Justin de Vries

Justin de Vries | Live @ ORANGE ‚EAR 2010

Justin de Vries from the Band House of Light on a solo set for the first ORANGE ‚EAR concert.

Setlist:
Naked In A Dream
Fly Bird FLy
Radiate
Amidst The Window Flowers
Zeitgeist
Pieces Of My Mind

House Of Light Links:
www.facebook.com/THEHOUSEOFLIGHT
houseoflight.bandcamp.com

Drugs from foreign deserts, erotic rebellions, unexplained art, post-apocalyptic mental illnesses, soft violence, and a little death

House of Light is a religious disorganisation. Recently returned to Berlin, from NYC to finish their debut album. With roots in new wave and 80’s pop, its members come from all round the world. Layers of lush melodies, psychedelic riffs, and post-romantic imagery.

“a post-apocalyptic stab at the sun“ – 4Q VERY MUCH (AU)

“an electric odyssey, in an out of darkness“ – BERLIN IS (DE)

“destined to be some kind of indie classic, when it finally reaches the right ears“ PLANET OF SOUND (USA)

ABOUT THEIR LIVE SHOW

‚an erotic rebellion onstage, volatile and brooding‘ – INPRESS (AU)

‚dark, sexy, and unpredictable, with much irony in their name. Haunting harmonies and layers of lush melody abound.‘ ‚…post-post-punk with roots in new wave. A volatile rock band on stage one minute and cooled down balladeers the next… strong melodies with a dark twist. Words evoke the forces of nature and the good and evil shades and shadows that flicker in men. The music is layered in lush melodies and psychedelic riffs evoking Bowie, Joy Division and Nick Cave with vocal comparisons to Morrissey and Morrison ‚ – RUDI ZARSOFF, Biographer (UK)

‚There’s more than a whiff of the 80s in this dark new-wave sound. They keep it rocking with pumping drums and bass, and gritty guitar sounds, but their lyrics and melodies are melancholy, sometimes deliciously miserable, and the whole effect is often reminiscent of some early goth acts like The Sisters Of Mercy and The Mission. Mainly though, it stays in more mainstream territory than that. Accomplished and heartfelt‘ LIVEUNSIGNED (USA)

‚Watching the singer twist and writhe onstage is hynotising, and at times embarrasingly sensual. The androgeny of his image is disturbing to some and endearing to others. And watching him perform is like watching a birth onstage. Of what I don’t know – POPBOMB (USA)

‚At times HOL were like theatre. A little menacing immanence about to break into spectacle, like watching the deconstruction of a bomb. Then suddenly the danger would be over and you were thrown into a different discomfort and the sudden fragility of what is before you. Valentina Veil’s face is pale and child-like as she holds a strange and beautiful note. A breath of emptiness. Then again, de Vries croons deep over stormy bass lines and the apocalypse is looming again. Safety is over“ – UNKNOWN PLEASURES (DE)

“A girl comes over to him and assaults him onstage. She runs off leaving him physically shocked but with very minor injuries. But the essential meaning is residue in the air. There is something going on here“ Jack K, HOL Manager.

“A psychedlic blend of dark 80s pop and modern electronica. But without the tackiness of techno or the tedium of modern rock bands“ Philippa Hole, HateWave (USA)

“Cracks in the pavement, cracks in the walls, cracks in the hallowed halls. Cracks in the stories of hollywood’s whores!‘ de Vries wails over a noisy organ noise wall. “Too late, too late, too late to wait! Give me a war to end all wars!“ Then the first riffs of Thread come on, and you somehow feel you’re in a for an explosive ride – INDIE OUT (USA)

House of Light is a religious disorganisation