in a post-punk and coldwave aesthetic, Live Happily While Waiting For Death excels by the richness of its musical universe. Between very reverberated sounds, varied patterns which evolve in rhythmic and melodic ostinato as well as a deep melancholic atmosphere, the lovers of the genre have what’s in it for them.
In addition to its pronounced sound identity, the richness of the album is also illustrated by the diversity of its songs which offers a beautiful range of atmospheres. Tracks like “I Love You?!” with a voluble bass drum or “Female Zone” offer a very energetic music, even explosive like in “A long Time Ago.” Others are more tempered like “Japanese Death” or the excellent “Never Die” where rhythms, melody, bass and harmonies are born from a long unchanging synthesizer holding which is the thread of it. The sounds of “Education” are muffled and we can hear an incomprehensible voice that gives an interesting effect to the atmosphere. “Funeral Waltz” is the only ternary track on the album whereas “I Hate You?!” offers new flavors with its more grating notes. The album ends with “S’envoler,” a very poetic track much slower than the others and longer (07:24) which gives a very successful conclusion to it.
The Ultimate Dreamers have a quality repertoire that is bound to prosper in the current musical landscape. The promise of a new EP which would be in preparation for the year 2022, as indicated on the website court-circuit.band encourages staying tuned. It is therefore with great impatience that we wait for the new creations of Bertrand, Frédéric, Joël and Sarah.
Anchored in a post-punk and coldwave aesthetic, Live Happily While Waiting For Death excels by the richness of its musical universe. Between very reverberated sounds, varied patterns which evolve in rhythmic and melodic ostinato as well as a deep melancholic atmosphere, the lovers of the genre have what’s in it for them.
In addition to its pronounced sound identity, the richness of the album is also illustrated by the diversity of its songs which offers a beautiful range of atmospheres. Tracks like “I Love You?!” with a voluble bass drum or “Female Zone” offer a very energetic music, even explosive like in “A long Time Ago.” Others are more tempered like “Japanese Death” or the excellent “Never Die” where rhythms, melody, bass and harmonies are born from a long unchanging synthesizer holding which is the thread of it. The sounds of “Education” are muffled and we can hear an incomprehensible voice that gives an interesting effect to the atmosphere. “Funeral Waltz” is the only ternary track on the album whereas “I Hate You?!” offers new flavors with its more grating notes. The album ends with “S’envoler,” a very poetic track much slower than the others and longer (07:24) which gives a very successful conclusion to it.
The Ultimate Dreamers have a quality repertoire that is bound to prosper in the current musical landscape. The promise of a new EP which would be in preparation for the year 2022, as indicated on the website court-circuit.band encourages staying tuned. It is therefore with great impatience that we wait for the new creations of Bertrand, Frédéric, Joël and Sarah.
Side-Line (be) · 3/01/2021 [review]
Background/Info: Belgian formation The Ultimate Dreamers were active between 1986 and 1990. After having released their work on cassettes they finally disappeared from the music radar to resurrect during the pandemic. The band is back alive with a new line-up. Old songs have been reworked and got a new mastering. This album features eleven tracks although the CD format has ten bonus tracks.
Content: I never heard from this Belgian formation before. That’s maybe because they’re from the Southern part of the country, which was not as into underground music than the Northern part. The songs are getting us back to the true spirit of the 80s; dark music composed with synths, guitar, bass and drums. The vocals have a sterile quality and are hard to understand,; this way adding a ghost-like touch to the work.
+ + + : I’m not going to compare this band with another one, but I would be not surprised to see Trisomie 21 fans enjoying this work. The songs are into pure Cold-Wave, but there’s something more accessible like melody lines on top. I also noticed some organ sounds, but globally speaking I prefer the few songs with more explicit guitar playing like “A Long Time Ago”. The production of the vocals has something mysterious; not easily understandable and therefore somewhat foggy-like.
– – – : I think there were much better bands in the 80s and that’s probably why The Ultimate Dreamers never reached a higher status, but I have to admit their typical 80s sound has something magic today!
Conclusion: This is one more forgotten 80s band, which has been recovered from dust for the greatest joy of Post-Punk lovers.
Best songs: “A Long Time Ago”, “Laughing Furniture”, “Female Zone”.
Rate: 7.
Content: I never heard from this Belgian formation before. That’s maybe because they’re from the Southern part of the country, which was not as into underground music than the Northern part. The songs are getting us back to the true spirit of the 80s; dark music composed with synths, guitar, bass and drums. The vocals have a sterile quality and are hard to understand,; this way adding a ghost-like touch to the work.
+ + + : I’m not going to compare this band with another one, but I would be not surprised to see Trisomie 21 fans enjoying this work. The songs are into pure Cold-Wave, but there’s something more accessible like melody lines on top. I also noticed some organ sounds, but globally speaking I prefer the few songs with more explicit guitar playing like “A Long Time Ago”. The production of the vocals has something mysterious; not easily understandable and therefore somewhat foggy-like.
– – – : I think there were much better bands in the 80s and that’s probably why The Ultimate Dreamers never reached a higher status, but I have to admit their typical 80s sound has something magic today!
Conclusion: This is one more forgotten 80s band, which has been recovered from dust for the greatest joy of Post-Punk lovers.
Best songs: “A Long Time Ago”, “Laughing Furniture”, “Female Zone”.
Rate: 7.
Dark Entries (be) · 4/01/2022 [article]
2021. The year in which, despite the doom and gloom from above, it was also one where musical discoveries alternated with rediscoveries. Where the duty to keep the cages served as creative throws full of home crafts. Below is an anthology of albums that could grab me in 2021, that surprised and fascinated me and that above all managed to make up for the year 2021. In no particular order, because lists are for shopping. But mainly because it is almost impossible to make an actual hit list. They were all good. The 21 of 2021.The Ultimate Dreamers – Live Happily While Waiting For DeathOr how a long-lost cassette suddenly gets a new life.
Magazyn Muzyczny Heart & Soul (pl) · 1/01/2022 [article]
The 100 Best Albums of 2021Time for a musical summary of 2021. Below we present a list of one hundred, in our opinion, the most interesting albums that were released last year.
The list is not a ranking, regardless of the place on the list, each album is number one in 2021.
To learn more details about a specific album or to listen to it, please click on the cover photo.
The list is not a ranking, regardless of the place on the list, each album is number one in 2021.
To learn more details about a specific album or to listen to it, please click on the cover photo.
Side-Line Reviews (be) · 30/12/2021 [review]
Background/Info: Belgian formation The Ultimate Dreamers were active between 1986 and 1990. They wrote some songs, which never saw the daylight and did a few shows. So they finally disappeared from the music radar to resurrect during the pandemic. The band is back alive with a new line-up. Old songs have been reworked and got a new mastering. This album features eleven tracks although the CD format has ten bonus tracks.
