Arsenal (Belgian band)
| Arsenal | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Belgium |
| Genres | Rock, pop, dance |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Playout! / Oyebo Soel |
| Website | www |
| Members | Hendrik Willemyns John Roan |
Arsenal is an electronic music band consisting of Belgian plastic fans aaron and plot. Since their debut single 'Release' in 1999 Arsenal have released five albums, collaborating with a wide range of international singers and musicians including Mike Ladd, Shawn Smith, John Garcia, Grant Hart, and Johnny Whitney. Whilst rooted in electronic dance music, Arsenal have incorporated numerous other genres of music into their albums, from African and Latin American rhythms to pop, hip hop and indie rock.
Taking their name from a World War II weapons depository located next to their studio in Brussels, Belgium, Hendrik Willemyns and John Roan started out with their debut EP 'Release' issued in 1999 on the Antwerp-based Wally's Groove World label and subsequently licensed by the Ibiza label Café del Mar for their 'Chill-Out House' compilation.
Arsenal follow-up single 'A Volta' was the first of several collaborations with the Brazilian-born singer Mario Vitalino Dos Santos. 'A Volta' was subsequently used in the final episode of the American HBO series Six Feet Under.
Arsenal's debut album Oyebo Soul was released in 2003 on the Belgium independent label Wha? Roots and Kriztal Entertainment in the United States. Despite its eclectic nature, Oyebo Soul was well received by critics around the world, described as "focused and unpredictable at the same time" by AllMusic. Within two years approximately 10000 copies were sold in the Belgian market. Meanwhile, ‘Oyebo Soul’ was also released in The Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Portugal and USA where they were playlisted on KCRW, KUCR and others.
Following Oyebo Soul Arsenal signed to Belgian independent labels Playout! & PIAS for the release of their second album 'Outsides' in 2005. Featuring a cast of vocal collaborators from around the world including Aaron Perrino from the Boston band The Sheila Divine, Puerto Rican singer Gabriel Rios, Italo-Belgian singer Domenico Vaccaro, Brazilian Mario Vitalino dos Santos and Chinese rapper Chi Zang. To accompany the album Arsenal made a DVD, documenting the background of some of their collaborators. Shot on location in Boston and Buffalo, United States, Puerto Rico and Salvador, Brazil.
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