TouMilou Music
Introduction
When I recorded my own music for the first time, in Greece, without an actual plan what to do with the results, one of the musicians said: “you should make a proper album out of this.” I said OK. Somebody back home heard the album and said: “I want to write a review of it, but this means that the readers should be able to buy it.” I said OK. When I approached a distributor, they said: “you need a label.” I said OK, to find out later that this actually entails more than having a sticker or logo. So here it is: TouMilou. A micro record label that exists primarily to share my own music. Indie, for sure.
Michiel van der Meulen
Kairos Collective
Albums
Erato / Contemporary Modal Music / Michiel van der Meulen & Kairos Collective / TouMilou #6, 2022 (forthcoming)
Európe / Contemporary Modal Music / Michiel van der Meulen & Kairos Collective / TouMilou #3, 2019
Pîrî Reis / Contemporary Modal Music / Michiel van der Meulen & Kairos Collective / TouMilou #1, 2017
About
Kairos Collective is the occasional ensemble that, to date, recorded three albums with contemporary modal compositions by Michiel van der Meulen. Kairos, in ancient Greek mythology, is the personification of the right moment, the time to act or an opportunity to be seized, representing inspiration and enthusiasm. This perfectly matches the atmosphere and co-operation during both recording sessions, the results of which are genuine collaborative efforts that carry the ideas of each contributor.
Testimonials
- Marius Roeting, New Folk Sounds (November 20, 2019; in Dutch): “Van der Meulen deserves a statue!”
- Holly Moors, Moors Magazine (June 25, 2019; in Dutch): “The unique musical voice of Michiel van der Meulen.”
- Dani Heyvaert, Rootstime.be (May 1, 2017; in Dutch): “experience the unbelievable power and beauty of its six long pieces.”
- Crispijn Oomes, MixedWorldMusic.com (August 4, 2017; in Dutch): “Michiel van der Meulen […] passed cum laude.”
Čalgija
Recent releases (2017–2021)
Üçayak / Music from the Balkans and Anatolia / Čalgija / TouMilou #5, 2021
Unforgotten / Music from the Balkans and Anatolia / Čalgija / PAN 2056 & TouMilou #4, 2020
Vintage Recordings (1964–1966) directed and produced by Wouter Swets / Čalgija / TouMilou #2, 2017
Vintage albums (info and liner notes)
Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #2 / Čalgija / PAN 2007CD, 1991
Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #1 / Čalgija / PAN 7425, 1978, 2013
Sabâ Kâr-ı Nâtık, İlâhîler, Gregorian Hymns / Al Farabi / PAN 2073, 2001
About
If you are Dutch and enjoy Balkan, Turkish, Arabic and/or Central Asian music, then you are bound to know the famous Dutch ensemble Čalgija, which existed from 1962 to 1967 and from 1969 to 1995. Even if you are not Dutch and don’t particularly like Turkish, Arabic and Central Asian music, you might know them because their music features in a song by Kate Bush (‘The Sensual World’) and was covered by Andy Irvine and Davy Spillane. Čalgija released three albums: Balkan Orchestra Čalgija (EP, 1966), Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #1 (LP, 1978) and Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #2 (CD, 1991), and contributed to the compilation album Mosaique Vivant (1995). TouMilou Records reissued the EP and produced, in co-operation with Pan Records, two additional albums from unreleased studio and live material from the late 1970s and early 1980s: the ensemble in its heyday.
Testimonials
- Dani Heyvaert, Rootstime.be (November 3, 2021; in Dutch): “one of the absolute best world music releases of the year”
- Joop Wierenga, New Folk Sounds (August 22, 2021; in Dutch): “a great historical novel about the Balkans”
- Holly Moors, Moors Magazine (July 18, 2021; in Dutch): “A lovely, unexpected discovery from the archives”
- Jan Willem Broek, De Subjectivisten (September 22, 2017; in Dutch): “so overwhelmingly beautiful”
Miscellaneous
Traditionele Turkse Kunstmuziek (book, in Dutch) / W. Swets / 2e editie bewerkt door M.J. van der Meulen / ISBN 978-94-641829-9-6 / Verwacht eind 2022
Microtonal tambura / built by Remco Busink in 1988 / fretboard modified in 2019 for Erato album
Balkanika | Online sheet music archive / website, members only / M.J. van der Meulen / 2010
Ordering information
Kairos Collective
- Albums are streamed on all major platforms
- Digital albums are available at Bandcamp
- CD’s can be purchased online from the distributor Xango Music, resellers such as bol.com and amazon.com, and directly from TouMilou at Bandcamp
- Hardcopies of score books can be purchased online at Bandcamp (€ 5.00, shipping excluded)
Čalgija
- Albums are streamed on all major platforms (digital distribution is handled by Pan Records)
- Vintage recordings (1964-1966) and Üçayak can be purchased online from the distributor Xango Music, and resellers such as bol.com and amazon.com
- Use the contact form to order CD’s directly from TouMilou:
- Üçayak: € 12.50 (shipping excluded)
- Unforgotten: € 10.00 (shipping excluded)
- Vintage recordings (1964-1966): € 5.00 (shipping excluded)
- Limited copies are available of Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #2 (Calgija, 1991) and Sabâ Kâr-ı Nâtık, İlâhîler, Gregorian Hymns (Ensemble Al Farabi, 2002): € 7.50 (shipping excluded)
Bandcamp is an online platform that allows you to buy music directly from the people who make it. Unlike other channels, most revenue goes to the makers. Streaming platforms are a great gateway to music, but you must bear in mind that only massive numbers of plays will generate a significant income. Independent artists need independent listeners!