Content: I never heard from this Belgian formation before. That’s maybe because they’re from the Southern part of the country, which was not as into underground music than the Northern part. The songs are getting us back to the true spirit of the 80s; dark music composed with synths, guitar, bass and drums. The vocals have a sterile quality and are hard to understand,; this way adding a ghost-like touch to the work.
+ + + : I’m not going to compare this band with another one, but I would be not surprised to see Trisomie 21 fans enjoying this work. The songs are into pure Cold-Wave, but there’s something more accessible like melody lines on top. I also noticed some organ sounds, but globally speaking I prefer the few songs with more explicit guitar playing like “A Long Time Ago”. The production of the vocals has something mysterious; not easily understandable and therefore somewhat foggy-like.
- - - : I think there were much better bands in the 80s and that’s probably why The Ultimate Dreamers never reached a higher status, but I have to admit their typical 80s sound has something magic today!
Conclusion: This is one more forgotten 80s band, which has been recovered from dust for the greatest joy of Post-Punk lovers.
Best songs: “A Long Time Ago”, “Laughing Furniture”, “Female Zone”.
Rate: 7.
Content: I never heard from this Belgian formation before. That’s maybe because they’re from the Southern part of the country, which was not as into underground music than the Northern part. The songs are getting us back to the true spirit of the 80s; dark music composed with synths, guitar, bass and drums. The vocals have a sterile quality and are hard to understand,; this way adding a ghost-like touch to the work.
+ + + : I’m not going to compare this band with another one, but I would be not surprised to see Trisomie 21 fans enjoying this work. The songs are into pure Cold-Wave, but there’s something more accessible like melody lines on top. I also noticed some organ sounds, but globally speaking I prefer the few songs with more explicit guitar playing like “A Long Time Ago”. The production of the vocals has something mysterious; not easily understandable and therefore somewhat foggy-like.
- - - : I think there were much better bands in the 80s and that’s probably why The Ultimate Dreamers never reached a higher status, but I have to admit their typical 80s sound has something magic today!
Conclusion: This is one more forgotten 80s band, which has been recovered from dust for the greatest joy of Post-Punk lovers.
Best songs: “A Long Time Ago”, “Laughing Furniture”, “Female Zone”.
Rate: 7.
Atomium Magazine (cl) · 1/12/2021 [article]
Cold wave band Ultimate Dreamers released the album "Live Happily While Waiting For Death"The album compiles demos made between 1986 and 1990.The Ultimate Dreamers is a post-punk / cold wave band from Brussels (in the city of Lessines) that worked on some demos between 1986 and 1990. The band was influenced by Belgian cold wave and British post-punk. His music is a mixture of cold and organic tones tinged with melancholic melodies, sometimes catchy, sometimes bordering on dissonant, which serve as a backdrop for themes dominated by raw dreams, old loves and social criticism. Between 1986 and 1990, they wrote and recorded numerous tracks at home before their final break.The story goes that his vocalist (Frédéric Cotton) was cleaning his house and found an old model. He made a Facebook post about the find and quickly received a pitch proposal after hearing restoration. This made the recordings resurface and were brought to the ear of the Wool-E Discs record label, from which an album offering immediately emerged. Eleven tracks were resurrected under the title of "Live Happily while Waiting For Death" and was released on September 26, 2021. The band is also organizing a tour and organizing festivals.
Peek-A-Boo Magazine (be) · 25/11/2021 [review]
Mid 1980s, Lessen, a peaceful town just across the language border in the French-speaking part of Belgium. Once the city of surrealistic artist René Magritte and poet/writer Louis Scuteniare, at that time a musical desert. Until three friends, Frédéric (vocals), Joël (keyboards) and Laurent (bass guitar) start as a cold wave and post-punk inspired musical trio, which would later grow into a five-headed line-up. Their cold chilly wave and post-punk tunes serve as a musical background for themes and lyrics dominated by dreams, amorous fear and social criticism. In 1988, while Frédéric armed himself with a guitar and Laurent switched to drums, the group was completed with Bertrand (bass) and Stéphane (keyboards). The sound became a little more rough and solid with these musical changes. In 1990 The Ultimate Dreamers fell into a (very long) sleep while dozens of songs, that had been traditionally recorded on cassette, remained unused in the closet.Until they were discovered again, during the Covid pandemic, underneath a thick layer of dust, by Dimitri Van Cauveren, the man behind Wool-E Discs. The result: eleven songs were released as an album named 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death'.'I Love You' was the single that preceded the album. Angular eighties synths and drum sounds. Not too sophisticated. And why should it be? Rough diamonds belong to this time of year.The sound The Ultimate Dreamers represent clearly refers to the eighties. Instrumentally and vocally unpolished. True and sincere. From the minimal wave sound like on 'Never Die', to the more raw post-punk sounding 'I Hate You!'. Or as in 'A Long Time Ago', where a razor-sharp bass-line and screaming guitars take over.We also get some cold-wave with The Doors-ish synth parts in 'Laughing Furniture'.This eighties cold-wave and postpunk sound gets an even bigger boost with 'No Matter' making it sound so wonderfully "vintage". Too bad it was kept from us, like an elephant pregnancy, for over 30 years. Luckily gynecologist on duty, Wool-E-Discs, proved skillfully worthy and delivered us 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death'.
Gonzo Circus (be) · 17/11/2021 [article]
The Ultimate Dreamers must be the best kept (read: totally unknown) musical secret in the national wave history. One of the biggest surprise of the evening. The trio from Lessines, Hainaut, only existed for a short time (between 1986 and 1990 to be precise) and didn't get any further than a demo tape. After years of gathering dust, that cassette was recently dug up, polished, supplemented with bonus tracks and released on Dans Les Profondeurs, the archive sub-label of Wool-E Discs. 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' – the title delivers on what it promises – evokes the dark 1980s with a sound that evokes memories of the cold wave of the French Asylum Party of Trisomy 21; and Factory Records stars like Section 25 and Joy Division.
Gonzo Circus (be) · November-December 2021 [review]
With darkwave from The Ultimate Dreamers we are already entering a completely unknown territory. This trio from Lessines was active from 1986 to 1990, made a demo cassette and died out in silence. At least, until the demo was heard retroactively by the ubiquitous label boss of Dans Les Profondeurs, who had it polished up along with ten bonus tracks, and thus now gives it a second life. That the beautiful cover photo is the cemetery gate of Lessines says something about the content: 'Japanese Death', 'Never Die', 'Don't Pray For Us', and so on. The gloomy zeitgeist of the 1980s is combined with an equally fatalistic view of love. Keyboard-driven post-punk, with Joy Division basslines in the style of Section 25 or Asylum Party, but the surprising 'I Love You?!' might as well belong to John Maus. Due to the complete obscurity, and the fact that it is sometimes still audible that we are dealing with a restored, ancient cassette, this is a wonderful discovery for the coldwave fan. As a matter of fact, the group has awakened from a long hibernation after the return, with two thirds of the original line-up.
