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    Bittereinder's New Album Transcends Cultural Stereotypes

    Three of South Africa's most progressive lyricists, rappers, musicians, social commentators and aural shape shifters, jointly known as Bittereinder, are transcending pop stereotypes with their original electronica.

    With the release of Skerm, the group's third, and arguably most eagerly anticipated, recorded return, Peach van Pletzen, Jaco van der Merwe and Louis Minnaar have successfully delivered an album that is attracting a wider audience.

    Bittereinder's New Album Transcends Cultural Stereotypes

    Bittereinder's seminal debut album, 'n Ware Verhaal, was released in 2010, but it was the band's second album - Die Dinkdansmasjien in 2012 - that not only changed gears for the group but helped begin a conversation that fans right around the world are gagging to be a part of.

    In 2014, 15 tracks, including the lyrical and musical gravitas of "Klankanatomie", "Taalmeng", "Jou Tyd Sal Kom (feat. HemelBesem)", as well as the album's title track, all usher in a whole new world of anthemia, not heard in Afrikaans or English independent music making since Battery 9 first wrote the pre-millennial rulebook.

    Think a whole world of possibility, along with unapologetic mash-ups where English and Afrikaans happily co-exist, and hang uncharacteristically yet seamlessly together. Add more personality and fewer cameos than usual and what ensues are thumping genius tracks best enjoyed live and as loud.

    "We're unique in South Africa, but not necessarily in the world," Jaco concedes. "In bridging English and Afrikaans throughout Skerm, using rap as the thread tying it all together, our music now has the potential to be understood, lyrically, by even more people - which is great."

    5fm has acknowledged their pop appeal and the South African Music Awards judging panel are sitting up and paying a lot more attention. The Bittereinder members are keeping their artistic integrity intact while broader acclaim continues to roll in all. "We make music only we can make," Jaco adds. "Nothing that this band has ever done, or will ever do, suffers convolution."

    As Bittereinder's music has evolved and grown over the past five years, so has each of its member's personalities. "We certainly disagreed a lot more with this album," Jaco recalls. "Each song benefitted, though. Finding middle ground has become harder too, if only because our expectations have grown." The end result with Skerm is music that's more symbiotic than everything that's come before it - and that's an exciting place to be for any band.

    For the rest of 2014, and comfortably into 2015, Bittereinder can be spotted across South Africa and Europe too, playing their hearts out to loyal fans while growing their sphere of influence one impressive production and remix at a time.

    Skerm was recorded and mixed by Peach at Sleeproom Studios in Pretoria, and mastered in Los Angeles by Dave Cooley of Elysian Masters.

    Article orginally published on www.mblife.co.za.

    Skerm is available for purchase on iTunes

    www.bittereinder.com

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