Poésie Noire
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980s |
| Headquarters | Belgium |
| Products | Albums, singles |
Poésie Noire is a Belgian musical ensemble that rose to fame during the mid-1980s. Their sound, characterized by a gothic-inspired, synthetic, and melancholic atmosphere paired with deep vocal tones, reflects the meaning of their name, which translates as "Black/Dark Poetry." Often associated with EBM, they shared the scene with fellow Belgian electronic groups from the 1980s such as À;GRUMH... and A Split-Second. Nevertheless, like contemporaries including The Neon Judgement and Front 242, they aimed to diverge from the harsh industrial elements typical of EBM, crafting a more accessible dark pop approach that situated them within the new wave and dark wave movements.
Band members
Initially formed as a septet, Poésie Noire soon streamlined to a trio consisting of Johan Casters—also known as "La Bête Noire"—who served as the principal songwriter, composer, and male lead vocalist; Marianne Valvekens, who contributed as co-writer, female vocalist up to the 1991 Marianne album and on Sense of Purpose, in addition to playing keyboards; and Herman Gillis, who co-wrote material and performed guitar. As their audience expanded, Casters earned the title of the band's "Master," while Valvekens was revered as their "Goddess," titles that echoed their gothic persona.
In 1991, Irish singer Evanna joined the lineup for the Marianne album following producer Ludo Camberlin's assessment that Valvekens' vocal delivery lacked sufficient warmth and emotional depth.
Career summary
Details about Poésie Noire’s formative years remain scarce; however, their breakthrough came after winning the 1985 Breekend Rock Festival in Bree, Belgium, an event notable for featuring prominent acts such as The Smiths and Slade. This achievement bolstered their domestic profile and led to opportunities supporting well-known bands like Dead Can Dance and The Sisters of Mercy on tour, thereby broadening their reach among post-punk and gothic rock followers.
Over a span of seven years, Casters, Valvekens, and Gillis built a prolific output comprising nine albums and mini-albums, two greatest hits collections, one remix album, and fifteen singles. Their comprehensive catalog earned them recognition within both Electronic Body Music (EBM) and new wave circles, appearing on numerous compilations that underscored their lasting impact.
TBX
By 1992, conflicts arose with their label Antler-Subway when an anticipated album entitled Delirious failed to be released. Subsequently, the label terminated contracts with Casters, Gillis, and newcomer Evanna.
Collaborating again with producer Ludo Camberlin (also known as Carl S. Johansen), who had been involved since their 1989 release Love is Colder than Death, the group rebranded under the name TBX ("To Be eXcited") and signed with major label EMI Belgium. This new alliance allowed for the eventual release of Delirious, settling previous disagreements. Nevertheless, TBX’s musical style was not in line with EMI’s commercial priorities, leading to disappointing sales figures and a swift removal from the label’s roster.
Despite these challenges, Poésie Noire/TBX made a comeback in 2010 with the album Sense of Purpose.
Sense of Purpose
Over ten years after their separation, Poésie Noire came back together to launch a new album titled Sense of Purpose in October 2010, reinstating their original band name. This release coincided with their appearance at the Sinner's Day festival on 31 October 2010, where they performed alongside prominent acts such as Heaven 17, Nina Hagen, Marc Almond, and The Psychedelic Furs.
Side-projects and aftermath
After the dissolution of Poésie Noire, the members engaged in a variety of musical ventures, both continuing previous efforts and initiating fresh projects.
Johan Casters
Johan Casters has utilized numerous pseudonyms—including Morton, Joey Morton, Pateke Morton, Ilya Dimitrijevic, Jill Johnson, and Alessandro Di Ravo—building an extensive career as a songwriter, producer, remixer, and editor. Since the late 1980s, he has pursued solo endeavors as well as collaborations with Herman Gillis.
His production and executive production credits cover a broad spectrum of projects such as The Passion of a Primitif, Company of State, Men 2nd, In Sotto Voce, Attrition, Ei Mori, Bulgarka, Danse Macabre, Pussy Jew, Dee Bass, Translator, Minimalistix, Orion Too featuring Caitlin, Roxane, and Biba Binoche.
Caster’s remixing and editing portfolio ranges from lesser-known groups to widely recognized artists like The Neon Judgement, Jean-Paul Gaultier, The Weathermen, Jean-Jacques Smoothie, and Sinéad O'Connor.
During the late 1990s, Casters also took on roles in music event management and worked as an A&R executive for Mostiko under Arcade/CNR.