Sonic Seducer (de) · 01/11/2021 [interview]
Sonic Seducer (de) · 1/11/2021 [review]
Deliberately bumpy and dragged, the band from the vicinity of the European capital to Belgium aims pretty precisely at the sound that their somewhat more southern neighbors (Trisomie 21) were able to make their trademark around 30 years ago. Deeply melancholy barrel organ sounds are paired with a lapidary, cold beat - the spiral leads to where the sun only shines, only to dazzle now and then. So it is hardly surprising that The Ultimate Dreamers are a consortium that has reactivated - after around 30 years - and thus old hands, so to speak. So - da capo, on the basis of these eleven songs that have now been performed here, pictures emerge that conjure up a time that reflects the sadness of an industrial-urban time before gentrification. Barrens, unemployment, ruin. And yet a togetherness that defies neoliberalism to this day. In keeping with the album title. In view of this, it is comforting that we will all soon bite the grass. If extremely nostalgic music then tastes the way this euphoric, grieving music sounds, we no longer need to be ashamed of our fears of what will come here, there or then. Love it - or die!
Musiczine (be) · 26/10/2021 [review]
The new album by The Ultimate Dreamers contains songs composed between 1986 and 1990. They were founded in 1986 in Lessines. In 1990 they recorded songs and put them on a C-60 (cassette) as a reference book of their existence. During the covid, Fred Cotton cleaned up his house and found some of those recordings. The ball started rolling when Wool-E heard it. He thought there was some bread in it and so we get an LP with 11 songs. On the CD version you get another 10 bonus tracks.Musically, the title sums up the music completely: gloomy and cold with monotonous vocals. It doesn't have to be boring or beautiful. The songs on the C-60 have been restored and polished, but the quality sometimes differs a bit. Nevertheless, everything remains pleasant to listen to.We hear 80s synths, a post-punk bass and guitar.Opener “I Love You” is uptempo with catchy synths just like “Female Zone” by the way. On “Japanese Death” we get a Japanese-like synth line. The best songs in my opinion include “Funeral Waltz” (atmospheric basis throughout the song), the heavy “Is This Hate?!” and “Long Time Ago” with its guitar and bass somewhere between Red Zebra and New Order. Also “Laughing Furniture” is musically fascinating but a bit of a shame about the sometimes dissonant vocals. Closing valve "S' Envoler" is long and nicely built.I suspect that the order of the songs also follows the timeline of recordings. The first half contains synth-oriented tracks while the second half includes the guitar. This album contains some nice songs that typically sound like the wave from the 80's. Fans of this will certainly enjoy this.I've also thought several times: if this had been re-recorded and the vocals improved, this would have been even more attractive and the strength of the songs would come into their own even better. On the other hand, this was what most bands had to do in the 80s. A fine release.
Dark Entries (be) · 14/10/2021 [review]
The 80s are a gold mine for those who love wave and electro. The big names are many, but there are many smaller names that the collector also likes to add to his record collection. And so you immediately know who is the target group for this record by The Ultimate Dreamers, a group from the 80s that is only now coming out with a record.To be honest it takes the longest, so let me immediately admit that I personally know and appreciate Frédéric Cotton – the lead singer of The Ultimate Dreamers. Frédéric is also the organizer of the Fantastique.Nights, and I myself was part of the team that supports him for a while. You know I may be biased, though that doesn't mean I'm being disingenuous in recommending this record.Frédéric had already told me that he was the singer of a group in the 80s, so there was already a certain mythology built up around The Ultimate Dreamers. But my estimation was that perhaps only very amateurish recordings of this remained. So I didn't expect that a record would ever be released, although I am very happy to finally be able to listen to this group that I had already heard about.And admittedly: the recordings are really a bit amateurish. On several songs the vocals are barely audible, although that varies throughout the record. On opener 'I Love You' or 'No Matter' you have trouble understanding a word, but on most other songs that is no problem at all. Usually the instruments are clearly audible and distinguishable.The Ultimate Dreamers have never moved into a studio. The recordings on this record are taken from recording sessions in the members' bedrooms or from the group's rehearsal room. They have now received a professional treatment and mastering in a studio, so the sound quality is not that bad. And of course a thorough selection was preceded by which only the best eleven of the fifty numbers that were excavated were left.The Ultimate Dreamers existed from 1986 to 1990. They originated in Lessen, a town in Hainaut where, according to the group, there was little to do at the time. The group gave about fifteen performances in the region and even organized a real alternative festival in Lessen. In 1990, the group broke up after several members moved on to other projects.The existence of the group can roughly be divided into two periods: a first period as a synthpop trio with Frédéric on vocals, Joël on synths and Laurent on bass; and a second more rock-oriented period as a quintet with Laurent on drums, Bertrand on bass, Joël and Stéphane on synths and Frédéric on guitar and vocals.Most of the songs on this compilation are from the first period, which I would describe as dark sythpop. Often the songs were recorded in 1987 and 1988. Perhaps we can refer to Depeche Mode, New Order, but especially to OMD, whose influences on songs 'Laughing Furniture' and 'No Matter' are really audible. (Or maybe it's that prominent bass.)'I Love You' has a pulsating beat that makes it very danceable. The sugary sweet 'Japanese Death', which of course deals with the atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is certainly a highlight from this period, with its repetitive synth tune over which other layers of synths make the whole very dreamy. The French-language 'S'envoler' is a fine closing track that also moves into calmer waters.I may have scared you when I labeled the second period as 'rock', but know that it is still very clearly wave, even if there are heavier guitars and drums. In fact, songs like 'Funeral Waltz' and 'I Hate You' I would count among the highlights of this record, because with the extra musicians there were also more complex structures that do not miss their effect here.Today you could speak of a third period in the existence of the group, because with the release of the album the group was re-established. They'll be playing older songs from The Ultimate Dreamers – including songs that couldn't be included on the record due to sound quality – but if I'm right they'll also want to write new work.We certainly wish to see them live, and there will be many opportunities to do so in the coming months. As mentioned, this record is mainly aimed at those who still diligently continue to search for gems from the 80s, and they will certainly appreciate 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death'. The group calls itself The Ultimate Dreamers, and I have indeed started dreaming about it.
