The Arch

The Arch

The Arch are a Belgian dark wave and post-punk group from Puurs, Belgium. They begin in the mid-1980s and remain active. The group is associated with Belgian new wave and EBM, and its line-up includes Ludo Camberlin, Wim Danzig, C.U.V.G., Ivan D.C., Jeri Goossens and Ian Lambert.

Origins and early releases

In the late 1980s, Belgium develops several related underground scenes, including electronic and hybrid guitar-and-synth music. The Arch emerge from that context with a sound built from samples, synthesizers and guitars. Their first demo, Revenge Revival, appears on the compilation Expo 87 through Body Records. Ludo Camberlin recognises the band’s potential and releases a new mix of Revenge Revival together with three other tracks on Anything But Records.

Their first EP, As quiet as was a fact., follows, and their first album, A Strange Point Of You, is also issued on Anything But Records. After that, Antler-Subway becomes their record company.

Activity in Europe and later work

Although the Belgian press largely ignores the band’s early development, their music finds an audience abroad, where it is described as crossover. They perform in cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Zagreb, Belgrade and Budapest.

After The Only thing in 1991, the band splits, with Wim Danzig and Ludo Camberlin leaving. Activity resumes later, and in 1997 a German label releases In Sofa. A compilation and a double compilation CD also appear in Germany. The band also plays gigs in Germany and Vienna. New songs are then written, a drummer joins and later leaves, and Pieter De Clercq becomes a permanent guitarist. The single Containerpark is later noted by Belgian radio DJ Wim Oosterlinck and included first on his podcast The London Tapes.

Context

Ludo Camberlin is also known as a co-producer of Praga Khan and Lords of Acid, and he starts the label Anything But Records, which supports acts such as Neon Judgement, Poesie Noire, Men 2nd and Aimless Device.