Glowing Mountains in the Sky

OUTER’s second album was written between 2020 and 2025, mainly on remote locations in Iceland, Norway and Czech Republic. Field recordings were made, and are used to create rhytmical patterns and background moods.

The result are dynamic and layered compositions, with a strong focus on piano, texture and atmosphere. Evoking a melancholic landscape that reflects where the music was written.

Thematically, the album explores dreams and memories — the beautiful ones, the difficult ones, and everything drifting in between. Memories you want to hold on to, but also wish you could forget. The underlying idea is that light cannot exist without dark. ‘Glowing Mountains in the Sky’ symbolyses this: a source of light you can only observe in darkness.
There’s a deliberate search for strong contrasts within these themes, which are reflected in the arrangements as well. Warm, organic, and classical sounds are placed against colder, harsher electronic textures. Intimate, minimalist moments gradually unfold into energetic climaxes.

On stage, the band collaborated with director Aïda Gabriëls to create a new scenography — minimalistic yet powerful in translating the sound and themes to the live performance.

All tracks are written and produced by Tom Soetaert, and played by the band’s usual line-up Nicolas Delépine, Laurens Van Bouwelen, Arne De Tremerie and Wanthanee Wadngam. The album also features guest appearances by Norwegian trumpet player Arve Henriksen and Patricia Vanneste (Sohnarr, Balthazar)

NOCTURNE IN B MINOR

"Nocturne in B minor" is a track about short nights, worrying too much and sleep deprivation. Starting with dreamy and meditative classical influences, and being awakened by contrasting industrial beats and electronical sounds.

The date of release (June 14) is reinforcing this theme. It will be the shortest and brightest night of the year, as there'll be a 'super full moon' visible and it's the middle of June. Turning this track into a Midsummer Night's Dream.

“The subject of this track is very meta, as it has its origin in the hot summer of 2018. High temperatures, a new house with renovations, ánd the approaching release of our first album. As it was quite a complex piece of music to find the right structure, it kept me awake for many nights during the past years.” - Tom Soetaert

Both the title and the artwork refer to the world of classical composers, more specifically Chopin’s Nocturnes, which have always been a big influence on OUTER’s music.

Brussels-based animator Bert Juliaan Vercruysse used images shot in Norway, Iceland and Czech Republic to make 8 video shorts. These were released in the timespan between New Moon (May 30) and Super Full Moon (June 14).

the debut album

OUTER, the self titled debut album is short, which is atypical for this kind of music. At the same time, every second is as important, and there still is much space for silence and slowness. The album was presented in a sold out Minard theatre in Gent, and was received very well by press and public. Belgian national newspaper De Standaard added the album to their “9 albums that should have had more attention in 2018”.

On September 20th 2019, the album was re-released on Swedish label 1631 Recordings.

Eyja

Debut single 'eyja' is composed, filmed and partly recorded in Northern Iceland. 'eyja' is also Icelandic for 'island', which is a perfect title for a song about isolation and postponing. And the consequences for your social life. The track is a cooperation with electronic artist Adriaan De Roover. On October 26th 2017, the video was premiered by DeMorgen.be, and quickly picked up by various blogs, playlists, and radio stations like Studio Brussel & Radio 1 (Belgium), amazingradio.com and Rúv 2 (Iceland).