Schwarzes Bayern (de) · 14/10/2021 [review]
Belgian fairy taleOnce upon a time in Lessinnes, Belgium, the birthplace of the famous painter and surrealism representative René Magritte, more precisely 1986. Three teenage friends start a band out of boredom, The Ultimate Dreamers. They are enthusiastic about Belgian cold wave and English post punk and start in the constellation with Frédéric as singer, Laurent on bass and Joël who operates the synthesizers. Two years later, bassist Bertrand and Stéphane join the synthesizers, while Laurent changes to drums and Frédéric has discovered the guitar for himself. In 1990 they finally recorded a tape on their own, but it couldn't go any further. The band and especially this C-60 cassette are forgotten.But then Corona comes, and like so many others, the lockdown is cleaned up and the missing audio document is rediscovered. Restored and remastered, The Ultimate Dreamers are 31 years late in presenting their debut album Live happily while waiting for death. The story behind it seems somehow fairytale.Right at the beginning, “I love you ?!” really puts you down. No lengthy intro, no skirmish, the minimal synthwave jumps right in your face or in your legs. When the singing starts, it is monotonous and unemotional and clearly influenced by Cold Wave. This is a great combination that should definitely be heard in the clubs. “Japanese death” also strikes this notch, but overall it sounds darker and somehow more subtly orchestrated. I wonder whether the delicate melody in the background comes from a glockenspiel, or whether it was even played with glasses. Overall, the atmosphere is similar to that of “Last dance” from Trisomie 21. “Never die”, on the other hand, starts with a very cool, reverberant double sound like an alienated snare that runs through the entire song and gives it its structure. This is accompanied by solemn organ tones and the sad singing of Frédéric. It gets a little more danceable in “Female zone”, which with its spherical synthie carpets is completely devoted to the New Wave. "That sounds really like the eighties," it shoots through my head. Oh, yes. “Education” is purely instrumental, because the only text on the synth music consists of an industrial noise sample. Perhaps this is also an extremely alienated language contribution, I can't possibly commit myself to that. The “Funeral walz” is based on a nice little melody. The vocals are added very carefully, creating a dreamy atmosphere.Then the classic three-piece ensemble of bass, guitar and drums surprised me in its distinctiveness in “I hate you ?!”, which is a real counterpart to the opener. With Post Punk, the piece practically introduces the side of the record, and in the constellation this continues directly in “A long time ago”. In contrast to the previous track, however, it is the drums that set the tone here. Something in “Laughing furniture” reminds me on the one hand of 'Here are the young men' by Joy Division, on the other hand of “Love is a shield” by Camouflage, which probably came about later. I can't understand why anyway, because at the same time the song sounds very independent. I am particularly fascinated by this cuddly singing that has been taken to extremes, as if wrapped in cotton wool for the chorus. Post punk and synthwave unite in "No matter" before experimenting again with "S’envoler" at the end. Crazy-sounding laughter mixes with the rustling noise of airplanes, and everything merges into drone-like sounds and wind noises. Synths and solemn vocals round off the track.Conclusion: And if they haven't died, then they are still alive today. Fact, because The Ultimate Dreamers are back and there is a chance to see the band live too, if Covid allows it. The band has already made its first appearances. The honor is due to them late, but you can confidently put Live happily while waiting for death on the shelf on an equal footing between Trisomy 21 and The Neon Judgment. A pearl of the Belgian Cold Wave has been rediscovered, which captures the special sound of the time.Playing tips: I love you?!, I hate you?!, Laughing furniture
Music in Belgium (be) · 6/10/2021 [concert review]
The list of musical trends adorning the CaliClub logo (jazz-funk-soul-folk) did not prevent our Saturday from turning frankly dark. Indeed, on the stage of the room located in Drogenbos, two groups celebrating the release of their first album, The Ultimate Dreamers and Partikul.While the second nominees released "Related Memories" digitally at the start of the summer, the vinyl version arrived just in time to hit the merchandising booth. It is therefore with peace of mind that the Brussels duo started the debates this evening. On the one hand, a bearded guitarist and on the other, an expressive hackneyed keyboardist.They evenly divide the vocals in radically different styles: stuffed with reverb and drowned for him, assertive and loud for her, a bit like Barbara Lehnhoff in Peter Kernel. A winning complementarity which, despite a rather messy appearance on stage, takes the compositions to rougher regions than in the studio. Mention to the turbulent "Free Dolls" and the subtly constructed "Goldmoon". What do these two titles have in common? A guitar put forward ...An instrument absent from the equation during the debut of The Ultimate Dreamers on the side of Lessines in 1986. Indeed, Frédéric Cotton initially focuses his project around a synth, a bass and a drum machine. . Two years later, the latter gave way to drums as a guitar appeared, giving the ensemble a more muscular appearance. But after a handful of concerts and a series of demos, the story goes into brackets.Thirty years later, it will experience an unexpected extension thanks to or because of successive confinements. Said demos are found, remastered and partially compiled on an album called "Live Happily While Waiting For Death". Published on Wool-E Discs, it unveils the self-produced recordings of the time, including ardor, spontaneity and technical limitations.Tonight, they are back on stage for the first time since the end of the Cold War and will begin their set judiciously with a solid “A Long Time Ago”. Besides Frédéric, dressed in an elegant sober suit behind sunglasses (for the intro title only), there are two other original members: guitarist Bertrand Evrard (very focused) and bassist Joël Grigolato (rather extrovert). Behind them officiates the generous haired keyboardist Sarah Boom (the voice of Turquoise).In addition to a ubiquitous drum machine, a second guitarist will embed the space of a few tracks at the heart of the performance. But immediately, it is four and hyper concentrated that they embark on "The Game", one of the first summits of the evening, close to the beginnings of New Order, at a time when the transition with Joy Division n 'was not quite effective yet (no wonder the Factory Records label was thanked in the album's credits). At the end of the set, "No Matter" will officiate in the same cold and nervous vein while "The Big Violent One" will be on the side of the Sisters Of Mercy if by chance Andrew Eldritch had asked Vince Clarke to compose a hit for him. .Overall, the clips from "Live Happily While Waiting For Death" received a shock treatment synonymous with freshness and maturity on stage. We think in particular of the extended break of "Female Zone" and the jerky "I Love You ?! »Without guitar or bass but with generous strobe effects. Or even hovering and kidnapped "Japanese Death" despite its bizarre finale. Only "Never Die" which seems to be missing something will remain below expectations. On the other hand, some songs with recordings that cannot be used on disc will stand out live, "Happiness" and "Wanna Be My Cat" in the lead.Among the surprises of the evening will be three covers, including an almost unrecognizable "Hell's Bells" by AC / DC in cold wave sauce coupled with a line reminiscent of "Policy Of Truth" by Depeche Mode. The “Shine On” version of House Of Love will be more classic (and particularly successful). As for that of the Cure's "Lovesong", it will end the recalls with a voice from beyond the grave even darker than that of Robert Smith.Just before, the very successful "Laughing Furniture" and its heady synth layers will display the qualities of a composition that we would have liked to see recorded and produced in a Berlin studio at the end of the 80s. Who knows, maybe. be it today among the classics of Club New Wave and other Fantastic.Nights ...
