SOUNDWAVE : 63 : PIERRE LAPLACE

Today’s guest deejay is Pierre Laplace.

I discovered Pierre while listening to his 2019 album, You Disappeared, recorded under the monicker Beyond the Ghost. You Disappeared felt like a soundtrack to a China Miéville novel. In fact, Miéville’s definition of weird fiction perfectly describes Pierre’s music; it “evokes a sense of the numinous.” His follow-up albums, Eternal Drift and his recently released The Last Resort continue to induce feelings of mystery and awe.

Inviting Pierre to be a guest deejay on Soundwave was a no-brainer. I was surprised, however, to hear his selections for today’s show.

When I extend invitations for guest deejays to participate in the show, I allow them latitude to explore the format of ambient, classical, experimental and instrumental music. Some of the guest deejays will play tracks of their own music, and that’s perfectly fine, but what I’m hoping for is a mix of songs from other musicians they love.

Pierre Laplace

I expected Pierre’s mix to feature songs that are much like his own in feeling and tone. I was delighted to find his mix explored a different sonic landscape.

To begin with, he opens his mix with a track from Deru. I knew immediately that Pierre had something unusual in store for us. I’ve been a fan of Deru for over a decade (hear my interview with Deru and his live set for solipsistic NATION), so I was eager to go whatever journey Pierre was going to take me on.

There are many twists and turns.

Pierre’s inclusion of Morphine caught me by surprise but in context completely makes sense. Brian Eno and David Byrne’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts is one of my favorite albums, and I was thrilled to hear a track from it included in Pierre’s mix. The appearance of Ennio Morricone was also a welcome surprise. I’m also a fan of The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble and The Mount Fuji Doommjazz Corporation and have wondered when someone would play them on Soundwave. The Cinematic Orchestra makes perfect sense within Pierre’s mix, and David Bowie pops up once again on Soundwave, making him the show’s perhaps most featured artist.

Stock up on provisions because Pierre is about to take you on a dark vision quest.

Join us again next week when our guest deejay will be Sean Hocking.

See you then!

Deru “Light The Pyre”

Antonymes “A Fragile Acceptance”

Atrium Carceri “Sheol”

Morphine “Miles Davis’ Funeral”

Brian Eno/David Byrne “A Secret Life”

The Cinematic Orchestra “All Things”

Ennio Morricone “El Castillo Encantado”

Trigg & Gusset “Black Ocean”

The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble “Cotard Delusion”

Deaf Center “White Lake”

Bohren und der Club der Gore “Maximum Black”

The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation “The Admirals Game”

David Bowie “Warszawa”

Esbjörn Svensson Trio “Seven Days of Falling”

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