 Cover Ontmoeting The first time I heard the music of Enno was during a VPRO live-broadcast of the Radiola Improvisatie Salon at Queekhoven. Willem de Ridder unpacked a mail delivery. Meanwhile the radio-show already started. From Enno Velthuys, The Hague, was written on the package. Willem introduced the tape. And played it. A serene silence filled the saloon. Several home-tapers were present. But also close friends of Willem had gathered in the saloon. Rob Smit, who just started KUBUS cassettes (1980), was one of them. A few weeks later, when I contacted Rob, he told me he visited Enno and his mother. Enno liked the idea releasing a tape. It became ‘Ontmoeting’.  Enno Eigen werk 80/81 
Between Rob and me there was regular contact in the period of 1980 till 1987. At first there was the interest in the cassette culture. Second the interest in these first movements in recording yourself, at home. The equipment that was used. And the developments in new ‘electronic’ instruments, we could afford. Rob’s focus was getting in contact with local musicians and composers and produce tape-releases. A straight label focus! Produce and sell. Not try to become part of the cassette network, the mail-art scene, the fanatic home-made tape culture, with loads of unfinished and uncomfortable sound-experiments.  Enno private cassette cover 82/83
The fast developments in new media, like the production of the compact disc and DAT, pushed away the interest in tapes. Already halfway through the eighties music-cassette labels saw their sales reduce. For Rob Smit the reason to finish his label activities in 1985. Despite he just produced the second tape of Enno Velthuys, ‘Landscapes In Thin Air’. He knew I also was a Velthuys fan. The only thing was the difference between the soul of both labels. EXART and KUBUS. Anyway, putting these differences aside and in benefit of Enno, after a first visit in The Hague, I decided to move forward with Enno’s music.  Enno private cassette cover #13
For years we stayed in close contact with Enno. Enno wasn’t easy to deal with. His world was tiny. He lived in his bedroom, watched over by his mother in her apartment. His communication was narrow. But we managed to do two more releases. ‘A Glimpse Of Light’ and ‘Different Places’. While in the meantime I also moved into new musical directions, more and more experimental. The gap between Enno and me grew. And in the nineties I also decided to finish the label. Willem de Ridder and Enno stayed in close contact. Enno composed background music for Willem’s storytelling, radioprograms and earplays.
After I noticed Enno had died (2009, 61 years old), I started a search, for any kind of information concerning his musical backgrounds. There’s not much written about Enno. I heard he was a well respected guitar player in rock- and popbands during the sixties in the The Hague music scene (Golden Earring, Shocking Blue). He had a close relationship with the members of Q65, with Jay Baar, Joop Roelofs and Frank Nuyens. Here some short quotes I found on the internet: ‘Some were stabbed users. Enno Velthuys, who was part of the Rainman Project.’ (That was the solo project of Frank Nuyens. Frank who made an album with various guest musicians: listen to ‘Get You To Come Through’.  Back cover Rain Man ‘With Enno I experienced LSD-trips. I could escape from the trips, but Enno continued staying in those moods. For him it turned out very bad.’ ‘He did suicide attempts and he became dialysis machine dependent, because his kidneys were ruined by the pills.’ "I have two souls in my chest ," he once said to me. He has become totally schizophrenic and he lives in an apartment, with his mother 65+. He lives there to make a little music, but does not leave the house.’ ‘Enno was a gifted musician and could play any instrument.’
 Enno private cassette cover ‘groet MAX’ Enno Velthuys is the son of the well-known children's book author Max Velthuys.
8 Comments
Chris Phinney
2/8/2019 07:08:45
Hessel, thanks for featuring this great article on a wonderful gifted artist I had not listened to in a long time!
Lumen K
2/16/2019 22:21:33
Thank you for sharing this music. I had never heard of Enno. His electronic instrumental composition remind me of Bill Nelson’s instrumental synth works at times. Similar sound palette even.
Michael Ridge
2/19/2019 08:10:02
Like Lumen K I had never hear of Enno, a fascinating article - thank you for sharing his music with us.
Juan Angel Italiano
3/3/2019 20:05:07
Excellent music! Very good story.
Byrd
8/1/2019 11:05:23
Thanks for the article, Hessel. I knew Enno quite well. He was sort of a musical guide for me in the late 70's and early 80's. He overheard me playing Beatles songs and introduced me to the music of Jack Bruce, Jimi Hendrix, Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa. He wasn't into synths back then and he sound-on-sounded stuff like This Boy and All Along the Watchtower, singing and playing guitar. I remember he loved Harry Nilsson's Midnight Cowboy song. I wasn't into ambient music in those days when he started experimenting with syths and am currently revisiting his 80's music, which I funnily enough recognise as if I listened to it daily (which I didn't although he did give his tapes to me). It was more and more difficult to cummunicate with Enno during the 90's and I lost contact only to find out he died in 2009, which deeply saddened me. Your article (and his music) brings back memories. Thanks again.
Jordy
9/1/2021 08:29:00
Hi i don't know if you are interested but i have a illustration / painting of EnnO.
Byrd
3/22/2024 10:48:22
Hi Jordy,
Bob
3/14/2023 17:22:28
Thanks for this article and the details about Enno. Leave a Reply. |
Hessel
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