Kliché "De samlede klichéer" (2011)

De samlede klichéer (compilation)
release date: Mar. 28, 2011
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5]
producer: Kliché, Poul Bruun, Hilly Michaels
label: EMI - nationality: Denmark

2-disc compilation album containing the only two studio albums by Kliché and two additional tracks - the live recordings taken from the compilation album Pære Punk.
Unfortunately, the band never released any singles or eps containing other tracks than may be found on its two studio albums.
Listening to these recordings some 30 years after their original release dates, it's still remarkable how strong and unique a sound they produced.
This is downright essential.

Voss / Torp "Den store lysfest" (1987)

Den store lysfest [debut]
release date: Apr. 18, 1987
format: vinyl (451075 1)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Voss, Torp, Blöndal
label: CBS Records - nationality: Denmark

Studio debut and only album by duo-project Voss / Torp - the remains of the trio Voss Torp Brill produced by the duo together with Icelandic producer Hjörtur Blöndal, who also produced the trio's album ++Dobbelt Plus (1984). Neither Johnny Voss nor Nils Torp were famous for their vocal performances in the band Kliché and there was an obvious lack of great vocals on the 1984 album with Anders Brill - this fact has quite clearly paved the way for including better vocals on this album, hence the three featuring artists: Steffen Brandt, Nanna, and Peter Belli, who also appear on the front cover and who really add that extra to the album. Having said that, the album simply lacks great songs.

Voss Torp Brill "++Dobbelt Plus" (1984)

+ + Dobbelt Plus [debut]
release date: 1984
format: vinyl (MdLP 6175)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,04]
producer: Voss Torp Brill and Blöndal
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark

Studio album debut by the Danish trio Voss Torp Brill - the remaining band members of the band Kliché at a time when the band was on a hiatus after releasing its second album Okay Okay Boys (1982) and lead vocalist Lars Hug worked on his solo debut. Voss is also known as Johnny Voss (aka Johannes E. Møller) is credited on bass, percussion and vocals, Brill / Anders Brill (aka Anders Gilberg) is credited on drums, drum machines, percussion and backing vocals, and Torp, or Nils Torp (real name) is credited on guitars, keyboards, synthesizers and backing vocals. The album is produced by the trio together with Icelandic producer Hjörtur Blöndal.
In late '84 or early '85, the four members of Kliché was back together and worked on their third album, when Lars Hug declared the disbandment of Kliché.
The cover artwork is credited Johnny Voss, and he later took up his work as painter and is known for his paintings of sail ships and marine paintings as Johannes E. Møller.

Kliché "Okay Okay Boys" (1982)

Okay Okay Boys
release date: Oct. 1982
format: vinyl (MdLP 6090) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Kliché, Poul Bruun, Hilly Michaels
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Bag de røde bjerge" - 2. "Pil på himlen" - 3. "Patrulje" - 4. "Bravo Charlie" - 5. "Oppenheimers formiddag" - 6. "Okay Okay Boys" - 7. "Brændende kakler" - 8. "Mama mama" (aka: 'Mamma Mamma') - 9. "IKB" (aka: 'International klein blue') - 10. "Ansigt til ansigt"

