Peter Vogelaar
Influenced by the deeper and more emotive side with artists like Christian Löffler, Bonobo, Four Tet, Fejká and Rival Consoles. Peter Vogelaar's sophomore album 'Inner Creatures' hit a playlist reach of 1 million on its week of release, playlisted by Spotify UK New Music Friday, Ministry Of Sound, EnRoute Records and many more. Inpulses, a favourite from the album has been playlisted extensively.
He has remixed a wide range of artists from AKZENTH and Wyvern Lingo to Josh Ritter. He has recently collaborated with fellow Irishman Evan Miles and Parisian producer HAELIUM. Having been remixed by house legend Charles Webster, his tracks and remixes have gotten support from Sasha, Kölsch, Eelke Kleijn and Black Coffee.
Peter's earthy sounding organic electronica has been licensed to HBO, NBC & MTV, including How To Get Away With Murder.
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
This album is on more lists than it isn’t. Interestingly it was tracked very quickly but according to engineer Brooks Arthur they ‘mixed the hell out of that album’ afterwards. Spontaneous, random, chaotic, the performances from bassist Richard Davis & Co. fell together beautifully. I remember listening to the ‘I ain’t nothin’ but a stranger in this world’ refrain with the strings in the stratosphere walking home from school, immediately joining the millions who felt an affinity with this truly timeless record.
Verbena Tea - Teebs
I was floored when I heard this blissful soundscape. A central figure in the LA beat scene, Mtendere Mandowa houses Rebekah Raff’s harp in textured pads and found sound percussion. I suspect it’s at least partly done on a Roland SP 404 which a lot of those guys use. There’s a ragged looseness to it that makes it sound like a field recording from heaven.
Dealer - John Martin & Danny Thompson
Between the boozy rapport and tuning up, this warts’n’all live recording shows Martyn and Thompson at the height of their powers. Having done thousands of gigs together, they weave around each other with a telepathic connection. On this track ‘Dealer’ they’re completely free but locked in at the same time. It doesn’t matter how polished a recording is if the energy and conviction is there and that’s what I got from this album.
La Ritournelle - Sebastian Tellier
Currently clocking in at 35 million streams and understandably so, this is an unorthodox arrangement that takes its time. No bass or vocal for nearly 4 MINUTES!! A track can be as long as you like if it holds interest and this could go on forever...
Cirrus - Bonobo
Stylistically this was a huge influence for me, Simon Greene’s polyrhythms and hypnotic sounds conjure up some real magic on this. I’ve used his production trick of routing a bass pad to a second channel to apply FX and movement quite a lot. If you need a reference for an instrumental electronic tune that has buckets of soul, this is it...
Bibo No Aozora - Ryuki Sakamoto
On Sakamoto’s 1996 album he re-arranged some of his best known compositions for piano trio, including the electronic sounding ‘Bibo No Aurora’. Usually it’s the other way around! Sakamoto was an early exponent of electronic music with Yellow Magnetic Orchestra in the 70’s. This gorgeous performance with emotive string arrangement has stayed with me since I discovered it on the ‘Babel’ soundtrack.
Pickled! - Flying Lotus
It’s testament to a producer in this day and age that you can hear a kick drum or pattern and recognise them immediately. Fearless, bold and completely unique music, Steven Ellison hit the mother lode with the cosmic stew that is Cosmogramma.
It’s Raining Today - Scott Walker
There’s enough music to last a lifetime on the first 4 Scott Walker albums. I was always struck by the confidence in the orchestration to hold that suspense all the way through the verses, arranged brilliantly by Angela Morley.
An Ending (Ascent) - Brian Eno
It’s a pit fall for many (including myself!) to over embellish arrangements and throw too much into a mix. This ethereal piece has always served as a reminder to keep it simple and if a part doesn’t serve a purpose, get rid of it. This album has always been an aural equivalent of comfort food and many’s a night this album has been my sleep listening!..
Talk To Me - Joni Mitchell
There’s a sense that Joni Mitchell is pushing herself out of her comfort zone in this period of her career which is inspirational. On this album she and bass player Jaco Pastorius create a natural phase effect by layering acoustic guitar and lyrical fretless bass parts.
