BLACK MARKET AUDIO – SHAKE!

For three years Bert Taken and Arjo van Loo of Black Market Audio worked on their second album ‘SHAKE!’. The result: 14 songs and 6 interludes that sound like TV-tunes, like pop songs that take the listener by a time-warp through time and space or like a soundtrack for a true Tupperware party. Their main motto is: ‘The sexiest words are those without meaning! Just sing along!’

With ‘SHAKE!’, the long expected sequel of their successful debut album Autorama, the guys finish the album they have been missing for a long time in their record collection. A cocktail (shaken!, not stirred) made according to the reliable and unique Black Market Audio-recipe: Yeh-yeh beats, Hammond-driven grooves, kinky schlager melodies, topped with tropical fruits from Tiki-Bongo land with some surprising twists of homage to Dutch Pop history.

Meanwhile the Band has not been idle. Bert and Arjo were the initiators of the compilation CD ‘Dutch Rare Groove’, released in 2005. While searching for rare and special music in archives and cellars they found hardly known vintage soul and funk jewels in the Dutch pop history. Together with funkjournalist Sjeng Stokkink they compiled a CD with 23 originals. Labelpartners C-Mon & Kypski made an additional cd with 11 contemporary interpretations. This 2cd is still selling well worldwide.

It is no surprise that their music is also doing well in the movie world. The music appeared in the Disney film trailer of ‘The Ice Princes’ and was in the final pitch of Austin Powers ‘Goldmember’, ‘Charlies Angels’ and ‘The Italian Job’.

Black Market Audio thinks making happy music is serious business. Whether it’s funk, disco or skank, it swings, grooves and pops in every way. The duo describes their music as "dance-classics, lounge, pop, big beat, easy tune, jazz, exotica, rare groove, skank, psychedelica, mood music, triphop, soundtracks and top 40". Well, gimme another cocktail like that!

Reviews
OOR (Dutch Music Magazine): ‘Tongue-in-cheek party sounds, but funky as hell. Unique in The Netherlands.’
FRET (Dutch Music Magazine): ‘Shamelessly swinging and happy food for dance floors.’
MUSIC MINDED: ‘After 14 songs you’re upside down on the table. A very successful and smart party record.’
SCORE BABY: ‘Put on almost any one of these 14 instrumental tracks and you're likely to rock the house into a pile of funky rubble.’
MODCULTURE: ‘Superb party music!’

History highlights
2001: Black Market Audio signs with Supertracks Records / Release 12” Midnight at Gigi’s / Release album ‘Autorama’ / Heineken Cross-Over Award nomination / ‘Essent Award’ winner.
2002: ‘Get Down’ in ‘Buffetti’ commercial (Italy) / A small tour in Italy.
2003: ‘Get Down’ in a commercial of American beer brand ‘Michelob’ / ‘Autorama’ release in Italy.
2004 ‘Get Down’ release in Japan with special remixes of Bastian and Fredo / ‘Capricorn’ used in 118 TV Commercial in England.
2005 ‘Here Comes DaDa-Man’ used in the Disney trailer of ‘The Ice Princes’ / Release of the compilation CD ‘Dutch Rare Groove’.

Black Market Audio Live
Black Market Audio Live is a band with the members:
Arjo van Loo: organ & funky keys
Bert Taken: guitar & vocals
Ton van der Kolk: bass & visuals
Timothy van der Holst: drums & percussion

More information: www.blackmarketaudio.com

Discography
Autorama - Black Market Audio - Supertracks Records 2001 ST-1003
Dutch Rare Groove - Various Dutch Artists - Supertracks Records 2005 ST-1032
Shake! - Black Market Audio - Supertracks Records 2006 ST-1035