Wim Mertens belongs to the bunch of my all time favorite musicians ... This Belgian composer (b. 1953), after studying social sciences at the University of Leuven, discovered American repetitive composers, such as Philip Glass and Steve Reich. From 1978, he worked as a producer for the Belgian TV and from 1982 he started an amazing career of musician, composing musics for theatrical plays and for movies (for example Peter Greenaway's The Belly of an Architect and Louis Delluc's La femme de nulle part).
His first album was released in 1982 (For Amusement Only - The Sound of Pinball Machines).
His whole discography, until 2007, includes 71 CDs !!!
Wim Mertens wrote many pieces of chamber music for small ensembles or solo instruments, he also recorded many albums as a solo artist, playing piano, sometimes with vocals.
Defining Wim Mertens' music is not easy. I would say it blends minimalism and classicism in a very intimate and poetical way, with a personal lyrical touch... This music is serene and dynamic at the same time, melodies are at the forefront, there is a unique feeling... Wim Mertens' music is intemporal, at the crossroads of classical traditions and of the exploration of new patterns and atmospheres...
As an introduction to his musical universe, please listen to After Virtue, and try to buy some of Wim Mertens' 70 other recordings ;-)
link: mp3 / 320
password: olduvai
4 commentaires:
I look forward to hearing this. Based on the few Merten's recordings from the 1980s I've been able to find, I agree he is woefully underrated.
glad you're back!!! roger
glad to have you back - keep on going !
thanks for this - i have only heard a litlle of mr mertens (soft verdict, i think it was called). looking forward to listening...
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