LEMON: MADCHESTER? NEDCHESTER!
“Lemon could quite be one of the biggest hidden gems within the kingdom of The Netherlands” said weblog It’s All Indie after the release of Lemon’s single Love Can Take You Places (May 2020). After the release of Before We Fade To Grey (September 2022) Fruitsonic wrote “Everything about it stuns” . According to Plastic Magazine it was “another stellar single from a band at the top of their game.” About Shiiine On (May 2021), Talk About Pop Music wrote: “It’s a great Summer festival anthem”. Last Day Deaf called it “a euphoric, psychedelic hymn”.
All of these singles feature guest singer Cath Coffey of the legendary Stereo MC’s from London. They follow up the release of Lemon’s fifth album (April 2019) simply titled ‘The Fifth Of Lemon’, that – like their previous albums – collected raving reviews. This one even in Australia. Their fourth album ‘Perfect It Will Never Be’ was ranked #6 in the Top-10 of best albums of the year of famous Dutch music journalist Swie Tio.
Just like their albums, Lemon’s intense live shows have collected 4 star ratings, but even more 5-star ratings of talent buyers. ‘Like fireworks on stage’, writes a German talent buyer. Check ou the reviews (most in Dutch, some in English) on Gigstarter.nl.
About Lemon’s third album, titled NEDchester, Netherland’s number 1 Music Magazine OOR wrote: “The best songs on the album are as great as Stone Roses or Happy Mondays work”. The critic confessed the vibe of these songs really moved him (literally: “these moments bring a tear to my eye”). Music Magazine FRET stated: “Lemon creates a great groove, coloured with a catchy guitar and an infectious bass. A beautiful nostalgic tribute to an exciting musical era.” Website Festivalinfo.nl rated the album 4 out of 5 stars. The critic of this site did not refer to the MADchester sound. He mentioned MGMT as a reference, but concluded his review by stating Lemon has a unique sound of their own.
NEDchester refers to the MADchester sound of the early Nineties, that inspired the band. Their interpretation is not pure MADchester. Hence: NEDchester (NED stands for The Netherlands, in Dutch: Nederland). In the MADchester era, bands like Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, The Charlatans, The Farm and The Stone Roses, mixed Britpop with some Psychedelic influences and a load of Dance influences. It is no coincidence Lemon was support act for The Charlatans, Primal Scream and Stereo MC’s (2020, 2022). Other bands who take inspiration from the MADchester-sound are The Kooks, Kasabian, Cut Copy, Jagwar Ma, Chk Chk Chk and Hard-Fi.
Lemon are Mark ‘Bong The Bass’ Bongers (bass, vocals), Paul Hesen (drums, vocals), Ralf Hesen (guitars, vocals) and Thomas Gense (guitars, keyboards, percussion, vocals).