Frères Sourires (7): Arno Hintjens

When T.C. Matic called it quits in 1986, the Belgian radionews made it its top story - I know, 'cause I heard it that night. It took almost ten years before another Belgian band stood up that had a similar influence on the national popscene - dEUS ofcourse. TC Matic made very intense new wave, laced with funk, blues and French chanson. Frontman was Arno Hintjens, the Flemish version of Tom Waits. I had the pleasure to see TC Matic in their prime, when they passed my little village for some Easter festival. Hintjens was completely lost in the music, he jumped up and down like he was spastic. His lyrics were a bouillabaise of English, French and West-Flemish dialect. Although songs like Ooh La La La and Putain Putain (the latter was covered by Camille) became alternative-dancefloor hits, the band never really broke. They didn't fade away, they closed in style with one of the most beautiful songs ever written on Belgian soil, Elle Adore Le Noir. After TC Matic, Arno Hintjens started a quite succesful solocareer. His own songs are good, but his interpretations of other people's work are better, listen to his gravel-voiced takes on Comme à Ostende by Leo Ferré, or Serge's Elisa. In France and the low countries, Arno is still capable of filling big rooms. He also stars in very, very funny videoclips. And this is the brand new video, from upcoming album Jus de Box.

TC Matic - Elle Adore Le Noir (from TC Matic - Ça Vient, Ça Vient, Change Pas Demain)
Arno Hintjens - Chic et Pas Cher (from French Bazaar)
Arno Hintjens - Filles de mon Quartier (from Jus de Box)
Arno Hintjens - Comme á Ostende (from Arno á la Française)
Arno Hintjens & Jane Birkin - Elisa (from Charles Ernest)