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.

The tenth album was inspired by happy (blue sky) events after I was forced to leave the prosperous business I had built up with blood, sweat and tears. 'Twist of fate’ was co-composed by Lambert Ringlage. All tracks were recorded at home in Utrecht from 29 October 2013 to 23 November 2014. ‘Twist of fate’ was partly recorded at home in high places in Amsterdam in 1994. The strings, bass and effects on ‘Heart to heart’ were recorded in 2004 and the guitar parts in 2008 after my second cat died in my arms with a pounding heartbeat.

INSTRUMENTATION

New instruments: Dave Smith Prophet 12; Korg Kronos X; Kurzweil PC-3 K6 (harp glissandi); Moog Dual VCO (percussion on 'Laep of faith'); PPG Wave 2.3; Synton Fénix 2 (first sound effect on 'Rebound'); Korg Kronos X, Korg Wavedrum Global Edition (snare and conga); Alhambra 3-C CW E-1 nylon string guitar and Ibanez Gio GSR-180 bass guitar.

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.