VAAGUE

Citing artists such as Squarepusher, Clark, Deantoni Parks, Jon Hopkin, Flying Lotus, and Floating Points as inspiration. A leading figure on the Belgian jazz scene, Pierre is the focal point for musical projects URBEX, Next.Ape and VAAGUE, and he is also a member of bands with the legendary guitarist Philip Catherine and TaxiWars; the jazz vs. rock experiment led by Tom Barman (dEUS) and Robin Verheyen.

Fusing electronic sounds and samples with stunning drum patterns and rhythms, VAAGUE evolved over the course of a series of residencies at VOLTA and Le Botanique, in addition to taking inspiration from Thom Yorke’s 2018 Tomorrow's Modern Boxes tour. After two critically acclaimed EPs released in 2021 and 2022, and collaborations with Le Motel, Amy Root, and Dorian Dumont (ECHT!), VAAGUE’s debut album ‘Oktopus Mekaniks’ is set for release on the 18th October via Shapes No Frames.

Surrounded by his own unique android of drums and electronics, ‘Oktopus Mekaniks’ is the fusion of musician, instrument, and computer. Acoustics and electronics merge with incisive energy, perfectly executed on ‘Leviathan’, the first single to be taken from the album. A bassy groove with deep subs takes you on an epic trip where processed strings act as the melody, while the groove rampages between acoustic drums and lo-fi samples, before an upbeat chord sequence transports the listener into an epic crescendo.

Whether it's pulsing synthesizers or spurts of enchanted or murky sounds, each electronic element blends seemlessly with the harmonic beats performed by Pierre. Tracks such as ‘Amsterdamn’, featuring UK guitarist Stuart McCallum, captivate and hypnotize, as ‘Oktopus Mekaniks’ offers a coloruful gateway to an exciting musical universe where bass music, dub, ambient, jazz, drum & bass and club music collide. Electronics has become a key component across Pierre’s projects, no more evident than on this new offering. Elsewhere, Edinburgh born nu-folk singer Anna McLuckie provides mesmeric vocals on the sweet sounds of ‘We’ll See’, while ‘Typhoon’ boasts bass heavy dub vibrations, before a change in pace with the argent, impulsive drum and bass sounds of ‘Takes Time’ and ‘Ignition’ induce you into a trance-like, rhythmic state. Always inventive, VAAGUE stands out not only for its creative approach, but also for the elegance of Pierre's musical mastery.