Secede
Lennard van der Last (1984; Nijverdal/The Netherlands) shook hands with his computer just a little while after he was liberated from the kindergarten: at the wondrous age of 8 he started out using trackers to create his own electronic music. Before that joyful encounter he loved taking control of his brother's keyboard; more than the piano lessons he perfunctorily attended to at that time. The piano lessons ended prematurely, but never dampened his enthusiasm to make music. At the age of 12 Lennard experimented with synthesizers and other musical gear. Old tapes from that era prove his remarkable talent for atmosphere and melody.
As time went by, Lennard made some likeminded friends in online communities, resulting in a contact with established electronic artist Proem, who recognized his skills, introduced him to the Merck label and asked him for a remix on the minidisc-label N5md (2001). And like it’s common in the electronica-scene, the internet played a leading role offering the possibilities of getting and smoothly staying in contact with labels and other artists. This way, Lennard stayed in contact with Merck and two remixes for Machinedrum followed. These tracks induced the label to ask Lennard for a Secede full length album, now known as Bye Bye Gridlock Traffic (Merck 2003). Although still unnoticed in the Netherlands, Secede stole many hearts mainly in Japan and the USA. (Unfortunately his obscurity in his motherland is no surprise; staying unnoticed in the Netherlands as an electronic musician is as easy as it is for one to find a hair on Chewbacca.) This album is a journey through numerous places and surroundings. It gives a good view on his talent for melody, atmosphere and sampling, but to cut short: in essence this album is enchanting and outstanding. From the intricate mix of movie-samples and layered melodic prettiness of the intro, via the gruesome highlight "Crave&Fall" (a work that is devastatingly uncomfortable), to the sheer, crystal beauty of "Age Tandems": this is an album that can be rediscovered several times.
Next is a long period of silence. Lennard is one of those reclusive artists, only leaving his house to shop for wine, maintaining a thorough relationship with the pizza deliverer. Now primarily focused on his laptop, new tracks kept on coming. The 2005-planned album on Neo Ouija, “Silent Flower Observers” was cancelled due to a avalanche of reasons. One of the best tracks of the album though, “Memory Table Part 2” is up for download in mp3 on the Sending Orbs website.
His friendship with fellow electronica artist Kettel resulted in a connection with the newly started Sending Orbs label from The Netherlands. This label received his newest tracks with great acclaim, giving him the opportunity to work on an album. The cd, called Tryshasla came out in June 2005, and miraculously tops Bye Bye Gridlock Traffic by showing even more detail and unity. Sending Orbs seems to be not only a good, professional place for Secede to release, but can even be called a good addition to what this music stands for: look at the wonderful artwork and you'll understand. Lennard calls Tryshasla the last dream of a person dying, drifting off to a fantasy land called Sanda. A peaceful death, indeed. Although this might sound a little eerie, the album has plenty of hopeful, inspirational moments. A fairytale sometimes referred to as "a work of Tolkien-esque proportions".
Through a series of liveshows (Advance Festival in Tilburg, opening for Plaid in De Effenaar in Eindhoven), following up his increasingly legendary album, Secede established his name. Nationally, but more so internationally, with a, just like his labelmates Kettel and Funckarma, vast fanbase in Japan.
It took Lennard, now living in Eemnes with his girlfriend and two cats (one of them is called “The Dead Rooster”), 2 years to finish his next cd, “Vega Libre”. Music that brings our minds back to the early days of Future Sound of London and The Orb. A voluptuous mini-album that is electrifying and sensual, with a rhythmical twang that was until now abcent in his earlier work. A “Vega Libre” sampler was also released, on breathtaking orange vinyl, confirming the great care Sending Orbs puts into the artwork of their releases. Alongside this new cd his first collaboration project with Kettel was released on the closing Merck label: “Perspeeks” on marbled 12”, where Lennard and Reimer remix eachother to great effect.
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