BLITZ! (fr) · 5/10/2021 [review]
Originally from Lessines in Belgium, the birthplace of René Magritte and Louis Scutenaire, the group The Ultimate Dreamers had composed and recorded many pieces themselves between 1986 and 1990.Now reformed, the combo announces the release of a new 11-track album, "Live Happily While Waiting For Death", scheduled for September 20, 2021 on the Wool-E Discs label.The compositions are pure post-punk, influenced by Belgian groups of the 80s, but also by their British colleagues.The melancholy is always present thanks to a skilful use of the synthesizer, variable according to the titles (very beautiful "Female Zone"), and the music remains dancing thanks to the inventiveness of the rhythm section, very effective.The album is preceded by a single, "I Love You?", Which can be viewed on YouTube.
daMusic (be) · 4/10/2021 [review]
Don't be too quick to say that the covid-19 pandemic cannot have positive consequences! Thirty years after the departure of The Ultimate Dreamers, a cold wave and post-punk inspired formation from Lessines, the plan began to mature to finally officially release their artisanal taped material. And so it is that in 2021, under the motto "better late than never" (or was it "the ultimate dream"?), we can still meet this group.You could describe 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' as a revival album, because the eighties repertoire of The Ultimate Dreamers was completely restored and remastered for this belated debut album. Since one had to rely on cassettes for this, the sound quality is not always good. Thirty-five years ago (when the band was founded) A Long Time Ago remains, to say it with one of the best tracks on this disc. One of the more guitar-oriented and most melodic songs we hear here.Opener and first single I Love You?! sounds completely different. This song seems to be an exercise in minimal synthesis and is especially notable because of the thin, difficult to understand voice of singer Frédéric Cotton. Quite repetitive and full of reverberation, but ultimately quite danceable. Funeral Walz is a calm, quite poppy (cold)wave song, just like the midtempo Never Die.At the time of I Hate You?! The Ultimate Dreamers had already evolved from a trio to a quintet and also to a somewhat heavier sound. In this song we hear not only electronic beats, but also real drum rolls. Finally, a special mention for the catchy Education, a predominantly instrumental synthpop tune with strange, distorted vocals, and for the drawn-out closing track S'envoler. That atmospheric track stays with us for two reasons: the spooky intro with crazy laughter and it is also the only French-language song on the album.The band, in its new configuration (with three survivors from the eighties), supplemented by keyboard woman Sarah (Turquoise, ex-Les Panties, ex-Empereur), will present this 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' to an audience in Roeselare, among others. Brussels and Eernegem.
Gothic Culture Magazine (uk) · 2021 [article/interview]
Peek-A-Boo (be) · 29/09/2021 [interview]
The Ultimate Dreamers ended in 1990. What led to the end of the band?Like many other bands, we didn't split up. We should rather speak of a long pause than of an end. Laurent first left us to devote himself to other projects he was leading in parallel, notably with a noisy pop group (it was the beginning of the 90's) called Mosaic Eyes, which had some success. In the process, Bertrand decided to quit for family reasons. After testing a few substitutes without success, I got a little discouraged and focused on my studies. Joël continued with many very varied projects: bands, a label and even a wrestling career!Now you are releasing a compilation of The Ultimate Dreamers: ‘Live Happily While Waiting For Death’. If I understand correctly, you took the time during the lockdown to browse your archives for the last remnants of the group. Is it correct?It's almost that. In 1990, I made a little “best of” cassette that had been lying around among my CD's, near my Hi-Fi system. A few years ago, Dimitri (from Wool-E Discs) had learned that I was part of a band and asked me to listen, but I did not follow it up. During the corona crisis, so much happened that I finally decided to digitize the tape. I posted a few snippets on facebook, with amused and interested reactions as a result, and sent them to Dimitri. He quickly suggested that I should release an album, much to my surprise. I then searched to find the original recordings...
Read the full interview here
Read the full interview here
Snoozecontrol (be) · 29/09/2021 [review]
Wool-E Discs dug up a hidden musical treasure from the 80s. Founded in 1986, The Ultimate Dreamers bring cold wave and post-punk and finally get the chance to remaster their original 80s songs as an album.In 1990, The Ultimate Dreamers fell asleep while dozens of artisanally cassette-recorded songs were left lying in the closet. Thirty years later, the recordings resurfaced. When Dimitri, owner of the Wool-E Discs label, found out about this, he immediately offered them to make an album. After a strict selection and mastering, 11 tracks are released as “Live Happily While Waiting For Death”. In the meantime, the band itself was also resuscitated, albeit in a modified composition. So hopefully we get to see them live too.I Love you?! immediately makes you want to dance. Synths and drums dominate this song. The recording isn't great due to the limitations of the recording equipment of the 80's, but this gives the song character and authenticity. The vocals are an asset and you also notice that on Japanese Death, which is otherwise a nice depressive cold wave song. Never Die is a cumbersome tug that slowly rocks you to sleep with tears on your cheeks. Female Zone sounds like it was shot in a real bat cave. A little echo sounds very natural in this environment. At Education, the band crawls under a warm blanket with you. The sound seems muffled but creates a safe hiding place under the bedding. Funeral Walz provides a relatively cheerful dance step under a rain of falling autumn leaves. I hate you?! Sounds even more cheerful and energetic. The masked ball derails and there is already the next number. On A Long Time Ago the band shows its teeth and places an exciting biting kiss on your neck. Laughing Furniture is a lot less ecstatic and lures you down a dark alley. Regardless, the Cold War bunker sound continues to fascinate. No Matter continues to surf on cold waves. The whiny vocals cannot convince completely, but I keep humming along. On S'envoler you literally hear the sound of the waves, next to the bitter wind and crazy laughter. This can count as an intro for this song sung in French, where you can imagine a dejected drunken and half-drunken Serge Gainsbourg.The Ultimate Dreamers was a band that had something to offer, judging by the strong songs on this album. “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” turns out to be first and foremost a unique time document of underground post-punk and cold wave from the 80s. You should therefore take in the bunker sound and atomic basement reverberation of the Cold War. This sound is most likely very unusual for young listeners, but to me it gives a sense of character and authenticity.
