Dial Nits

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 23

At the start, the idea was simple: to recruit some Swiss musicians to record a couple of Nits-songs for an album to celebrate the 40th birthday of the band. As usual, such ideas can quickly balloon into something bigger. At the end, the project of called “Isnt Nits” turned into a huge production with 51 songs performed by many musicians. Musicians from around the globe, from Australia to Finland, from France to Canada. To celebrate this album, there was a concert in Zurich (the “Isnt Nits Nite”) which was quickly followed by another concert in Haarlem. Many friends and colleagues of the Nits shared the stage with them. In this episode, many of the protagonist talk about the recording of the album. And the three members of the Nits choose their favourites among the many covers on these albums. Production: Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 22

“Malpensa”, the title of the new album of 2012, is inspired by the airport of Milan. The Nits – a band that writes a lot about travelling – finally leaves the Werf and records some songs abroad, in a castle in Burio in Northern Italy. “Hotel Europa”, the live album from 2015, collects recordings from different line-ups in different eras of the band, but most importantly, recordings made in cities from all over Europe. In between these two corner stones, the Nits turn 40 in 2014; there’s a Best Of-box set, two celebratory concerts in Haarlem and Zurich, a short tour with the repertoire of the first ten years of the band. To top it all, Henk Hofstede, Rob Kloet and Robert Jan Stips are knighted in the Order of Oranje-Nassau for their contribution to Dutch culture. Busy years! Ipad recordings: Henk Hofstede Loops: Rob Kloet Production: Darren Hayne

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 21

On the jukebox in 2008 and 2009, the classic combos of British pop of the Sixties, the Beatles, the Kinks, the Zombies, but also some of the early signer/songwriters of the day, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake. Both «Doing the Dishes» and «Strawberry Wood» bear all of their influences, whilst strongly having an own character. And once again, the Dutch trios makes a wild turnaround from before. Whereas «Les Nuits» was a darker, brooding album, these two albums are lighter, extremely playful, humorous and less polished in the case of «Dishes». «Strawberry Wood» on the other hand is a more reflective piece of work, with songs about children moving out of the family home. Both albums are companion pieces, also for the reason that they were created more or less parallel to each other. The title oft he second album shows the way, with ist mash-up oft wo famous songs by John Lennon. Bar piano: Roman Wyss.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 20

«The Nits are friends and a family», says music executive Marc Thonon. They are autonomous, as self-sufficient as is possible. They produce their own music, they had their own work space, they film their own videos and design their own sleeves. This episode is dedicated to the people who work with the Nits or have played with them, as part of the extended family. Which includes manager Aad Link, who has been a friend of Robert Jan Stips forever and throughout the career of other bands. Featured are the brothers Paul and Tom Telman on sound and light, but also the French concert producer Bernard Batzen who has organized many of their concerts in France; and we meet The Squirls. Four musicians who have been members of the Nits or have played with them: Arwen Linnemann, Titia van der Krieken, Vera van der Poel and Oli Hartung sit down in a holiday hut in Holland. Last time they played together was in 2010.

Sound design : Darren Hayne. Additional music: Stefan Horlitz & Fatima Dunn.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 19

On the morning of November 2nd 2004, the publicist and film director Theo van Gogh was murdered by a 26 year old Dutchman of Moroccan descent. This happened in Linnauesstraat in the east of Amsterdam, right around the corner from Henk Hofstede’s house. Three of the songs on this album refer back to that incident that changed Dutch society – or at least indicated that changes had taken place in this society that considered itself very liberal. Band members talk about their memories and the consequences of these events. We also talk to Geert Buelens (1971) is a Flemish poet and professor of Modern Dutch Literature at Utrecht University about the idea that Dutch people, especially Amsterdammers, have of their own society. Other guests : singer Marjolein van der Klauw who participated in the recording of « Les Nuits » – and a year later would sing with Henk Hofstede in the Leonard Cohen-tribute «Avalanche Quartet». Sound design and production: Darren Hayne. Les Nuits: Simon Ho.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 21

