Balthazar

Belgian five-piece Balthazar will preview the release of their album, 'Rats', with a London show at the Lexington on 16th January. With their current single, 'The Oldest Of Sisters' proving a favourite at XFM, the band also release a second single from the album in February in the shape of 'Do Not Claim Them Anymore'. 

Balthazar are the brainchild of songwriters Maarten Devoldere and Jinte Deprez. Meeting as teenage buskers, the two embarked on a whirlwind writing partnership that led to the quick formation of the band and initial acclaim in mainland Europe.

Balthazar has taken the best part of five years to record their debut album, experimenting with different genres and approaches until they were sure that they had the sound they were looking for. With 'Rats’, that sound has been honed to a focus on melody and subtlety, avoiding the current fashion for bombast to create songs that burst forth in horns or sweep by on strings, underpinned with delicate rhythms that draw on both the pair's love of the work of Serge Gainsbourg and Leonard Cohen and the hip hop production of the likes of Dangermouse. Further live dates for Balthazar will be announced shortly. The album, 'Rats' is released via PIAS on 25th February. Stream their forthcoming single 'Do Not Claim Them Anymore' here: https://soundcloud.com/balthazarband/baltha