The Belgium quintet Dead Man Ray maintains a distinctive sound that merges a barfly interpretation of Jeff Buckley’s more introspective passages with elements drawn from a film noir soundtrack. Formed in Antwerp during 1997, the group originally consisted of Elko Blijweert (guitar, ex-Front 242), Daan Stuyven (guitar), Rudy Trouvé (guitar; ex-dEUS), and Herman Houbrechts (drums). Through Trouvé’s HeavenHotel imprint the band issued its self-produced debut, Bercherm, in 1998. Keyboardist Wouter Van Belle joined the lineup after remixing ‘Copy Of 78’, bringing additional textures to 2000’s Trap, whose tracks drew inspiration from an old Belgian cult movie starring actor Bobbejaan Schoeppen. Later that year the label compiled highlights from the first two Dead Man Ray releases under the title Bercherm Trap, an album backed by European tours. Around the same time Houbrechts departed in favor of Karel De Backer; following the Marginal EP, the band temporarily moved to Chicago, Illinois, USA, for sessions with renowned alternative rock producer Steve Albini. The collaboration yielded 2002’s Cago, an album captured entirely in live takes. Beyond Dead Man Ray commitments, most members have released recordings with other projects or under their own names and have composed scores for motion pictures.
