Fourteen years ago, when multi-flavored Dutch ensemble De Kift got started, the band members wanted to move people and to give listeners a new musical genre to sink their teeth into. Indeed, it seems they've created a dramatically different kind of rhythmic music bracketed inside an electric arrangement.

De Kift vocalist/trombonist Ferry Heijne says their music is a combination of everything. The band members loathe the old music standards, although De Kift used to be influenced by alternative music of the ’80s, especially aggressive punk. Now, De Kift consists of vocalist Heijne, plus Jan Heijne (trumpet), Mathijs Houwink (bass), Wim ter Weele (drums), Pim Heijne (guitar), Frank van den Bos (piano/vocals), and Mathijs Houwink (bass). Combined, they have a lot of talent and experience.

De Kift even managed to attract the attention of the "cerebral society" by borrowing their texts from literature. Works by Wolfgang Borchert, E.M. Remarque and Jan Arends formed the basis for the album "Krankenhaus." This was a collection of compressed short stories about life and death, madness and war, accompanied by the sounds of De Kift. But above all, De Kift like to have a good time with the crowd. Go see them playing at Art Garbage on May 1 at 10 p.m.

Art Garbage

5 Starosadsky Per., Bldg. 6

Metro: Kitai-Gorod

Tel: 928-8745