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Things have changed in the one and a half year between the two releases. In 2023 Hister was a duo consisting of Merel Weijer, bass and Michel Weber, drums. The duo has since been extended with guitarist John Knol. This makes a big change in sound, as is to be expected. Although the music still tends more towards The Cure at its darkest, the sound can be pumped up to classic rock trio proportions. Weijer still magnifies her bass guitar with all sorts of effect pedals blowing it up to huge proportions, while not forgetting the melodies she can play at the same time.
What has not changed, is that Merel Weijer is the lead singer. With her downcast voice, she is an important contributor to the overall mood of Duuster. Shoegaze may be the right description for the band's music. Perhaps not in a literal sense when they play live, yet certainly for the music the trio plays. The guitar, bass and voice can have a simultaneous droning quality that adds to this overall impression. Duuster is not an album for people who are in search of some light in their lives. Those who like to wallow in a little darkness though every once in a while, have come to the right address with Hister.
Overall, musically I would still put the band in the early 1980s when a band like Fischer Z scored its big hits and The Cure its first. The opening and title song attests to this observation. With the addition of Knol the band comes closer in sound, yet also regularly takes a different turn, towards the later shoegaze bands. This makes Hister musically a far wider reaching band.
'Diezeg In Kop', is an exception in two ways. It is sung by drummer Weber and it is a punkrock track, not unlike city and label mates traumahelikopter plays on its latest album. On EP 'Hister' Weber's song was also more punk oriented; there's clearly a pattern here.
The next song 'Zee Het Zo' is one of the most guitar driven songs. John Knol is really letting it rip in a sea of feedback in the solo and wherever else possible. Again, the song is dark but also immensely huge. All kinds of musical influences come together here, while Hister seems to stick to the doom and gloom of post punk of the early 80s. Don't be fooled though, this song soars through decades of music.
Duuster certainly has to be put into a corner where darker music belongs. Yet in that corner are many niches and I have a strong inclination that Hister wants to be in many of them. From original new wave to shoegaze and darker indierock to (post) punk. Individual songs fit into one of these niches. It would be missing the point though. Duuster is an album that wants to belong up there with the bigger albums and I have no problem to put it next to 'Red Skies Over Paradise' or 'Save Yourself', two albums spanning the early 80s with the mid 20s. Yes, it's that good, folks. Step over the fact that you're listening to Grunnings and start rocking out.
Wout de Natris - van der Borght
You can listen to and order Duuster here:
https://officialhister.bandcamp.com/album/duuster
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