Hannah Peel – Down At The Front

Hannah Peel & Beibei Wang

Paul Hudson — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 22:08:09 +0000

With a stage full of instruments and everyday objects. It was clear this was going to be an interesting one-off collaboration between Hannah Peel and percussionist Beibei Wang as part of Hannah’s residency at Kings Place. Both appeared to be really enjoying mixing their respective media into a shared piece. Hannah’s electronica provided the foundation for Beibei to play her various ‘instruments’. Fascinating to watch

Hannah Peel

Paul Hudson — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 23:41:33 +0000

During lockdown, my day evolved into distinct blocks. A work block, an evening block for cooking and watching TV and because I stay up late, there was the midnight block for listening to music, reading, playing computer games and reprocessing old photos for a daily ‘from the archives’ Instagram post. I found Radio 3’s ‘Night Tracks’ which Hannah presents and ‘Through the Night’ were the perfect way of creating the ambiance for my late night activity. Hannah Peel’s beautiful voice very much helped keep me sane.

In 2021, Hannah released Fir Wave, her lockdown album. Inspired by ‘Electrosonic, the music of Delia Derbyshire and the Radiophonic Workshop‘. Hannah sampled and reinterpreted the work, producing a beautiful textured open soundscape. Tonight, was the first performance of the album.

I think it is impossible for an electronic artist, not to be inspired by Delia Derbyshire. Accompanied by Hazel Mills, the mainly electronic piece, is Hannah’s tribute to an artist who clearly inspires her. Hannah and Hazel created layers upon layers of textured sounds that never felt forced. Each texture given its own space, creating a sense of reflection. It was simply beautiful. A sublime way to spend an evening.

Hannah Peel at the Barbican

Paul Hudson — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 23:37:36 +0000

A nice extension of the afternoon’s Daylight Music. Hannah Peel and the Paraorchestra with Charles Hazlewood at the Barbican playing their new album ‘The Unfolding’. What makes Paraorchestra different is how they are open to musicians with disabilities and it was fascinating watching musicians not allowing a disability from expressing their talent. The piece itself is about the cyclic nature of existence and melded the electronic with the traditional.