Akikaze

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2008 / 2015
The music was recorded betweem 1994 and 2005. As previous albums, 'The age of deception' shows a great diversity, but this album as a whole brings back acoustic percussion and as many analogue synthesizers as possible. This time Akikaze experiments with analogue electronic percussion and arpeggiators. Early Neuronium fans or other romantics will again appreciate the interluding acoustic guitar sound based pieces. A must have for listeners of diverse melodic and rhythmic instrumental music.
 

Artist: Akikaze
P: 1990/ 2004
One of the first MC releases from Akikaze, here the first time on CD.
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.

Here the last copies!

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2014 / 2018
Melodic Berlin Shool style with a touch of Michael Garrison sounds and melodies.

Artist: Akikaze
P: 1999 / 2015
The arrangements, the time signatures, the melodies and layering, all have a smart, crisp, pop sensibility to them. When a lot of electronic music is going the way of free form improvisation, Quantum delivers carefully crafted compositions that go down smooth and easy. Case in point is Akikaze's "Conflicting Emotions", sixteen tracks of straight ahead drums, synths and guitars in very pleasing arrangements, with an emphasis on the electronics and sequences. The man behind Akikaze, Pepijn Courant, presents the music as two long tracks and two short ones, but the two long tracks are subdivided into seven songs each. From the soft electronic tinkling of "Shadowland" to the forceful guitars and drums of the effective opening track "The Call," a wide variety of musical ideas are introduced, bound together with a cohesive identity. Highs and lows are well-placed, from the infectious energy of "Out of the Dark" (try not bouncing along or tapping your toes to this one), to the ethereal, other-worldly quality of "Inner Voices," which features a choir of unusual voices treated with electronic effects. Song titles convey the feelings well, from "Exaltation" to "The Head and the Heart." The latter is an almost classical piece, short, simple and elegant. Conflicting Emotions is thought-provoking, emotional music with lots of imagery, energy, and intelligence.

2000. © Phil Derby

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2020
A deadlock is a state in which each member of a group is waiting for another member, including itself, to take action.
"Lockdown" and "Crackdown" were inspired by global events in 2020.
"Crackdown" is dedicated to… Crackdown!
"Resurrection" was originally improvised and posted on Facebook on 22 April 2018.
A late thanks to Eric van Baaren for upgrading and modifying the Arp Axxe.
Special thanks to Ruud Heij for his third collaboration. Many thanks to you for buying my music!
Credits
Akikaze, written in Japanese means autumn wind, is the musical exploration of Pepijn Courant. This is his thirteenth album. Music composed, arranged, performed, produced and engineered by Pepijn Courant except "Deadlock", composed, performed and engineered by Pepijn Courant and Ruud Heij. Spoken and synthesized monologues and dialogues written by Pepijn Courant. Digitally mixed by Pepijn Courant on Tascam SX-1 and DM-3200 mixers. All tracks were recorded and edited at home in high places in Utrecht, the Netherlands from 22 March 2020 to 28 July 2020, except sequences and Synthi A effects by Ruud Heij and Pro Soloist solo on "Deadlock", recorded at Infinite Echoes studio, Bunnik on 20 October 2018. Mastered by Ron Boots.
Instrumentation
Synthesizers: Alesis Andromeda A-6; Analogue Solutions Polymath; Analogue Systems Integrator RS-8500; Arp Axxe; Ashun Sound Machines Hydrasynth, Arturia MatrixBrute; Behringer Cat, Pro-1; Dave Smith OB-6; EMS Synthi A; Eurorack 8000; Korg Kronos X, MS-10, T-3 EX; Moog Minimoog, One 16v, Taurus 3; PPG Wave 2.3; Synthesizers.com Modular System; Synton Fénix 2; The Human Comparator 2600 Mini Meanie; Theis Modular Synthesizer System; Waldorf Pulse +; Yamaha V-50 Keyboards: Arp Pro Soloist; Korg Sigma, VC-10; Roland VP-03; Solina String-Ensemble Samplers: Akai MPC-X, 4000 Electronic percussion: WMD Crucible; Intellijel Plonk Sequencers: MPC-X, 2500, 4000; MatrixBrute; Kronos X, T-3 EX; Q-960; Fénix 2; SX-1; Winter Modular Eloquencer; V-50 Acoustic guitar: Alhambra 3-C CW E-1 Voices: Woord, Pepijn Courant; Paul Huenemann; Natural Reader; Donald Trump, Michael Weiss
Pepijn Courant, August 2020

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2019 / 2021
´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.
Akikaze made a Berlin School style interpretation out of it.
 

