Kliché
| Company type | Rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Anders Brill, Lars H.U.G., Jens Valo, Johannes Voss |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Aarhus , Denmark |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Kliché was a Danish rock group originating from Aarhus, distinguished by their avant-garde and postmodern approach. The band performed wearing factory-style uniforms and integrated unusual instruments such as a metal grinder into their sound. Their lyrics frequently contained political messages, often delivered with irony through quotations from figures like Mao Zedong and Buddha. Their first album, Supertanker (1980), was recognized in 2006 by inclusion in the Danish Culture Canon for its significant representation of Danish postmodernism in the early 1980s.
Established in 1977 by Anders Brill, Lars H.U.G., Jens Valo, and Johannes Voss, the members initially connected at the Aarhus Art Academy. Later contributors included Nils Torp, Steffen Brandt, and Hilmer Hassig. The band effectively ceased activity after Lars H.U.G.'s exit in 1985, although the remaining musicians continued performing under the names Voss/Torp/Brill and subsequently Voss/Torp.
History and musical style
Kliché’s sound combined elements of postmodernism and new wave, drawing inspiration from artists such as Kraftwerk, David Bowie, Roxy Music, and Brian Eno. Their onstage attire featured white boiler suits, a look seemingly influenced by Devo.
Their initial album, Supertanker, released via Medley Records, used the oil supertanker as a symbol for consumerism on a large scale. It delivered incisive social criticism through cryptic lyrics and atmospheric sounds, most notably on the ten-minute composition "Masselinjen," which references Mao’s mass line principle: “the people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history” (Danish: “Folket og kun folket er drivkraften i skabelsen af verdenshistorien”). Musically, the album was pioneering in its use of exposed synthesizers, distorted guitars, instrumental pop elements, and a focus on mood rather than traditional melody.
Their second album, Okay Okay Boys (1982), maintained similar thematic content and production style. A third album never materialized due to the band's breakup following Lars H.U.G.’s decision to pursue a solo career. The remaining members worked together under various names throughout the late 1980s. In 2010, a compilation entitled De Samlede Klichéer was issued.
Band members
The original lineup consisted of Lars H.U.G (vocals and guitar), Jens Valo (keyboards), Anders Brill Gilberg (drums), and Johannes Møller (bass), who performed under the name Johnny Voss. Jens Valo departed shortly after their debut album in 1980; he was briefly replaced by Steffen Brandt before Nils Torp took over keyboard duties in 1981. Hilmer Hassig, who later founded Love Shop, contributed guitar work for their 1982 release Okay Okay Boys.
Following Hug’s exit in 1985, Johannes Voss, Nils Torp, and Anders Brill continued as Voss/Torp/Brill, releasing Dobbelt Plus in 1984 before disbanding. Voss and Torp then reformed as a duo named Voss/Torp, producing Den Store Lysfest in 1987.
Former members pursued varied paths:
- Anders Brill — shifted to journalism; passed away from cancer in 2009 at age 62.
- Lars H.U.G — embarked on a solo music career alongside painting.
- Nils Torp — created the duo Souvenirs with Sofie Bonde.
- Jens Valo — joined the band Grind during the 1990s under the alias Jens Danielsen.
- Johannes Voss — resumed work as a painter.
Albums
- Studio albums
- 1980: Supertanker
- 1982: Okay Okay Boys
- Compilation albums
- 2010: De Samlede Klichéer (compilation), peaked at #26 on the Danish Albums Chart
Singles
- 1979: "Militskvinder" / "Farvel"
- 1980: "Aldrig mere" / "Militskvinder"
- 1982: "Bravo Charlie" / "Patrulje"
- 1982: "Patrulje" / "Okay Okay Boys"
- 1982: "Bravo Charlie" / "Oppenheimers formiddag"
- 1985: "Shooting Star"