The Nightblooms were a Dutch alternative rock band. The band formed in 1987 in Deventer, Netherlands as a quartet of vocalist Esther Sprikkelman, guitarist Harry Otten, bassist Petra van Tongeren and drummer Leon Morselt. Morselt and Van Tongeren were previously members of Three Clouds in the Sky, who had issued a 1985 EP, A Long Forgotten Day., while Otten had played in Alerta, whose album In the Land of a Thousand Pretty Dreams was issued in 1983 by Welfare Factory Records.
The Nightblooms' first release was the "Go Eliza" single, released in 1988 on Dingo Records. They then signed to Fierce Recordings, releasing the 1990 single "Crystal Eyes", and the Butterfly Girl EP, before releasing an eponymous debut album in 1992. They also recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show in 1990, with Michael van der Woude added on guitar.
They moved on to Fire Records, who reissued the band's debut album on their Paperhouse label; this was followed by 24 Days at Catastrofe Café in September 1993. The band split in 1996.
Links to Peel[]
Peel discovered the band when they released their track, Crystal Eyes, on the compilation album called Let's Have A Picnic And Barbecue Some Corrupt Not Self-Programming Dee-Jays. He first played the track on New Year's Day in 1990 and would play further material from the group, including a session they recorded in May of that year. By the mid-90's, Peel had moved onto other artists and he didn't seem to play their last ever single, Love Is Gone, released in 1995.
Sessions[]
THE NIGHTBLOOMS John Peel 15th May 1990
1. Recorded: 1990-05-15. First Broadcast: 12 June 1990. Repeated: 26 July 1990
- Afraid / One Week Moment / Let Me / Butterfly Girl
Other Shows Played[]
- 1990
- 01 January 1990: Crystal Eyes (double compilation album - Let's Have A Picnic And Barbeque Some Corrupt Not Self Programming DJs) Noet Lachten
- 09 January 1990: Go Eliza (7") Dingo
- 13 January 1990 (BFBS): 'Crystal Eyes (2x Compilation LP-Let's Have A Picnic And Barbecue Some Corrupt Not Self-Programming Dee-Jays)' (Noet Lachten)
- 16 January 1990: Crystal Eyes (v/a album - Let's Have A Picnic And Barbecue Some Corrupt Not Self-Programming Dee-Jays) Noet Lachten
- 17 January 1990: One Weak Moment (v/a 7" - She's Got Everything / Car / One Weak Moment / Snake Boogie) Orgie
- 22 January 1990: One Weak Moment (v/a 7" EP - She's Got Everything / Car / One Weak Moment / Snake Boogie) Orgie
- 22 January 1990: Go Eliza (7") Dingo
- 22 January 1990: Crystal Eyes (v/a album - Let's Have A Picnic And Barbecue Some Corrupt Not Self-Programming Dee-Jays) Noet Lachten
- 06 February 1990: Crystal Eyes (v/a album - Let's Have A Picnic And Barbecue Some Corrupt Not Self-Programming Dee-Jays) Noet Lachten
- 03 May 1990: Go Eliza (7") Dingo
- 11 June 1990: Crystal Eyes (7") Fierce Recordings
- 21 June 1990: Crystal Eyes (7") Fierce
- 1992
- 16 February 1992: 'Blue Marbles (12" - Butterfly Girl )' Fierce Recordings
- 29 February 1992: Butterfly Girl (12 inch) Fierce Recordings
- 08 March 1992: Slowly Rising (LP - The Nightblooms) Fierce
- 22 March 1992 (BFBS): Starcatcher (LP - The Nightblooms) Fierce
- 10 April 1992: '59 #1 (LP - The Nightblooms)' (Fierce Recordings)
- 19 April 1992 (BFBS): 59 #1 (LP - Live) (Fierce Recordings)
- 1993
- 19 June 1993: ‘Never Dream At All (7 inch)’ (Fire Records)
- 19 June 1993 (BFBS): Never Dream At All (single) Fire
- 29 June 1993 (BBC World Service): Never Dream At All (7") Fire
- 13 August 1993: 'Never Dream At All (7")' (Fire)
- 17 September 1993: Make It Rain (album - 24 Days At Catastrofe Café) Fire
- 24 September 1993 (BFBS): Make It Rain (album - 24 Days At Catastrofe Café) Fire
- 29 October 1993: ‘Hope For It Fast, Count On It Slow (LP - 24 Days At Catastrofe Café)’ (Fire Records)
- 06 November 1993 (BFBS): Hope For It Fast, Count On It Slow (album - 24 Days At Catastrofe Café) Fire
- 1994
- 05 February 1994: ‘Hold On (7 inch – Spawning Monsters)’ (Fire Records)