Stekel

Stekel is a Dutch musical collective led by Jeroen van der Linden, who handles vocals, songwriting, and multiple instruments. The group formed in the early 2000s with drummer Peter Tromp and bassist Simon van der Ham, drawing from the atmospheric textures of post-rock acts like Sigur Rós and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Their 2005 debut album 'A Way to a Place of Light' established their sound with layered guitars and sparse, drifting vocals. That record's title track, along with songs like 'Carmen Arvale' and 'Earth from Sky,' typify their approach: slow-building arrangements that lean into mood rather than conventional structure.

Stekel has worked with cellist Ernst Reijseger and vocalist David Byrne at different points, though van der Linden, Tromp, and van der Ham have remained the consistent core. Later albums such as 'The Threads That Bind Us' (2009) and 'Waves' (2018) continued in a similar vein, often circling themes of isolation and quiet reflection.