This ninth album will appeal to listeners of sequencer driven music. Ruud Heij (Patchwork, Free System Projekt) played analogue sequencers and modular synthesizer on the improvised piece 'Mercury rising'. While 'In high places' was inpired by mankind's achievement, this album was inspired by mankind's dark side. Two pieces, however, 'A new beginning' and 'A perfect storm' reflect hope. The latter piece is a showcase of a wide range instruments, such as the Indian santoor, guitar, oriental percussion and... sequencers.

All tracks were recorded, edited and mastered at home in high places in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 1 April 2018 to 20 April 2019. ´Echolalia´ was inspired by the story of Echo, retold by Stephen Fry in his book ´Mythos´. It was the last piece I recorded for this album and I dedicate it to everyone who helped me survive to record it.

INSTRUMENTATION

Mixed and engineered by Pepijn Courant on Tascam SX-1 and DM-3200 digital mixers and a Soundcraft EFX-12 analogue mixer. Synthesizers: Alesis Andromeda A-6; Analogue Systems Integrator RS-8500, Apprentice; Arturia MatrixBrute; Dave Smith OB-6, Prophet 12; Ensoniq
SQ-80; Eurorack 8000; Korg Arp Odyssey, Kronos X, MS-10, T-3 EX;
Moog Minimoog, Taurus 3; Roland System 500; Synton Fénix 2; The Human Comparator 2600 Mini Meanie; Theis Modular Synthesizer System
Keyboards: Generalmusic Promega 3; Korg Sigma, VC-10; Roland VP-03; Solina String-Ensemble Samplers: Akai MPC-4000; E-mu E-4 XT Ultra Electronic drums: Cyclone Analogic TT-78; Intellijel Plonk; Korg KR-55 Sequencers: Akai MPC-2500, 4000; Analogue Systems RS-200;
Anyware Inseqt; MatrixBrute; OB-6; E-4 XT Ultra; SQ-80; Kronos X, T-3 EX; Fénix 2; SX-1; Winter Modular Eloquencer Acoustic percussion: riq,
bar chimes, sleigh bells; bongos; dumbek, tambourine, jingle stick
Electric guitar: Line 6 Variax 700 Mandolin: Harley Benton MA-50E
Sitar: G. Rosul Voices: Synthesis Technology E-95, Eric Persing;
Pepijn Courant

Aquarius - 3 copies left In high places - in stock Fantasmagora - in stock Disorders - unlimited stock at major online stores and directly from me as digital 24 bit audio files. Please contact me to order.

Akikaze, Japanese for autumn wind, is the electronic exploration of Pepijn Courant. This is his eighth album, a prequel to his debut ‘Music from misty marshes’, which was released in 1989. The setting is the Mesozoic, so one hears dinosaurs, pteranodons and other creatures. The album also contains a recording of the meteor impact that supposedly caused the dinosaurs' extinction.

INSTRUMENTATION

Synthesizers, keyboards, samplers, sequencers, electric and acoustic guitars, played by Pepijn for the first time, acoustic percussion and voice.

This music was inspired by the events that took place in the twentieth century, in particular in Eastern Europe, where communism had collapsed at the end of the eighties. The visionary poems by William Blake had a significant influence on this cassette, which showed an optimistic view on the world. This cassette was well received on BRT 2 radio show “Maneuvers in het donker”, presented by Flor Berkenbosch.

The prestigious project “Fantasmagora”, using many of his oldest compositions. The music had a classical, symphonic rather than cosmic touch. Musical inspirers were, among others, Pink Floyd and Mike Oldfield and the music was based on acoustic instrument samples with a leading part for Pepijn’s first instrument, the piano.

The title refers to Hoogoord, the name of the building in south-east Amsterdam were Pepijn Courant then lived. This CD, as all music by Akikaze, was recorded at home and was mainly inspired by mankind’s great achievements such as the conquest of the moon and the climb of the Mount Everest. The guitar parts were performed by guitarist Dirk Zeeman, a blues musician, who appeared on a CD for the first time. 'In high places' sold well, certainly by today’s standards.