Back To Mine with Alex van Ratingen / PeterSea

 

PeterSea

 

1. Boogie Woogie Waltz – Weather Report  from Sweetnighter Album (1973)

Just one of this band’s funky melodies seamlessly fusing syncopated percussion, fast-fingered bass, synths-rhodes piano combo and singing sax.  A  pre-eminent jazz-impro band they created alongside Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, often sharing musicians in the studio. Got connected to it in my teens, and in my early 20s travelled for 12 hours by car to see them in concert in 1978. So cool!

 

2. Butterfly Blue – Iron Butterfly from Metamorphosis album  (1970)

One of a number on this great album this track always blows me away when i hear it … the heart, the hammond waves, driving drums and soaring duelling guitars, that deep voice and the use of space between. One of the first uses of a talk box linked to guitar, the track expressive of the psychedelic times we were living in and the band just a step away from heavy rock and metal to come.

 

3. Morning of the Earth   – Taman Shud   (1971)

Soundtrack from seminal surfing movie of the same name, this evokes for me exploring dirt roads to find and surf waves on uncrowded beaches, camping out in nature and going with the flow, still doing it. Taman Shud, one of many quality and innovative Australian bands in the 70s. I arranged a high school concert and booked them .. they arrived in a van with their sound gear and surfboards on top, fresh from a surf session down the coast – classic!

 

4. Nothing Can Come between Us – Sade from Stronger than Pride (1988)

Such a smooth operator, Sade Adu’s gorgeous and strong vocals are held and supported effortlessly by a tight band of talented musicians of every ilk. This album and others from her are just so good to listen to, driving along a freeway, or cruisy evening with a lounge thing going on with friends.

 

5. The Great Gig in the Sky   – Pink Floyd from Dark Side of the Moon  (1973)

I was going to drop in Echoes Pt 1 or 2 Live @ Pompeii from their Meddle album .. then something from Ummagumma … with Pink Floyd where do you start ? Then I remembered lying on the floor in the dark in the 70s listening to this haunting and evocative track from my vinyl collection, and how it moved me so deeply … and still does today.

 

Alex van Ratingen

 

1. The Acid-Basic Instinct

This track is just raw emotion for me. A track doesnt need much to reach you emotionally if its written from the heart and this song is the best example for that.

 

2. Legowelt – Elements of Houz

“Elements of Houz” is a real beauty. It can grab you on the dance floor with its driving beat and base line but you can also just close your eyes and listen to the on going lovely vibe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RfeFezGWlg

 

3. Âme – Tatischeff

Im really into synthesizers. They give a track its character which can’t be achieved by a good drum pattern only. The vibe and the emotion comes through harmonies and Âme does this on point here. Everytime I hear that song with this intense break and the drop it delivers goose bumps.

 

4. Douglas Dare – Swim

The combination of organic and electronic elements in this song fit perfectly together. On top of that you have Douglas’ beautiful voice guiding you through the track. He is really one outstanding artist of our time and each of his songs is an experience and pure music.

 

5. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Don’t Forget Me

I was maybe 15 years old and it was my very first concert. I will never forget the moment when that song started and this heavy baseline went through my body.

 

Alex van Ratingen / PeterSea  ‘Ninety’

Cologne artist Alex van Ratingen links with experienced percussionist PeterSea for asumptuous new EP on the always interesting Loot Recordings.
Alex van Ratingen is a drum and guitar player who makes melancholic and organic music that always engages the floor. He has done remixes for various international bands like POOMA and also works with the singer from that band as Yoyt. All this means he has a widescreen musical vision. His partner for these tunes is based in Australia: PeterSea has been playing percussion for over forty years in all styles from jazz to acid to folk to world music. He also sings and merges poetic stories with shamanic sounds and is a veteran of many album projects. The beautiful ‘Float’ is a soothing three-minute piece of beachy synths and gently breaking waves with bird-like sounds up top. It’s expansive and perfectly horizontal and washes over you in blissful ripples. There are no drums, but a subtle sense of movement still carries you out to sea.
Then comes ‘Calling’, a deep house track with bottomless kicks and warm dub vibes. Sombre chords are draped over the top and, as things progress, the energy levels rise, with well-sculpted synths shapeshifting as you go. It’s intimate backroom music to get the ‘floor locked to a groove.
The same track then comes as a vocal edit and features distant, barely-there voices which add a sense of romance and lovestruck pain that makes the track all the more emotive and resonant.

Alex van Ratingen / PeterSea – Ninety (Loot Recordings Cat. No. LOOTREC014) Out now !

https://lootrecordings.lnk.to/LOOTREC014