Unter Ton (de) · 29/09/2021 [review]
The songs of "Live Happily While Waiting For Death" by the Belgian formation The Ultimate Dreamers are a bit further back. How, dear reader? Never heard of it? This is not a shame, because the band from Lessines (the birth town of the painter René Magrittes, as the troupe informs on their band page) actually made a really very small circle of friends between 1986 and 1990 with some self-distributed cassettes.35 years later - and also thanks to Corona - the old recordings reached Dimitri, who runs the Woll-E Discs label and was so enthusiastic about the recordings that he wanted to make them accessible to a wider audience. Frédéric (vocals) and Joël (synthesizer) then selected eleven representative songs from the archive that are to be re-mastered on "Live Happily While Waiting For Death".Dimitri's decision was spot on, because The Ultimate Dreamers are one of many bands that, in the wake of the huge post-punk wave and limited release options, have not received the attention they should have received. You can certainly tell the age of the pieces. The muffled inclusion of "Education" is such an example. Everything just sounds like it was recorded under a diving bell.Otherwise, the faulty technology breaks through in the songs. Here the sound crumbles away, the tap noise is almost louder than the music and the rattling of the tape cannot save even the best restoration. But it is precisely this imperfection that makes "Live Happily While Waiting For Death" so exciting. After all, the ailing post-punk, which cultivates the aesthetics of transience, also fits the decomposed sound of old recordings like a fist on the eye. In addition, the DIY character is so wonderfully present in these pieces, which Frédéric intensifies even further with his singing, which is inexperienced but not afraid to go fully into emotion.No: The saying that everything was better in the past won't come out of your mouth. But you can already say that there was a lot undiscovered back then that is still worth listening to today. In any case, it's better than to perish in a box somewhere in the attic without hearing.
Music in Belgium (be) · 28/09/2021 [article/review]
There are a lot of bands in the history of music that threw in the towel for a variety of good reasons before they even recorded an album. Rare are those who still manage to take the plunge later, while those who take it out after more than thirty years can be counted on the fingers of one hand...Among them are now The Ultimate Dreamers who publish their first plate, "Live Happily While Waiting For Death" at Wool-E Discs, the Ghent label which had notably put on our road the excellent Lagüna and Disorientations. Made up of a selection of eleven original compositions recorded at home by the group in the second half of the 1980s and remastered for the occasion, it offers a fairly faithful shot of a post-punk scene with a cold wave tendency that perhaps never been so relevant.Flashback. We are in Lessines, a place where not much was happening from a musical point of view in 1986 (twenty-four years before the first edition of the Roots & Roses festival, in a completely different style). Three teenagers influenced by the dark scene of the time led by Frédéric Cotton form The Ultimate Dreamers by focusing their sound on icy synths. A little later, there are five of them and they add fuel to the debate by replacing the drum machine with real drums on the one hand and incorporating a guitar into the equation on the other.In 1990, the adventure ended more because life decides it than for lack of desire or interest. Everyone goes about their projects, their studies or their passions. Frédéric notably honed his skills as an event organizer, becoming in the 2000s the driving force behind the famous Fantastiques.Nights and other Club New Wave parties.Everything could have ended there if the health crisis linked to the coronavirus had not dried up agendas and freed up time. Initially presented as nods, social media posts, whether archival photos or videos, quickly found a resonance with the community, encouraging them to dig into their archives. to dig up a bunch of cassettes. Now digitized, part of their content can be found on “Live Happily While Waiting For Death”.Among these are potential underground hits such as “I Love You ?! "And its electronic tablecloths," Female Zone "and its heady bass or" Laughing Furniture "and" No Matter "which could have been a hit on the dance floors at the time. But the nervous "I Hate You ?! "And" Long Time Ago "take them away from a dated niche. Well, obviously, everything is very dark, even creepy ("Japanese Death", the final "S'Envoler" in French in the text) but the reverse would have been unnatural and the relative imperfection of the recordings gives them a certain charm.
Snoozecontrol (be) · 26/09/2021 [review]
The Ultimate Dreamers are a post-punk / cold wave band from Brussels (original from Lessines) who worked on some demos between 1986 and 1990. The demos got revamped and remastered. On the 1/10/2021 you will be able to buy a physical copy via Wool-E Discs / Dans les Profondeurs as a vinyl, CD. You will also be able to buy it digital.The story goes that their singer (Frédéric Cotton) was cleaning out his house and found the old demo’s. He posted about it on Facebook and pretty fast question came to launch it after an auditive cleaning up. Right after the launching there will be some gigs and maybe even new material (some new gear was bought and the band is very enthusiastic). They even found a vocal coach and drive it out towards an almost professional way of going on! It gets really serious!The first track is called I Love You?! The song starts like an electronic cold wave track with electronic drums and a synth. The vocals sound like sung in a cave with a lot of echo on it (making it hard to understand the vocals). I’m sure it will sound much better on stage (if Fred goes for clean vocals and no echo effect). The tempo is good and gives the song the right touch. Japanese Death brings in an heavier feeling and more darkness. This time the vocals are understandable. I can hear the French accent in some words (not as bad as what you hear when you listen to Soko, but still). Knowing their singer he will work on it by the time he jumps on stage for the first time in 30 years! The sound is ok, the tempo is very slow and goes well will the lyrics. Never Die sounds a bit like the darkest tracks of The Cure (Pornography). The second voice jumps in for the first time and gives the song a classic touch. The outro is very 80’s too. Female Zone goes a bit faster with the synth upfront and a clear bas. The song is almost catchy. Education mixes a great bas with a good synth sound. For the first time you nearly hear the vocals (except for some words and they are like deformed by a machine). Funeral Walz has something special and is so far the best track on the album. It has potential. The name of the track describes what the song is: a funeral Walz! The vocals are the best from all the previous songs! I Hate You?! Brings in for the first time a clear guitar sound and a strong sound! It’s as if the best tracks are coming in the end! It’s a good cold wave track! A Long Time Ago brings in more guitars and a good bass! I think I even hear a real drum? I like the phrase: “We save the day when we don’t suck”! I even hear a slice of Siglo XX in it (drums and bass)! Laughing Furniture has the funniest title of the album. The bas is great again, whilst the synth is a bit too much upfront. The vocals are ok. I think I need the lyrics to understand this song completely. No Matter starts like a typical Siglo XX track. The main difference are the vocals. The last track has a French title: S'envoler. The song is also sung in French, whilst the wind is blowing really hard and gives it some kind of a doomed feeling. The synth sounds very sad too. It’s not the happiest song to end an album and according to my wife the worst song of the album. But hey: we all have our own taste and our own idea's of what is good and what is bad. Don't forget that this recording is how they sounded 30 years ago! This also means that they have grown, acquired more experience, got better gear ... So enjoy with this last phrase in mind whilst listening to it!
