Sound, Sight and Music: A Collision of Worlds In Het Ministerie’s New Track

Het Ministerie are a band formed in the Netherlands, collaborating and creating music for an international crowd. Performing live last year, they have begun to make great moves on the musical scene, acquiring fans from all over and sharing with them the incredible talent that makes them truly stand out. 

Their new single ‘After Image- Live at the No Show Show’ is a live recording of a performance the band undertook in Woerden, a fairly small yet beautiful town in the centre of The Netherlands. As their first-ever live single, its authenticity, dynamic tempos and distinctive sound are clear, proving them to be a band to watch.

Working alongside the beautiful imagery of the lyrics, the piece as a whole tackles a somewhat abstract idea of an afterimage. As a result of a lingering visual impression, it is almost impossible to capture the essence of this concept musically, but the band succeeds greatly. Written by Jan Willem de Waard, Jelmer Groenenboom, Romme Groenenboom, Tÿs Hulst, Toine Engering and Tomáš McKee, their collaborative efforts make for a truly encompassing track. Even the song itself leaves a certain afterimage in the mind of a listener, an earworm calling for one to press play once again. 

On a meta-musical level, it works. On an enjoyment level, it works. On a level of proving their genius, it works. Every bang of the drums and strum of each guitar works to complement one another in ways that have yet to be thought of elsewhere on the musical scene.

The single exhibits this upbeat energy with the repeated motif of the sun and the sky and the human subject bringing them all together. Unlike typical songs of relationships in any capacity, the band takes a more nuanced approach. Instead, aligning the presence of somebody else with the natural phenomenon of an afterimage. In colliding these two subjects, the human and the natural world, there’s an explosion of passion, desire and a realisation of the effect two people can have on one another. An explosion echoed and enhanced by the incredible instrumentals.

The song’s producer Christiaan Manasse does such a terrific job with this track, alongside his peers, proving their talents surpassing mainstream ideas of musicality. Het Ministerie is ultimately an ever-growing band, building on their fanbase with each note and solidifying their musical callings with every moment. 

Abby Tapping 

@abs.tapp75

Image: ‘After Image- Live at the No Show Show’ Official Single Cover

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