Johan Casters and Herman Gillis (and sometimes Marianne)
Throughout Poésie Noire’s active years, Casters and Herman Gillis frequently collaborated as composers and writers on numerous projects—occasionally with Marianne contributing. Their combined body of work includes In Sotto Voce, Brothers on Acid, Ei Mori, Bulgarka, Trio Balkana, Fruit of Life, Erotic Dissidents, Mission Impossible, The Brothers, Morton, Sherman and Bellucci, Danse Macabre, Opium Monks, Berliner Meisterschaft, The Secrets of China, Kings of Agreppo, Explorers of the Nile, Taste of Sugar featuring K. Finley, TNT Clan, The New Beat Sensation, Msb Sound System, Beat Professor, The Freak Brothers, Student Fashion, Mr. Horse, Subway’s new Acid House Techno Beat, Balearic Beach, M.S.B., Supernova, Brotherhood of Sleep, The Moneymakers, The Airplane Crashers, Voor Den Broode, German Beat Syndrome, Neue Beat Collectione, Matt’s Phantasy Club, Serious featuring JJ Maurie, Boris Mikulic, J.E.T., and Strictly Nervous.
Herman Gillis
Alongside his involvement in Poésie Noire, Herman Gillis cultivated a multifaceted career as producer, writer, composer, programmer, and musician from 1987 to 1994 under various monikers such as Sherman, Herman Sherman, Boris Mikulic, and Tessa Rossa.
His contributions include writing and performing on projects like The Passion of a Primitif (1987), Company of State (1987–88), and In Sotto Voce—a side project from Poésie Noire framed as a Yugoslavian group with invented identities aimed at deflecting criticism aimed at their style. Additional endeavors include Boris Mikulic (1990) and Volt (previously Running Cow) (1993).
Gillis also handled remixing and editing duties for artists including Jean-Paul Gaultier (1989), DWF (1990), and Wire—sometimes collaborating with Jo Casters.
He established Sherman Productions through which he produced acts such as Ei Mori (1988), Bulgarka (1988), Danse Macabre (1988), Boris Mikulic (1990), Spectralyzer (1991), Trance Too (1991), Volt (1993–94), and Hypnotyz.
Significantly, Gillis created the Sherman Filterbank—a handcrafted electronic filter acclaimed for its use by leading artists including Air, The Chemical Brothers, Madonna, and The Rolling Stones. After Volt disbanded he dedicated himself fully to designing electronic filters and effect units.
Marianne Valvekens
In contrast to her fellow members Jo and Herman, Marianne Valvekens opted not to engage in record production. Instead, she contributed her vocal talents and songwriting skills to multiple projects associated with Poésie Noire. Nicknamed "the Ice Queen," she took part in the 1986 Mijn-Alarm initiative—a charitable single uniting vocalists from 19 Belgian bands to aid mineworkers in Limburg.
In 2001, she provided vocals for M&M Project feat.M's track "Wide Anthem (Sometimes It Hurt)," also participating as a writer and composer under the pseudonyms Laura Furia and Mateke Porton. These pen names are credited on releases such as *Strictly Nervous: A Collection of Acid Jazz – Jazzy House – Jazz Dance* (1993), Orion Too feat.Caitlin's productions (2002–03), Biba Binoche's "Je Chante pour toi" (2004), and X3 vs Francis Goya's "Rain, the guitar song" (2003).
Reports suggest that around 2003 Valvekens embarked on authoring a book, although no subsequent information has surfaced. Since the late 1990s, her main professional focus appears to have shifted toward work within employment agencies.
Evanna
Following her involvement with Poésie Noire and TBX, Evanna has not maintained an active presence in the music industry.
Ludo Camberlin/Carl S. Johansen
During the era of Poésie Noire and TBX, Ludo Camberlin also produced projects connected to Jo (Attrition). He has continued to work with prominent artists in the Belgian music scene, including The Lords of Acid. Presently, his efforts concentrate on writing and producing records within the house and techno genres.
Albums and mini-albums
- The Gioconda Smile (1985, ARS Records, LP)
- Hum and Haw (1986, Antler-Subway, LP)
- Tales of Doom (1987, Antler-Subway, LP/CD)
- Tetra (1988, Antler-Subway, LP/CD)
- Existential Despair Methaphysical Distress Ontological Ungludation and Cosmic Meltdown (1988, Antler-Subway, CD)
- En Grande Colère (Seven Tales of Schizophrenia) (1988, Antler-Subway, LP)
- (Untitled) (1988, Antler-Subway, Cassette)
- Pity for the Self or We'll Teach You to Dance (1989, Antler-Subway, LP)
- En Grand Colère & Pity for the Self or We'll Teach You to Dance (1989, Antler-Subway, CD)
- Love Is Colder Than Death (1989, Antler-Subway, LP/CD/Cassette)
- Complicated – Compilated 84-89 (Best of Compilation) (1990, Antler-Subway, LP/CD/Cassette)
- Stiletto (Brazil) issued an LP edition omitting five tracks.