Dark Entries (be) · 26/09/2021 [interview]
The 80s haven't released all their secrets yet. Take The Ultimate Dreamers. They played on the stages of Lessines and surroundings from 1986 to 1990, but they never released a record. Until now. After a dive into his archives, singer Frédéric Cotton - also known for the Fantastique.Nights concerts and the Club New Wave parties in Brussels - found enough songs to release a record, and it is published by Wool-E Discs and Dans Les Profondeurs. In addition, the group is being reformed and will play several concerts in the coming months, starting with the release concert at the CaliClub in Drogenbos on October 2nd.
Read the full interview here: Dutch - English
Read the full interview here: Dutch - English
Shoot Me Again (be) · 26/09/2021 [news]
Listening to the Ultimate Dreamers' debut albumThe Ultimate Dreamers' debut album from Brussels (post-punk / cold wave), Live Happily While Waiting for Death, released today, can be listened to in full below.It was recorded between 1986 and 1990 and restored and mastered this year by Frédéric Alstadt (Mont Analogue).
Sanctuary (cz) · 24/09/2021 [article]
Comeback in full force.The name The Ultimate Dreamers appeared on the music scene in the mid-1980s. At that time, a group of musicians came together in the Belgian city of Lessens, inspired by the Belgian cold wave and the British post-punk scene.They recorded a few songs, but then the water closed over them. Thirty years later, however, their recordings reached Dimitri of Wool-E Discs. He immediately offered the band a contract and in the end it was not just about the excavations. The band is working again and there is even a new album "Live Happily While Waiting For Death" in the world. It will be officially released on October 1, and the first single for which a music video was made was called "I Love You ?!". The footage from the film "Olga's House of Shame" served as his basis.
POST-PUNK.COM (us) · 20/09/2021 [article]
Picture it: Lessines, Belgium, mid-1980s. The once-vibrant city that saw the birth of surrealist artists such as René Magritte and Louis Scutenaire had crumbled into a musical desert. Three friends decided to create a band comprised of voice, bass guitar, and analogue synths, welcoming two more into the fold soon afterward.Calling themselves The Ultimate Dreamers, the group were influenced by Belgian coldwave and British post-punk music, but the teenagers forged their own paths. Between 1986 and 1990, they wrote and self-recorded numerous tracks at home before calling it quits. The band’s frigid, organic tones and melancholy melodies (often verging on the dissonant) serve as a backdrop for themes of raw dreams, distressed love, and social criticism. The result is reminiscent of The Neon Judgement, Section 25, Minimal Compact, and Trisomie 21.Thirty years on, the recordings resurfaced during the Covid era, and they were brought to the ear of one Dimitri: the record label magnate behind Wool-E Discs. An album deal was immediately offered to the long-defunct band. The Ultimate Dreamers have been resurrected, including three original members and a new inductee, exhuming, resuscitating and enriching their repertoire with new creations. After selection and mastering, 11 tracks became Live Happily While Waiting For Death, out today.“I Love You?!”, the first single off the album, is a highly catchy and strange minimal synth and post-punk track. The video clip for the song takes imagery from the cult sexploitation film Olga’s House of Shame.
Snoozecontrol (be) · 19/09/2021 [interview]
The band was active between 1986 and 1990. Can you tell us: in what kind of places did you perform live and where did you record the demo’s?We mainly performed in our region. Firstly in Lessines where we created a yearly underground festival, then elsewhere in Hainaut for different kind of events. We only gave about 15 concerts. The demos aren’t real ones. The idea was to keep a trace of the songs but we never aimed to publish these recordings. We recorded most them in Joël’s bedroom and in mine and the last ones in our rehearsal room.
Any funny stories from back then? Or misadventures?We had a song we made for fun that was called “Fucking the Funk”. It was some kind of synth punk song including a Deep Purple riff! That song was working well live and people loved it. Once, at a festival, an aggressive guy came to me and said: “I love funk music, I already saw you and I don’t like you. If you play “Fucking The Funk”, you’ll have problems with me! When we came on stage, I wasn’t sure we would play the song but some people asked for it so much that we finally did it. After the show, the guy catched me on the parking lot and threatened me with a knife! Fortunately, I was rescued by my girlfriend 😊
Read the full interview here
Any funny stories from back then? Or misadventures?We had a song we made for fun that was called “Fucking the Funk”. It was some kind of synth punk song including a Deep Purple riff! That song was working well live and people loved it. Once, at a festival, an aggressive guy came to me and said: “I love funk music, I already saw you and I don’t like you. If you play “Fucking The Funk”, you’ll have problems with me! When we came on stage, I wasn’t sure we would play the song but some people asked for it so much that we finally did it. After the show, the guy catched me on the parking lot and threatened me with a knife! Fortunately, I was rescued by my girlfriend 😊
Read the full interview here
Magazyn Muzyczny Heart & Soul (pl) · 17/09/2021 [article]
In 1898, in the Belgian Lessines, the author of words and things is born - René Magritte, 88 years later, in the birthplace of the famous surrealist, Frédéric, Joël and Laurent, create the group The Ultimate Dreamers. The three friends, the authors of words and sounds, heavily influenced by the Belgian cold wave and British Isles post-punk, use synthesizer, bass guitar and singing to tell their dark, oneiric story of the painful experiences of love, while analyzing and criticizing the general public. In 1988, the band expanded their line-up and instruments - Frédéric, in addition to the vocalist, becomes a guitarist, Laurent swaps bass guitar for drums, Joël continues to operate synthesizers, bassist Bertrand and second keyboardist Stéphane join the trio.For four years of activity, the group composes and records songs independently, and in 1990 it ceased to exist.After thirty years, the Greatest Dreamers wake up and this time they turn their dreams into actions. Eleven compositions are re-recorded. The band records as a quartet - Bertrand - guitar, Frédéric - vocals and Joël - bass guitar, Sarah (Turquoise, ex-Les Panties, ex-Empereur) on keyboards joins the original line-up of the group.On August 31, 2021, the single I Love You?! Is released.The Live Happily While Waiting For Death album, containing new, enriched arrangements, will be released by the Wool-E Discs label - premiere on September 20, 2021.
Obsküre (fr) · 14/09/2021 [article]
The Live Happily While Waiting For Death album is a new release from the Belgian post-punk / cold wave project The Ultimate Dreamers, where it seems like the craving is back. This album actually compiles demos made between 1986 and 1990, restored and remastered. It will be officially released on September 20, 2021 on the Belgian labels Wool-E Discs and Dans Les Profondeurs, in several formats: vinyl, CD, digital. Something to satisfy fans of an old school, mechanical and dancing sound.This special release prepares the ground for the arrival of a new line-up, the group with coldwave made in Belgium and post-punk UK influences having prepared a tour for this return. The initial grinding had worked from 1986 to 1990, before hanging rest. So it wasn't forever...
