Goldfrapp – Head First
I have been working with Alison and Will for the last 10 years, being present for each and every tour they did so far. I’m the oldest band member and together with Alison the only survivor out of the first live band. Something to be proud of surely. However I never took part in the recording process of any o their albums until this time, where I contributed to two songs: Rocket and Dreaming.
Recoil – 5000 Years (A Romanian Elegy For Strings)
This is one re-interpretation I’m particularly proud of. Answering the request of my friend Alan Wilder I’m so glad for the result of this remix. I hope you enjoy it too.
Alicia Keys – The Element of Freedom
Out of a fantastic session in Long Island I’m proud to have been involved with this album. You can hear my strings on That’s How Strong My Love Is and if you by the deluxe version you can also hear me in Thru It All and Pray For Forgiveness.
Moby – Orchestral version of Mistake
Mistake is the third single from Moby‘s album Wait For Me.
As I was doing the remix for Moby’s second single Pale Horses, Eric Harle, Moby’s manager, aksed me to work on Mistake as well.
So, here is my version of it… enjoy!
Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Released in 2008, this is the album that made my work renowned around the world.
I’m aware that it may sound rather pompous and arrogant to say this… but I have to admit that since then my career as string arranger and producer has been really taking off in a big way.
And this is all thanks to Chris, Jonny, Guy, Will and Phil, who welcomed me into their Coldplay’s world in such an open and trustful way, that I’m still so grateful for how it all went.
This has been my very first big collaboration with an artist of the caliber of Coldplay in such a deep and involved manner.
I remember visiting The Bakery with Guy back in September 2006, when the studio was still under construction. That was the time I met with the band’s engineer Rik Simpson for the first time. Rik later became one of the producers of the album alongside Markus Dravs and Brian Eno.
In November 2006 we started working full-time on demos, for a period that was going to last three months with virtually no breaks. Just a few weeks in and Eno joined us, bringing with him a couple of extra players, one of them being Jon Hopkins, who was going to be with myself one of the main ‘external’ collaborators of the album.
A year and a half later the work was done, after countless sessions and after recording more than 30 or 40 songs??? (I honestly can’t remember).
Ten made it to the album and my work was featured on six of them. These were Life In Technicolor, 42, Yes, Viva La Vida, Violet Hill and Strawberry Swing.