In January 2021, Eelco Topper (Felbm) went into hermit mode by way of a two-week residency at Buitenplaats Doornburgh, a former monastery on the outskirts of his hometown of Utrecht, Netherlands. He had already intended to use only natural elements for inspiration, such as naturally-occurring textures and patterns, and the earthiness of acoustic instruments like singing bowls and a range of wooden percussion.
On arrival, the contemplative architecture of the building and the peace of the surrounding landscapes energized Topper so much that these initial ideas blossomed into nearly 50 minutes of intimate 4-track cassette recordings.
Following the residency, Topper collaborated with a cast of local guest musicians on flute, saxophone and cello, infusing the original rhythmic foundation of percussion and acoustic guitar with a lush melodic backdrop.
The resulting new release – simply titled ‘Elements of Nature’ – marries the fluttering melodies and lo-fi cassette sound of earlier Felbm releases with a new conceptual approach and more varied sonic toolkit. Here, Topper successfully preserves the joyful naïveté of the Tapes series while exploring sweeping new ground, resulting in a decisive step forward for Felbm as a composer, producer and artist.
‘Elements of Nature’ was first released in November 2021 on limited edition cassette, accompanied by a riso-printed book of artwork.
Illustrated once more by long-time collaborator Joost Stokhof, the artwork assembles Stokhof’s ink drawings together with the analogue photographs that inspired them, taken by Felbm during his residency.
released May 20, 2022
All music composed, performed and recorded by Eelco Topper
Recorded at Buitenplaats Doornburgh and Studio Sao Paulo between January – June 2021
flutes & bansuri by Mark Alban Lotz
saxophone & duclar by Koen Boeijinga
cello by Dianne Verdonk
mastered by Jeffrey de Gans
artwork & book design by Joost Stokhof
© & ℗ 2021 Felbm & Soundway Records Ltd.
Made possible with the financial support of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and Sena Performers Music Production Fund
