Peter Maydew

Introduction

Peter Maydew is a multi-instrumentalist who's been dabbling in music for many years. I picked up a cassette release of Shaking the Dreamland Tree in the late 90s. I'd been given an AD Music label compilation album to review and it had two of Peter's tracks on it. It turned out that these tracks were by far my favourites. His Hubbub album was due to be released on that label, but sadly this didn't happen. The label is still going but is concentrating on pure synth music by a select few artists who in my opinion aren't any good. Peter has his own web site that comprehensively describes the background to his releases. See http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~peter.maydew/.

Shaking The Dreamland Tree

by Peter Maydew

Released 1988
Catalogue: artist's CDR release

[ Reviewed July 2002 ]

This album has been one of my favourites since I got it. Having played the cassette version many many times in the car, recently getting a CD-R version from Peter himself has been great. The improved sound quality has brought out so much more in the music that I didn't hear before. Instant track access is another bonus but I tend not to play odd tracks and try to go for whole albums, so they have to be good all of the way through. I was impressed with the album packaging, the CD is a nicely printed photo of a branch silhouette against a sunset, and the cover is professionally done.

The music itself is totally instrumental apart from the odd spoken word sample and I can honestly say that I haven't heard anything else like it. It covers a broad range of styles from full-on active tracks with drums to layered acoustic and electric guitars to ambient electronics. I think the thing that sums up the album is that it is full of surprises, a track will be moving steadily along and then take a sudden turn down a different alley, returning for the closing section. When it's running steadily, the music is formed from layers of guitars meticulously played with a keyboard backing. I hate to make too many comparisons between artists as this can be an instant turn-off, but the acoustic guitar music is not a million miles away from early Genesis' Anthony Philips. The mixed guitar work would appeal to Mike Oldfield fans, but Peter has his own almost 'quirky' English style and is in no way copying anyone. The ambient electronics are probably my favourites if I had to choose; Music Like Being Underwater and going into Dancing In The Bubble Chamber, and Exterior Night are the sort of thing Klaus Schulze would've done in the late 70s. Up-beat tracks like Escaping Steam and Camera Obscura feature Paul Gallant on drums who helps to give a raw feel to the playing.

If you want to try a copy, contact Peter himself and he will be happy to sort you out.

Tracks:

1. Vox Diablo 4:16
2. Shaking The Dreamland Tree 4:51
3. Shouting Through The Letterbox 3:50
4. In Pursuit Of The Glint Of The Sun 2:17
5. The Man Who Made His Own Rainbows 6:34
6. Parrot In A Flaming Tree 1:59
7. Escaping Steam 4:12
8. Flickering Shadows 3:29
9. Lightning City 5:58
10. Midnight Antennae 3:37
11. Music Like Being Underwater 4:05
12. Dancing In The Bubble Chamber 2:07
13. Camera Obscura 8:15
14. Exterior Night 3:53
15. Fires At The Bottom Of The Dark 3:21

total time 62:44

Tracks:
1.	Vox Diablo	4:16
2.	Shaking The Dreamland Tree	4:51
3.	Shouting Through The Letterbox	3:50
4.	In Pursuit Of The Glint Of The Sun	2:17
5.	The Man Who Made His Own Rainbows	6:34
6.	Parrot In A Flaming Tree	1:59
7.	Escaping Steam	4:12
8.	Flickering Shadows	3:29
9.	Lightning City	5:58
10.	Midnight Antennae	3:37
11.	Music Like Being Underwater	4:05
12.	Dancing In The Bubble Chamber	2:07
13.	Camera Obscura	8:15
14.	Exterior Night	3:53
15.	Fires At The Bottom Of The Dark	3:21
	total time	62:44

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