Track Premiere: Netherlands – “So Sick”

Our first encounter with Netherlands mainman, Timo Ellis, came in the early 90s when he was fronting a grunge-era trio called Nubbin, while attending the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Who knew the New York City multi-instrumentalist would go on to play with Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto and do crazy, experimental music like his latest endeavor? Well, Netherlands isn’t exactly new, since this is their sixth album since 2010. For this release, Ellis is joined by Rainbow drummer—yes, that Rainbow—David Keith, as well as a host of guests from across the musical spectrum.

The track we’re offering up, “So Sick” is taken from the band’s upcoming Three One G Records release, Kali Corvette, and is a pulsing, tribal synth-heavy jam with dark, sludgy overtones. It features the vocal improvisations of Daisy Press, as well as noise bass from Tim Dahl of Child Abuse. The track alternates between danceable and apocalyptic over the course of four minutes, as Ellis’ guttural vocals contrast with Press’ cleaner exhortations, while Keith’s staggered rhythms lend it a nervous, jittery feel.

Kali Corvette is set for release on limited vinyl via Three One G on September 9. You can preorder it at the link below in the bandcamp stream.

Here’s what Ellis had to say about the track:

“‘So Sick’ has a kind of hypnotic, almost murder techno/ bhangra vibe, with extremely aggressive sludgepunk choruses. It features the wizard-like Tim Dahl (Child Abuse, Lydia Lunch) on epic FX-noise bass, as well as the great Daisy Press (Steve Reich) on virtuoso vocal improv. Overall the weirdest, and most original song on this record, at least IMO.