2nd and final studio album by Kliché. After the strong debut album, keyboardist Jens "Valo" Danielsen left the band and was substituted by Steffen Brandt of TV-2 for a short period of time before Nils Torp replaced Brandt. Later Love Shop guitarist Hilmer Hassig also feature on this album and he adds his signature guitar sound to most tracks, although he was never a full-time member. The style is very different from the debut and it's striking how much they evolved over a short period of time. At the time of its release I was somewhat disappointed about it. It was too much art pop and synthpop for my liking, and I had just really hoped for another energetic outburst, but they were over with that, and had moved on. It didn't take me long to appreciate the new sound and today, I find this another great Danish album of the 1980s, and I guess my rating has gone from 2,5 (then) to the 4 stars I feel it rightfully deserves. The considerable change of style also reflects how they evolved. When they began playing concerts, they played punk rock with a twist of new wave and art pop, and in a span of only a few years, they were in another position, which may explain why they felt inclined to split up a project constantly in extreme progress.
After this - their only second album - the band toured with its new material featuring Hilmer Hassig, and then they went on a hiatus to realise other musical projects. Lars Hug initiated an interesting solo career (and later became Lars H.U.G.), he worked on and released his solo debut album City Slang (1984), while the remaining three band members, Johannes "Voss" Møller, Jens "Valo" Danielsen, and Anders "Brill" Gilberg, went into the studio and as Voss Torp Brill the trio released the album ++Dobbelt plus (1984). Hug toured in late '84 with his solo album, and then the quartet rejoined as Kliché. The band composed several new songs to be included on a third album but it was never realised 'cause in '85, Lars Hug publicly announced that Kliché had disbanded. Some of the compositions for the band's third album actually ended up on Lars Hug's second solo album, Kysser himlen farvel (1987). Johnny Voss and Nils Torp worked together and released Den store lysfest (1987) as Voss / Torp, and from 1992, Nils Torp formed the lasting duo Souvenirs with his wife Sofie Bonde, and Hilmer Hassig continued his musical career in the band Naive for a short period before finally eventually forming the band Love Shop together with Jens Unmack.

Kliché "Supertanker" (1980)

Supertanker [debut]
release date: 1980
format: vinyl (MdLP 6021) / cd
[album rate: 5 / 5] [4,85]
producer: Kliché, Poul Bruun
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) 1. "Igen og igen" - 2. "Havets blå" (live) - 3. "Hetz" - 4. "Militskvinder" - 5. "Panorama" - - B) 1. "Aldrig mere" - 2. "Stjernerne i deres øjne" - 3. "Bodyguards" - 4. "Masselinjen"

reviewed Nov. 21, 2004
Studio debut album by the Danish band Kliché at this point consisting of Lars Hug [Lars Haagensen] on vocals and guitar, Johnny Voss [Johannes Møller] on bass and vocals, Jens Valo [Jens Danielsen] on keyboards, and with Anders Brill [Anders Gilberg] on drums. In my mind this is not only the most important Danish rock album but also the best. It was like a lightning from a clear blue sky when the album was released. Undoubtedly they had made some original singles and a noteworthy appearance on the Danish punk compilation Pære Punk but what sound (compare to other albums of the time), and what originality - it just blew you away! They dressed like Devo but the music was much more inspired by Eno (well, it was of course better!), Bowie and Roxy Music. However, they had hit the gas pedal and simplified and modernized the music. The album has no weak spots and it contains several truly original classics. Alas, they lit up so strongly and lasted only few years releasing only two albums - "but what a debut outta the blue!" This album is a must if you are interested in Danish rock. My top 3 of Danish albums: 1. Kliché Supertanker (1980), 2. Steppeulvene Hip (1967), 3. C.V. Jørgensen I det muntre hjørne (1989).

1980 Favourite releases: 1. Joy Division Closer - 2. Kliché Supertanker - 3. The Jam Sound Affects

[ collectors' item ]

... and one of their first singles: "Farvel" (not on this album)

"Pære Punk" (1979)

Pære Punk (compilation)
release date: Apr. 11, 1979
format: vinyl (KPLP 1) / cd
[album rate: 3 / 5]
producer: various
label: Kong Pære - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: A) 4. Sods "Rock 'n' Roll" - 5. Sods "Tin Can People" - 6. "Military Madness" - - B) 1. Kliché "Militskvinder" - 2. "Farvel" - 4. Brats "I Do What I Wanna Do"

Danish compilation album featuring several acclaimed and notorious punk rock bands of the national scene including Lost Kids, Sods, Kliché, and Dream Police. The production sound is poor but it's quite an interesting album with two tracks from Sods that wasn't included on its debut album earlier that year, and also one fine track by Kliché that didn't make it to that band's great debut album Supertanker (1980). Pære Punk was remastered and reissued on cd in 2010.

[ collectors' item - 3rd pressing - 'near mint' from €50,- ]