“One that recalls, variously, the proto-trip-hop of Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier, the rumbling scores of Bernard Herrmann and the cinematic swagger of Barry Adamson.” – John Lewis, The Guardian

A soundtrack to an imagined film…

Bastien Keb presents his third album, ‘The Killing of Eugene Peeps’, an ode to Giallo, 70s crime flicks, and French new wave cinema. Befit with downbeat anti-ballads, psychedelic folk, and warped soliloquies, the music is an imagined score to a film that exists only in Keb’s mind.

The album was conceived, composed, performed, and produced by Bastien Keb in his bedroom. The music flows between spoken word narrative pulled from Keb’s own journals, hauntingly layered vocals that conjure up dreamscapes and nostalgia, and rich, orchestral arrangements which were in fact all recorded via one singular microphone. Various contributions from longtime collaborators include Nottingham-based rapper Cappo, narrator Kenneth Viota, and album artwork by artist Will Morrison, who has worked with Bastien Keb for several years. The record was mixed by Keb and Goetz Botzenhardt, who specialises in TV and film music and has mixed music for Madonna, Doctor Who, the award-winning film Under The Skin, Björk, and Pet Shop Boys.

A guitarist first and foremost; Keb also plays trumpet, bass, drums, piano, flute and more – many borrowed, donated or found instruments. Layering his voice to imaginative effect, you may hear influences of Bon Iver or Jai Paul but in truth it’s more indebted to the widescreen soul of The Impressions or The Delfonics. Kenneth Viota, Claudia Kane, Cappo and Camille Limoges contribute a supporting cast of voices across the album.