Luminous Dash (be) · 12/09/2021 [article]
Some good advice is always welcome. And that comes from an unexpected quarter, because the Belgian cold wave band from the 80s The Ultimate Dreamers is making itself heard again. And with a debut album on the Dans Les Profondeurs label.”Live happily, while you wait for death…”The birth of The Ultimate Dreamers dates back to 1986. In the Hainaut village of Lessines – the birthplace of the surrealist painters René Magritte and Louis Scutenaire, but musically a desolate desert – Frédéric (vocals), Joël (keyboards) and Laurent (bass guitar) ) are inspired by the coldwave and post-punk sound. Where their sound initially sounded cold and organic, it evolved into a more melancholic sound, with catchy, dissonant melodies with which they took us through dreams, amorous fears and socially critical reflections. In 1988 singer Frédéric took a guitar and Laurent exchanged the bass for the drums. The band was completed with Bertrand (bass) and Stéphane (keyboards) and immediately started to sound a lot heavier. In 1990 The Ultimate Dreamers fell asleep an entire arsenal of cassette-recorded songs were left in the closet.Thirty years later, the recordings resurfaced. When Dimitri, owner of the Wool-E Discs label, found out about this, he immediately offered them to make an album. After a strict selection and mastering, the album will be released as Live Happily While Waiting For Death on September 20, 2021.The magic of their sound is back. But also the band itself, as a newly composed dream: Bertrand (guitar), Frédéric (vocals) and Joël (bass) entrust the keyboards to Sarah (Turquoise, ex-Les Panties, ex-Empereur). In the meantime, their repertoire has been completely excavated, restored and enriched with new creations…It sounds a bit strange for a 35-year-old band, but their debut album is coming soon! As a foretaste, I Love You?! Already released as a digital single, with accompanying video clip in which images from the cult sexploitation film Olga's House of Shame were processed. A synthwave/EBM track with repetitively thin elements that we expect on the dance floor.
daMusic (be) · 10/09/2021 [article]
The Ultimate Dreamers were founded in 1986 in Lessines (Hainaut, Belgium), the birthplace of the surrealist painter René Magritte. The band played cold wave and post-punk, but fell apart after four years. Thirty years later, the band's recordings resurfaced, prompting Wool-E Discs to immediately sign the band for an album.After a strict selection and mastering of the material, the album will be released as 'Live Happily While Waiting For Death' on September 20, 2021. As a foretaste of the album, I Love You? launched as a digital single. The video of this danceable synthwave/EBM track incorporates images from the cult sexploitation film 'Olga's House of Shame'.
COLD EXPERIMENT (jp) · 10/09/2021 [article]
The Ultimate Dreamers, the treasure of Belgian Cold Wave, which was active from 1986 to 1990, has revived after 30 years and has returned to the modern scene with a new member composition. The album "Live Happily While Waiting For Death", which was announced to be released on Wool-E Discs on September 20, reflects the modern view of life and death from the Belgian scene at that time, and is full of vivid dreams and anguish. Draw love.In 1986, The Ultimate Dreamers was born in Lessinne, Belgium, the birthplace of the Surrealist painter René Magritte. The original members of Frédéric, Joël and Laurent were influenced by Belgian cold waves and UK post-punk and established a desolate organic sound with melancholic melodies on themes such as social criticism. After that recording, I fell asleep for a long time in 1990. However, about 30 years later, during the 2021 pandemic, The Ultimate Dreamers, which was re-excavated by Dimitri, who runs Wool-E Discs, will be revived with the phantom recording.The Ultimate Dreamers, who returned with a new member composition of Bertrand on guitar, Frédéric on vocals, Joël on bass, and Sarah (Turquoise, former Les Panties, former Empereur) on synth, went through song selection and mastering, and "Live Happily While Waiting. We have completed an album of 11 songs under the name of "For Death". The sound that combines aestheticism like Red Zebra, neo-psychedelic feeling reminiscent of The Sound, and romanticism like Diastereomer is the stylistic beauty that Cold Wave mania has sought, and its gloomy and beautiful melody. Everyone will be surprised. If you're a listener looking for a more obscure sound, no other band is better than them. After many years, the rare sound that was born behind the history of Belgium, which is said to be the birthplace of Cold Wave, will finally see the light of day.At Cold Experiment, the high-quality sound source of the cold wave track "I Love You ?!" that decorates the opening of this album was premiered on SoundCloud. This anthem with a sense of speed shows off a momentary and ephemeral wave sound that seems to disappear at any moment.
Dark Entries (be) · 25/04/2021 [article]
Today, FC is best known in the scene as the organizer of the Fantastique.Night concerts and the Club New Wave parties in Brussels. But in the second half of the 80s he also had his own new wave group: The Ultimate Dreamers. I only knew the group by reputation, but it turned out that recordings still exist, and Cotton took advantage of the pandemic - in which, as boss of the laboratory for medical chemistry at the Erasmus Hospital, he appeared as an expert a number of times on French-language television came - to delve into his archives.The result is remarkable: enough songs were found to compose a full vinyl, and that record will be released later this year on Dans Les Profondeurs / Wool-E Discs. In the meantime C has already put several songs on YouTube, including this very atmospheric 'Never Die' from 1988. (xk)
BLITZ! (fr) · 30/03/2021 [article]
The Ultimate Dreamers were a Belgian post-punk / cold wave group active between 1986 and 1990.Good news, the project has just announced its reformation and the release of a compilation album (vinyl & CD) at the end of 2021 on the Belgian label Dans Les Profondeurs / Wool-E-Discs.These two excellent songs will allow us to wait for the release of the album, which we can't wait to hear!
COREandCO (fr) · 21/03/2021 [news]
The Ultimate Dreamers has uploaded 2 videos "Japanese Death" and "A Long Time Ago" that we will find on the compilation of the Belgian group (active between 1986 and 1990) which will be released at the end of the year on CD and LP via In The Depths and Wool-E Discs.
Dark Entries (be) · 01/02/2021 [news]
For a long time it was kind of a mythical group, one that we only knew the reputation of but had never heard of music from. The Ultimate Dreamers was the group of FC at the end of the eighties - more specifically from 1986 to 1990 - now the organizer of the excellent Fantastique.Night concert series (oh, how we look forward to being able to attend these performances again).But the lockdown has made Frédéric go back to photos and old recordings of the group, which are now being made public. What's more, a vinyl of The Ultimate Dreamers will soon be released on the Dans les profondeurs/Wool-E Discs label. The first song from the album is called 'Japanese Death' and has been given a suitable clip on YouTube. The sound reflects the atmosphere of an underground synth pop group from that time. Not perfect, but catchy. (xk)
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