- Marianne (1991, Antler-Subway, LP/CD/Cassette)
- Tabula Rasa (1991, Antler-Subway, CD)
- Delirious (as TBX) (1992, EMI Belgium/Creastars, CD/Cassette)
- The Sense of Purpose (2010)
Singles
- "The Noble Art" (1985, ARS Records, 12")
- "The Gioconda Smile" (1985, ARS Records, 12")
- "Starvation of a Mind" (1986, Antler-Subway, 7")
- "Radio-Active Flood" (1987, Antler-Subway, 12")
- "Timber" (1987, Antler-Subway, 12")
- "Tragedy" (1988, Antler-Subway, 7")
- "Taste of Candy" (1988, Antler-Subway, 7")
- "Love Is Colder Than Death" (1989, Antler-Subway, 12")
- "Déjà Vu" (1989, Antler-Subway, 7")
- "Oblivion" (1989, Antler-Subway, 12"/CDM)
- "Toulouse" (1990, Antler-Subway, 7"/12"/CDM)
- "I Didn't Ask" (1991, Antler-Subway, 7"/12")
- "I've Lost a Friend" (1991, Antler-Subway, 7"/12")
- "B-Wall" (1991, Antler-Subway, 7")
- "Timber (Remix)" (1991, Boy Records Spain, 7"/12")
- "Inspire Me" (as TBX) (1992, EMI Belgium/Creastars)
- "Sea of Love" (as TBX) (1992, EMI Belgium/Creastars)
- "Mercedes Benz" (as TBX) (1992, EMI Belgium/Creastars)
Unauthorized compilations
Owing to significant demand in certain South American regions, Brazilian record companies NovoDisc Brasil and CD+ Nordeste Digital Line/MPR Records issued two unofficial Best of Poésie Noire compilations between 2002 and 2005. These collections primarily highlight the group's output during their Antler-Subway period, featuring a curated selection of singles and album pieces.
- Best of Vol.1 (2002, NovoDisc Brasil Industria Fonographica Ltda., Brazil)
- Best of Vol.2 (2005, CD+ Nordeste Digital Line/MPR Records, Brazil)
- DJ Chesko – New Wave Mix Vol.8 (?, Not on Label Belgium) / Included track: "Hiroshima Mon Amour"
Appearances on various compilations
Thanks to Poésie Noire’s success within Belgium, they were featured on numerous local new wave and EBM compilation albums. Their presence on collections from Germany, Austria, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA further demonstrates their international acclaim.
- Mad in Belgium 2 (1985, Mad Tapes & Records, Belgium, Cassette) / Included track: "Mohenjodare"
- The New World Beat (1987, New World Records, Belgium, Double LP) / Included track: "Gioconda Smile" (Album version)
- One of a Number, Part of a Whole (1987, Antler/Energy Hot Stuff, Sweden, LP) / Included track: "Restraint"
- TotalBeatFactor (1988, Big Noise in Archgate, UK, EP) / Included track: "Radio-Active Flood"
- World of Electronic Body Music (1989, Antler, Austria, LP/CD/MC) / Included track: "Adaptation"
- Repérages Couleurs – Vol.3 – 1988 (1992, 150 BPM Record, CD) / Included track: "Tragedy"
- Spring 1990 Promo Sampler (1990, Antler-Subway, Belgium, Cassette/Promo) / Included track: "Taste of Candy"
- Studio Brussel – Update Live (1992, ART, Austria, CD) / Included track: "Just To Be Me Again"
- New Wave Club Class-X 3 (1992, Antler-Subway, Belgium, CD/MC) / Included track: "Gioconda Smile (Original)" (Also featured in 1996 PIAS box set)
- Guitars & Machines (1995, Blanco Y Negro, Spain, Double LP/CD) / Included track: "Pity for the Self"
- New Wave Belgian Class-X (1997, Antler-Subway, Holland, CD) / Included track: "Gioconda Smile" (Instrumental version)
- Sounds of EBM (1997, Never Records/Antler-Subway, USA, CD) / Included track: "Adaptation"
- Voll Auf Die Zehn! (1997, Public Propaganda, Double LP) / Included track: "Timber"
- EBM Club Classics (1998, Synthetic Symphony/SPV, Double CD) / Included track: "Compjutr Syntax Error"
- Club Wave 2 (1999, ARS Production, Belgium, Double CD) / Included track: "Gioconda Smile"
- Real Electronic Beats Classix (2001, Roadrunner Arcade, Double CD) / Included track: "Gioconda Smile" (*Note: The version of "Pity for the Self" lacks its final minute)
- Date Café (2001, Arcade, Double CD) / Included track: "Kju:T: All I Wanna Do" (*Previously released as "Kju:T:The Sea")
- Spook Factory (2003, Contraseña Records, Spain, Double CD) / Included track: "Uncertain Smile"
- Bel80 1985 (2005, Universal Music Germany, CD) / Included track: "Gioconda Smile"
- Bel80 1986 (2005, Universal Music Germany, CD) / Included track: "Starvation of the Mind"
- Bel80 1987 (2005, Universal Music Germany, CD) / Included track: "Timber"
- Bel80 1991 (2006, EMI Music, CD) / Included track: "Just to Be Me Again"