Astronaut by Peter Mergener

Space is just his cup of tea

On July 21, 2021, 52 years after the first moon landing, this album is finally released as a download album.

Even the instruments sound like science fiction: JD 800, DX 7, OB 12, MS 20 and so on. The only thing missing is R2-D2. "But he's a robot from Star Wars," says Peter Mergener, smiling mildly at the TV reporter's attempt at a joke. But then he diplomatically relents: "Actually, it's not that bad. And it's hard for amateurs to tell them apart anyway." JD 800 & Co. are synthesizers, keyboard instruments that generate sounds electronically via sound synthesis. Mergener generates not only tones, but entire sound worlds. Spacious sound worlds, which brings us back to science fiction.
"Yes, space and everything to do with space travel - that's always been exactly my cup of tea," says the 67-year-old, smiling.
In his home studio in Heidenburg (Hunsrück), Mergener produced his new album "Astronaut", which he first released as a "CD only" in July 2019 and it was his contribution to the great space anniversary. 52 years ago, on July 21, 1969, Nasa astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon. A famously giant leap for mankind and a bubbling source of inspiration for Peter Mergener, who pulls out all the stops here. The total playing time of 51 minutes is spread over eleven piecaes. In addition to spherical soundscapes, driving sequencer rhythms, surreal sounds and effects that sound like human singing, original sounds are also used. For example, John F. Kennedy's legendary "We have chosen the moon as our destination ..." phrase, as well as parts of the radio traffic between the ground station and the space capsule. The Eagle has landed - and Mergener continues his journey through the infinite expanses.
CD available at Cue Records