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CHRISTOPHE PETCHANATZ
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Reference number: IPS 0926. Pierre Bastien and Christophe Petchanatz (aka Klimperei) met more than twenty years after their last musical collaboration. “Aeroplane Chess”—what is that? It’s the Hong Kong name for the universal game known here as “Ludo.” Pierre and Christophe play together here on sixteen simple, stripped-down tracks. They pass back and forth their figurines made of melodies, sounds, and rhythms, creating a minimal yet dense ensemble, with nothing missing from these two record jockeys. It brings to mind the Penguin Cafe Orchestra or an experimental Brian Eno. Minimalism taken to the extreme, we let ourselves be transported onto the game board. Friendly cheerful, minimal and essential. If Calder had recorded an album, this would have been it. Composed, recorded, and mixed by cp-pb between Lyon and Rotterdam in 2025. Based on an idea to “maximize minimalism” proposed by Denis Tagu. Christophe Petchanatz : « Thanks to Madame G. for giving me a mandolin. ». Mastering: Patrick Muller
Pierre Bastien Pierre Bastien is a French musician and creator who specializes in building mechanical instruments. From the very beginning of his career, he has combined art and technology to create unique musical machines. His orchestra, Mecanium—composed of Meccano machines playing various instruments—perfectly illustrates his innovative approach to musical creation. Bastien has collaborated with renowned artists such as Robert Wyatt, Jac Berrocal, and Pierrick Sorin, and has released albums on prestigious labels including Lowlands, Rephlex, and Tigersushi. Christophe Petchanatz Christophe Petchanatz’s (aka Klimperei) music has been described as “toy music, naïve, acoustic, experimental, minimal, childish, neo-classical, bizarre, avant-garde, dreamy, an overturned toy box, ‘avan strange’ French toy-pop chamber music...” Klimperei (“fiddling on the piano” in German): formed in 1985, with a debut album in 1991 (Tout seul sur la plage en hiver) following numerous cassettes. About sixty albums (CDs or vinyl) have been released to date, some of which are collaborations (Pierre Bastien, Don Simón y Telefunken, Palo Alto, Frank Pahl...). Music for television, theater, dance, and multimedia performances (regular work with the Anooki for events in France—Lyon, Festival of Lights—and around the world)… Christophe and Pierre have known each other for over 40 years, having been neighbors in Lyon. Their very distinct worlds ultimately had little overlap: as a duo on “Mécanologie portative” released by Prikosnovénie in 1998, and “Octogonale impérative” in 2009 on Gazul Records (Les Zutopistes series), and a cover of “Une souris verte” for the compilation “No more no mouroir” released by InPolySons in 2001. This new convergence of complementary approaches, born of a long friendship in music, is therefore a heartwarming event. 
1. Aeroplane Chess 02:39 |