Artist: Akikaze
P: 1996
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.

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2023
Global Textures is the magnum opus (so far) of Pepijn Courant, a.ka. Akikaze. This is different music from earlier albums. This is not world music because all music is from the world. It is music with respect for the cultures that inspired it. Pepijn grew up listening to all kinds of music from all over the world. The project started with a piece inspired by Pepijn’s first trip outside Europe to Indonesia. More trips followed that triggered more inspiration. In this album most hobbies of Pepijn are combined: music, language, foreign cultures and nature. He played every instrument and performed most vocals, even the female. He wrote lyrics in Japanese, Thai, Russian (his major at university), Persian and Sanskrit and learnt the basics of the Lakota language in order to be able to narrate a Lakota legend. There won’t be a second album on the planet like this made by a single person. Many sounds used are sample based and physically modelled electronic sounds, acoustic percussion and acoustic and electric stringed instruments, but analogue and digital synthesizers were used as well.

Artist: Akikaze
P: 1994
The music of Pepijn Courant is a mixture of the "Berlin School", classical and oriental music, with a strong accent on rhythm and melody. This was his first CD and the sequences are still one of the best.

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2002 / 2015
Music, Akikaze produced way back in 1991. So we hear old Berlin School sequencer tracks.

Artist: Akikaze
P: 1989 / 2015
First album from Akikaze from 1989 - impressions from a trip to Florida . The original version was released on compact cassette in 1989 and got extensive airplay on the legendary Belgian radio show "Maneuvers in het donker" (Manoevres in the dark). This re-release is faithful to the original as it was recorded with two of the original three instruments.
In 1989 he started his personal voyage into electronic sounds by releasing his first tape "Music from misty marshes". This is the first time, the debut is released on CD.

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2009    
This is his eighth album, a prequel to his debut ‘Music from misty marshes’, which was released in 1989. Music composed, arranged, performed and produced by Pepijn Courant. Lyrics by Pepijn Courant. Mixed and engineered by Pepijn Courant on Tascam SX-1 and DM-3200 digital mixers. Recorded, edited and mastered at home in high places in Utrecht from January 2008 to July 2009. An ambient athmosphere is created, that takes us to the mesozoic era, million years ago. Tangerine Dream like melodies and choirs can be heard between Moog solis.



 

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2014
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.

Artist: Akikaze
P: 2017
Dutch artist Pepijn Courant a.k.a. Akikaze (Japanese for autumn wind) shows a long career of creative output, starting with tape releases. After a few years, he changed to CD and his albums were  released by several companies (Audio Works, Criminal Records, Quantum Records and Syngate). Because of his excellent sequences, Akikaze has been a candidate for Spheric Music for a long time. Solstice, his recent 11th work, which was partly introduced at the E-Live festival in 2015, features unique sequencer patterns once again. The album was inspired by weather phenomena.
Solstice evokes a special atmosphere, due to the use of old-fashioned sounds. You can hear synth sounds of the 70s and 80s combined with sequences typical of Akikaze. Compared to other Berlin School releases, Akikaze’s provide more variety in sound and tone patterns. Especially the melodic and harmonically changing sequences have a special charm while guitar and old synthesizer sounds in the interludes  build a romantic, melancholic ambience.  A real nostalgic experience which is a pleasure to listen to!

Artist: Heimann, Lambert, Apeiron,
Akikaze u.a...
P: 1991
One of the early collections of new dutch and german artists with fresh new sounds.