Expressive yet thoughtful, abrasive yet melodious, explosive yet introvert: Rotterdam’s Library Card are a band of contrasts. This is reflected in the group’s structure, the band being a tight-knit unit of four entirely different characters. Library Card formed in the summer of 2021, drawing inspiration from Detroit post-punks Protomartyr, cult Glaswegian art-rockers Life Without Buildings and the poetry of Anne Clark – to name but three of their eclectic influences – it’s not too far-fetched to suggest that the uncertain period of time in which they formed has intrinsically latched itself to the band’s urgent, propulsive songwriting. Even in a city that’s known for its wayward guitar music, Library Card has quickly become a standout.
Spearheaded by Lot van Teylingen, whose spoken word alternates between sardonic and sincere in a matter of seconds, Library Card leave a lot of room in their music in which their members can manifest themselves equally, from Emre Karayalçin’s unorthodox, eye-catching rhythms to Kat Kalkman’s driving bass lines and Mitchell Quitz’s seemingly shape-shifting guitar performances. To call each of them a cog in a machine would do a disservice to Library Card’s humane outlook on what being in a band means, but it’s simply impossible to elevate one element of their spellbinding songs above another.
All of the above is true for Library Card’s studio recordings as well as their live shows, which have been steadily growing and have turned a few unreleased tracks into bona fide fan favourites already. Within six months of their first official gig (May 2022), Library Card were supporting Sports Team in a 2000 capacity hall, and playing the closing set at Rotterdam’s infamous Left of the Dial. Other highlights have included support slots for OSEES, Just Mustard, and Kills Birds, and vivacious shows at tastemaking Dutch festivals like Loose Ends, Grauzone and Valkhof. The band have also broadened their horizon playing in Germany, France, Austria and the Czech Republic.
