Part Swedish, part German, and going down a storm in France, this is Peter von Poehl - another intriguing Bella Union artist. His debut album is a sparse affair that speaks of Europe: there are echoes of John Lennon; Soulwax; Phoenix; Mew; Daniel Agust; Loney, dear and countless others in this mix, a subtly rich concoction that manages to be both warm and ethereal.
Drums are infrequent, and strictly controlled when they appear (on ‘A Broken Skeleton Key’, for example, which sounds a bit like Tom McRae). Instead, von Poehl’s angelic vocal mostly sits delicately atop a stripped-back layer of precise guitar lines, piano and orchestral instruments - woodwind on ‘Global Conspiracy’, xylophone on ‘The Story Of The Impossible’, brass on ‘Tooth Fairy Part II’.
Going To Where The Tea Trees Are won’t give you an energy boost, but it might just smooth away the worry lines. In Peter von Poehl’s world, everything feels under control, measured and purposeful. There is plenty of room to breathe. How you react to this record is, therefore, rather dependent on your mood, because such restraint is deeply frustrating and alien when life is slipping out of your grasp and you want to smash things with hammers. It’s too twee; too perfect.
But if you let it, if you let go, this album will blow away the cobwebs like a spring breeze, taking you far away from grimy streets and council tax bills.
He's a lovely guy,
and I've seen him on tour with AIR - he made for a nice if slightly downbeat intro to their sonic jiggery-pokery. The title track of the album is a charming tune.
It's just his voice sounds like Phil Collins gone folk. I'm not kidding. It's so disconcerting.
haha...
wow. so true. didn't notice it before, but he does sound like phil collins. and the music itself reminds me a bit of a slower/less energetic sondre lerche. but it's still quite good.
voice
This man has a wonderful voice, I hope I get to meet him in 2008 and get him in for a BCB session.
hello fron France
It's going to be interesting how you Brits are going to welcome him...he's such a star here in France, both successfull and über credible...such a nice bloke too...and fantastic musician ( he's producer, guitarist , songwriter, singer etc )...it's worth mentioning in our world of mediocrity ( post Lib shit etc )...I 'm sure he's one of those who will stay and change some people's life....
And i must say he's got good taste musically and a strong independant spririt; he's known here in France to have said "no thanks" to all major labels///to go only with indies all over the world...no surprise that this good home of Bella Union signed him!
And really i don't see the Phil Collins thing...Is this you Brits being "fourbes" again??? ;0)
Thanks for your cool site too!
cheers
Gloria / Paris
not a brit thing...
because i'm canadian, and still think he sounds like phil collins.