Intuitive Music

Utramarine and Kevin Ayers

Formed in U.K. in 1989 by Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper, the British duo Ultramarine is one of the most eclectic electronica bands from the 90’s.

The duo started working together in the band A Primary Industry. The origins of Utramarine are linked to the fusion of British folk music and Canterbury sound with jazz, house, hip hop, funk, and synth pop. This curious mixture gave birth to their debut album “folk“, released in 1990 and featuring Ian Cooper (guitar and programming), Paul Hammond (bass guitar, programming), Simon Hammond ( drums), Richard Haslam (keyboards), Jemma Mellerio (vocals, keyboards, clarinet), Frank Michels (percussion), and Staf Verbeek (acordion).

In 1992, Utramarine had a 180º turn when the rock instrumentation was supplied by a more electronically oriented production, releasing the album “Every Man and Woman Is A Star”, which was basically oriented to ambient, house, deep house and synth pop. The personal touch of Canterbury sound and folk of the duo was enriched with samplings of artists like Echo and the Bunnymen, Yes, Paul Hardcastle and Bobby McFerrin. For the album, Ultramarine also counted with the collaboration of Gabriele Gai (keyboards), Jolly James (violin and production), Phil James (trumpet, harmonica), Paul Johnson (space drums, chinese flute), Charlie may (keyboards), Jemma Mellerio (clarinet), and brendan Staunton (vocals).

Utramarine and Robert Wyatt

In 1993, Hammond and Cooper produced one of the most original electronic albums from the 90’s, “United Kingdom”, which was a very personal tribute to the British Canterbury sound by artists like Caravan and Soft Machine. For this task, Ultramarine got surrounded by no more no less that some of the legends of the British genre, including Robert Wyatt (vocals), Jimmy Hastings from Caravan and national Health (clarinet, flute, piccolo, soprano sax), Phil James (trumpet, harmonica), Paul Johnson (percussion), Simon Kay (Hammond organ), and Jim Rattigan (Accordion). The result was an unique mix of house and and jazz grooves, with the spirit of the Canterbury bands.

The album “Bel Air”, released in 1995, supposed an important change in the sound of Ultramarine, which was more oriented to modern electronica with influences from different genres such as synth pop, trip hop and Latin music, with the collaboration of the singers from Pooka, Sharon Lewis and Natasha Jones.

In 1996, Ultramarine embarked in a new project called “Hymn” from which two EPs were released. The project was the result of the former meeting of the duo in 1994 with their personal hero, the Canterbury legend Kevin Ayers of Soft Machine, to record a session at London’s Berwick St. Studios. The first EP “Hymn” featured David McAlmont of McAlmont & Butler on vocals and it also contained several instrumental tracks in the style of their former album “Bel Air”. The second Ep “Hymn remixes” contained different versions of the “Hymn” theme interpreted by different electronic artists, including Luke Slater, Mouse On Mars, µ-ziq, Paul Sampson and Mekon.

In 1998, “A User’s Guide” confirmed a definitive step of Ultramarine into IDM, with a more digitally oriented production and a mixture of different electronic styles.