Dive

adamx, Jul 23, 2004

I discovered Dive in 2001 and instantly became hooked almost obsessed to the point that I had traveled to Canada to see him perform.Dirk Ivens the man behind Dive is a legend in the world of Industrial/Ebm.His discography dates back to the early 80s when he was a key member of the band Absolute Body Control.By the mid 80s he would go on to form Klinik with Marc Verhaegan & Eric Von Wontergam.This project left a legacy in the European scene of industrial/ebm music with it simplistic but very dark industrial/ebm grooves & Dirks simple but effective and easy to understand vocals about darkness , lies etc.I often wonder if Klinik signed to Wax Trax in the USA how much more popular they would of been here.Where other bands such as 242 , FLA had major USA label support , the music of Klinik only made it over here on import with limited exposure.Unfortunately in the States the industrial scene revolved around Wax Trax artists at that time so Klinik never really received much exposure in the American market while in Europe they were a household name in the EBM scene.
Dirk had seperated ways with Klinik in 1991 but a little over a year before he released his self titled LP called Dive on Body records.Though I wasnt aware of his music back then Id would have to think that this LP had a large impact as it was the precursor to the industrial genre called Powernoise.A sound which consists of hard but clean distortion & powerful drum rhythms & sounds featuring Dirks powerful simplistic distorted vocals that were similar in vein to his work with Klinik.Music for dark decayed warehouse buildings.Though Dive falls in the EBM genre due to Dirks background with Absolute Body Control & Klinik his music strays away from the typical arppegiated synth lines heard in most music labeled of the same name.I highly recommend checking all his productions out.He is a true pioneer of the Belgium EBM scene and his work with Absolute Body Control predates Front 242.Dirks music has left a lasting impact on me not only as listener but as an artist.Much more then any other artist in recent years.I highly recommed checking out his productions.

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