Retrograde is the new album of Pieter de Graaf. From studying jazz at the conservatory and playing as a pianist in a large number of bands in numerous different styles, Pieter at a certain point decided he wanted to be free. Musically free. Pieter’s longtime interest for the universe started as a young boy. His father, a philosopher, also had an immense interest for it and Pieter was fed with questions from a young age. During his life, Pieter kept on thinking and reading about subjects related to the universe. According to Pieter, the unexplored places and unexplained realities of the universe relate to music and art in a very close way. Music also is still unexplained in many ways and has lots of unknown places. For example: Why does a minor third sounds sad and a major third happy, for everyone? His interest in the universe has already left its marks in previous music and albums. The title of the second album ‘Equinox’ is universe related as well as songs Pieter released such as Supernova and Event Horizon. This is the first time however, that Pieter focusses totally on this subject and has dedicated a total album to it.
The titles of the tracks already give a good impression of what you might expect when listening to it: Quasar, Interference, Nebula, Space Cowboy, Eclipse, Asteroid Fuga, The Dark Side of the Moon, Space Requiem and Something from Nothing. When listening, you can expect to be taken along on a journey through the galaxy, passing big voids, sheering asteroids or shining stars. This is all translated to music by layers of sounds you don’t always expect. While listening to a slow wall of sound, every once in a while, you’ll be taken by surprise to a new chapter, where a heavy distorted beat comes along. It’s an album of surprises. From small intimate piano pieces of which we know Pieter till distorted beats with unexpected melodies. A new journey Pieter made.
SIDE A:
1. Quasar
2. Interference
3. Nebula
4. Space Cowboy
SIDE B:
5. Asteroid Fuga
6. The Dark Side of the Moon
7. Space Requiem
8. Something from Nothing