There is an intimate connection between the musical and the visual work of the Dutch band Nits. Some names that have influenced the songs, the record sleeves and videos Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Mondriaan, Picasso, L.S. Lowry, Georgia O’Keefe, René Magritte, to name but a few. In this episode, we take a closer look at the design of some of their record sleeves; we take a look at some of their video work ; we hear how an exhibition at the Kunst Museum in the Swiss city of Winterthur with the name "Dutch mountains" came to be; we ask whether a landscape can influence your artistic work. The guests in this episode: wife and husband-team Riemke Kuipers and Henk Hofstede, film journalist Michael Sennhauser, Pim Kops (De Dijk), Konrad Bitterli (Kunst Museum Winterthur) and artist Sigrid van Essel. Music by Fatima Dunn, Stefan Horlitz, Henk Hofstede and Nits. Sound design and production: Darren Hayne. Video & animation: Pascal Müller. Listen with visuals: https://youtu.be/HWLYmBjHbUI

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 17

Back to the core trio Hofstede, Kloet and Stips. The first time since 1992, they record an album in this smaller line-up: «1974» is not a best of-compilation, and it does not convey any nostalgia. The resulting album is viewed controversially by the audience of the Nits. Some fans consider this to be a weaker effort, with songs that sound rushed, unfinished; other fans laud the band for its searching of new approaches to its music, without losing their character. As usual, it sounds nothing like the album before, in this case the jazz and R&B-influenced «Wool» from three years before. After recording the album, the band set out on tour as a quartet with keyboarder Titia van Krieken. Around the same time, Henk Hofstede releases his first solo-album «Het draagbare huis» with songs sung in Dutch, taken from a video installation for the Biennal in Lyon in 2001. Sound design and engineering by Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 16

Other voices, other rooms. In this episode, you will hear the opinions and observations of people who have crossed paths with the Nits or who have admired them from a distance. Matthias Erb, radio DJ and Fritz Hauser, percussionist who has worked with Rob Kloet many times, both come from Basel, the first city in Switzerland to fully adopt the Nits. Seppo Pietikäinen from Finland met them while working as a photographer and ended up as personal friend of the band. He appeared as a guest on several of their tracks. One question will always remain central to the life of this band : Why did the anglophone world not embrace this excellent pop band from Holland like many continental countries did ? Hear the opinions of Radio DJ Chris Evans («The Curve Ball») and musician sound engineer from Great Britain.
Kevin Hearn, member of the Canadian band «Barenaked Ladies» has been a fan of the Nits for a long time. Music for Seppo by Roman Wyss. Sound design and engineering by Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 15

In a career full of stylistic twists and turns, the album « Wool» is a stand-out. The music is intimate, sort of jazzy, a low-key, but finely wrought set of songs. Slow tempos, sober atmospheres – this is a meditation about life, eternal childhood and death, with at least one of the most poignant songs of their whole career. « Ivory Boy » is a tribute to Nits fan Patrick Iliohan who died of cancer after having recorded an album with Rob Kloet and Henk Hofstede. The latter, but also bassist Arwen Linnemann, keyboard player Titia van Krieken and singer Vera van der Poel share their memories of recording the album, about Patrick, about meeting up with musicians from Switzerland for some special concerts. And composer Harke Jan van der Meulen explains why « Wool » is his favorite album with the Nits. Sound design and production: Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 14+

Postcards used to be little signs of life that you would send home. They would inform them that you were still alive,that you were doing well and that your room was where the arrow pointed at in the picture. Here’s a bonus postcard from Switzerland. This is a moment in the short life of the ad hoc-band «Amsterdam Berne Connection» in Horw near Lucerne in November 1996. Henk Hofstede, Chessy Weaver and Stop the Shoppers (Christian Brantschen, Oli Hartung, Andi Hug, Jüre Schmidhauser and Schmidi Schmidhauser) are about to play the last song of the tour together. Well, let’s say: they are trying to play the last song together, but turn into a juke box themselves. There are moments that are too good to be left on the cutting room floor. This is one of them. And you get this as a bonus postcard to episode 14 named « Postikortti ».

