Who is The Phlod-Nar?
Randolf Smeets, a.k.a. The Phlod-Nar is a composer/musician from
The Netherlands, currently living in Belgium. Smeets boasts an
impressive catalog of work featuring various orchestrations encompassing
classical, jazz, electronic, film music and other experimental genres in
between. He uses composition, improvisation, electronic, acoustic
(piano, guitar, clarinet, percussion, voice), field recordings, and other found
sounds in his adventurous works. For Smeets the lines of genre and style
have begun to blur as his own distinctive compositional voice has taken
shape. It is not uncommon now for Smeets to blend styles and sounds
within a single composition as he seeks the perfect expression of his
muse. His music is an inviting safe haven where listeners can enjoy
experimental music, freely get wrapped up in it and not develop a migraine.
(adapted from several reviews)
Quote: “Smeets is a highly creative composer by liberating musical constraints yet still keeping his works aurally pleasurable.” – Kelly O’Neil (review Works for Piano)
Projects and collaborations
Film composer for documentary ‘Arches & Bridges’ by Michiel van Hout + several short films and audio books. The MUN Astronauts (piano & electronics w/ Jaxx Rain), Agula (instrumental music on guitar, bass, percussion), Azimogu (treatments in sound), Vigilan Freeland (band member on keys, clarinet, bass), Randolf & Joke (songs for children), Feirledijika (jazz with movie dialogue), Concourse in Atmosphere (online collaboration), For Andrei (music, sounds & dialogue from the films of Andrei Tarkovsky), Chameleon Music (music for films), Temonos Productions (The Phlod-Nar’s production label)
Selected discography as The Phlod-Nar, unless otherwise indicated (1996-2014):
Electronic 2006 Black Paint and Red Ochre
Improvisation 2006 The Crystalline Piano
Ambient 2006 Utriusque Cosmi
Experimental 2006 First Works 1996-1998
“Pseudo”Classical 2008 Wanjina
Electronic 2008 To Inhale
Electronic 2010 White Roses in an Ocean of Blood
Classical/Electronic/Acoustic 2010 In Eternity
Ambient/Chill-Out 2011 The Mun Astronauts: Into the ocean
Classical/Contemporary 2012 Randolf Smeets: Works for Piano
Jazz/World Music 2013 Concourse in Atmosphere: Revolution Café
Ambient/Chill-Out 2014 The Mun Astronauts: Twirly
Film Music 2014 Selected Film Works 2007-2013
Ambient/Sound Design 2014 Tramontana EP
www.thephlodnar.com