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’ll need a label.” I said OK, to find out later that this 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 / Kairos Collective / TouMilou #6, 2022
Európe / Contemporary Modal Music / Kairos Collective / TouMilou #3, 2019
Pîrî Reis / Contemporary Modal Music / Kairos Collective / TouMilou #1, 2017
About
Kairos Collective is the expanding 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 the recording sessions, the results of which are genuine collaborative efforts that carry the ideas of each contributor.
Testimonials
- Holly Moors, Moors Magazine (November 13, 2022; in Dutch): “This third album is again one to cherish.”
- Marius Roeting, New Folk Sounds (November 20, 2019; in Dutch): “Van der Meulen deserves a statue!”
- 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
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”
Vintage albums (1978–1995)
The information and liner notes of Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #1 (1978) and #2 (1991) are provided as supplementary material to the streamed albums, distributed by Pan Records. Information about the albums Mosaique Vivant (1995) and Sabâ Kâr-ı Nâtık, İlâhîler, Gregorian Hymns is provided to have a complete overview of the oeuvre of Wouter Swets and Čalgija. CD’s of Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #2 and Sabâ Kâr-ı Nâtık, İlâhîler, Gregorian Hymns can be obtained from TouMilou (use contact form below).
Sabâ Kâr-ı Nâtık, İlâhîler, Gregorian Hymns / Al Farabi / PAN 2073, 2001
Mosaique Vivant / Compilation album w/ 3 tracks by Čalgija / MV695, 1995
Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #2 / Čalgija / PAN 2007CD, 1991
Music from the Balkans and Anatolia #1 / Čalgija / PAN 7425, 1978, 2013
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 the Erato project
Balkanika | Online sheet music archive / website, members only / M.J. van der Meulen / 2010
Ordering information
Kairos Collective
- Digital albums are available on Bandcamp
- CD’s can be purchased online from the distributor Xango Music, resellers such as bol.com and amazon.com, or directly from TouMilou at Bandcamp
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. Independent artists need independent listeners!
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)