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 14

A special event takes place in November of 1996. Henk Hofstede from Holland collaborates with the Swiss band «Stop the Shoppers» and guest singer Chessy Weaver for a short tour in their home country. Their repertoire : old Nits-songs like «The train» or «A touch of Henry Moore» plus a collection of new songs by Hofstede that were never played before. Many of these songs will be recorded in January of 1997 for inclusion on the next Nits-album. In this episode, you hear recordings from the concerts in 1996. We have also organized a meeting of two members of the Shoppers – keyboarder Christian Brantschen and guitarist Oli Hartung – and Henk Hofstede in a studio in Berne in 2024. Drummer Rob Kloet shares his memories of the recording of the album and the audition of two new members Arwen Linneman and Titia van Krieken. They in turn talk about their first experiences in this new band called The Nits. Postmaster: Seppo Pietikäinen.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 12

Kent is a well-known musician and author from France. And, he is a fan of the Nits which he has made public a number of times. Also in print. Here’s an excerpt of what he wrote for « Télérama » on April 29th of 1998: «Why is one of the most interesting bands in the world not so well-known? Henk Hofstede is an excellent singer and the concert are a wonder for eyes and ears. Perhaps the Nits’ have too much taste. » This idea is at the basis of this episode. We have encountered Kent, the artistic director Marc Thonon who has worked in the music industry for a long time, and the musician and philosopher Agnès Gayraud who is known under the stage name La Féline and Richard Robert, director of the music venue «Opéra Underground» in Lyon. Includes several exclusive cover versions and a Dutch band singing in French. For the full contents turn to EP 11 «K7 compil’» Production et audio design: Darren Hayne Musical links: Roman Wyss Voice overs: Andrea Samborski & Dominik Gysin

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 13

These are years with a tremendous workload. The Nits release one album, film videos for some of the new tracks, record a number of songs for B-sides and contributions to other compilations, assemble a Best of-album accompanied by an album of outtakes. And they tour a lot, expanding their usual territories : they play at the WOMAD-festivals in Japan and England, they play in Canada, France, Finland, Germany and are invited to Senegal. A five piece-band, dynamic, solid and playful. Nevertheless and despite the success, some cracks begin to appear. At the end of another tour in August 1996, keyboard-wizard Robert Jan Stips embarks upon a solo career, taking along bassist Martin Bakker. We talk to the five members of that particular episode in the band oft he Nits, about the joyful times, but also about the reasons for the split. And we also hear about some heavy cigar smoking adult boy band.

On fête le groupe néerlandais The Nits EP 11

Extrait d’un article de Kent dans Télérama, du 29 avril 1998 : « Pourquoi un des groupes les plus intéressants au monde reste-t-il à ce point confidentiel ? Henk Hofstede est un excellent chanteur et les concerts sont un régal pour les yeux et les oreilles. Peut-être les Nits ont trop bon goût ». Un musicien en pleine promo fait l’éloge d’un groupe néerlandais dont il est fan. Ses propos datant d’il y a 25 ans sont à la base des entretiens menés dans cet épisode du podcast - épisode entièrement en français. Donc, les Nits, vus par le musicien et dessinateur Kent, le journaliste Christophe Conte, le producteur belge Marc Thonon, la musicienne et philosophe Agnès Gayraud, connue aussi sous le nom La Féline, et Richard Robert, directeur de l'Opéra Underground à Lyon.

Production et audio design: Darren Hayne. Musical links: Roman Wyss

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 10

By this time in their career, one had to notice that The Nits we’re never going to stand still for longer than was necessary, whilst collecting new experiences along the way. Whereas the previous album was largely based on synthesizers and drums, this time, the musicians chose different tools: two pianos, stand up-bass and classical percussion. With this surprising array of instruments, they produced «Ting», an album which bears the influence of classical and minimal music, but is also a pure pop album. Then they took it one step further with the related «Hjuvi – a rhapsody in time», a piece of classical music written by Robert Jan Stips and recorded with the Radio Symfonie Orkest with conductor Jan Stulen. 1992 – an adventurous year for the Nits! Conversations with Henk Hofstede, Rob Kloet, Robert Jan Stips and Swiss percussionist Fritz Hauser. Production and audio design: Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 9

« We still sing the Sixties », says singer/guitarist/lyricist Henk Hofstede in another episode of the podcast. The album «Giant Normal Dwarf» is an example - an album like a fairytale, like they used to make them in 1968. You disappear down a rabbit hole, walk through a mirror and end up in a parallel world full of wonders. Dance about in your «Radio shoes», go for a swim in Telephone lake, meet the «Fountain Man » and some other strange creatures. «Giant Normal Dwarf» is a multi-layered sound trip, a canvas filled with the brightest colors available. It is the Nits at their most psychedelic. This sonically rich and adventurous album follows a period of immense success – and it is a fan favorite. An episode about concept albums, about continuing work as a three piecce band after bassist Joke Geraets couldn’t continue working with them, about the "Singing Detective". Conversations with Henk Hofstede, Rob Kloet and Robert Jan Stips. Production and audio design: Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 8

When the Nits played Swiss festivals in 1987, they presented a new songs. To some discerning members of the audience, one of these songs stood out as a possible hit, the egnimaticyally titled « In the Dutch Mountains ». That title begs a question: now where exactly would those mountains be ? What do they present. A mystery for sure. The surprise was even bigger when the audience found out that the songs and the album were recorded live to two track without any mixing or post production. A live album without an audience - why would one choose this way of recording an album? «In the Dutch Mountains» and the following mini-album «Hat» with their colourful, complex and magical songs were proof of the live qualities of the band, a band that was down to four members by this time. We sit down to talk with singer and guitarist Henk Hofstede, drummer Rob Kloet and keyboarder Robert Jan Stips. Production and sound design: Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 7 The Nits are turning 50 in 2024. A time for celebration! In this seventh episode, we go back tot he year 1986. This marks an important turning point in the life of the Dutch popband. The album «Henk» and a compilation album «La Grande Parade » organized by Henk Hofstede show new possibilities for the band is down to three members in the studio.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 6

Their last «best of»-collection had a strange title : ?. The question mark stood for the many ways one could perceive this band from the Netherlands. Are they brainy avantgarde, a classy pop band, a one hit-wonder that has a very long career. Some people think of the Nits as a musician’s band. So we went to ask a couple of musicians in their home country. Tom America was once the leader of « M.A.M.», a band that started out at the same time as the Nits ; today he is an artist who works with the melody of speech and music. Erik de Jong a.k.a. Spinvis is an indie-pop star in Belgium and the Netherlands who has produced slightly eccentric and heartfelt music. Harke Jan van der Meulen is a classical musician turned composer who writes short songs with unusual instrumentation for pop music ; Henk Hofstede and Spinvis have both sung on some of his songs. Ex-journalist Fer Abrahams adds his description of the Nits. Production and sound design: Darren Hayne.

A celebration of the Dutch band Nits EP 5

The title-track of «Adieu sweet Bahnhof» stands as a programme for the career of the Nits. A song about Europe, about travelling across the old continent by train, from Amsterdam to Paris via Brussels. A statement for a deeply European band. And there’s another song on the album that has the same setting: «Infant King», one of Michiel Peters’ masterpieces and one of his most intimate and personal song, which also sees a person travelling through the night, by train. We speak to Henk Hofstede and Michiel Peters about their love of trains, locomotives and model trains, about a band that tours Germany and France by train. Rob Kloet and Robert Jan Stips chip in to talk about this album that was going to be the last with original member Michiel Peters. He left after the tour in 1985.

Production and Design Darren Hayne.