Biography
Plastic Operator are the perfect pop group for our times.
Internationally minded, technically savvy and most importantly blessed
with the ability to sculpt sublimely soulful pop moments from raw digital
clay, Plastic Operator may exist in a parallel space to the tired pop
pap in the Top 10, but what a wonderful space it is.
Mathieu Gendreau (electronics) & Pieter Van Dessel (vocals / electronics)
are Plastic Operator. Respectively hailing from Montreal and Antwerp,
the pair met at London's Westminster University in 2001 where they were
both studying audio production. Bonding over a shared love of two decades
of fine electronic and indie music the pair began to make sweet music
together.
When the course finished Pieter returned to Antwerp to work on sound design
films and play in a few bands, and Mathieu remained in London to work
as a sound engineer and producer, working with a broad cross-section of
the UK's musical talent. The pair kept up their collaborative efforts
over the internet, meeting face to face in either London or Antwerp once
a month.
In 2004, their efforts came to fruition when then the pair released their
debut three track CD through a handful of record shops, with Rough Trade
making it their CD of the week. Once the tracks were out there in the
public domain, things accelerated at a pace no-one could have predicted.
The lead track from the CD, 'Folder', had been posted on a web blog, and
within weeks Plastic Operator were receiving emails from fans in New York,
Mexico City and Bangkok enquiring about the group. Radio stations as far
apart as California, New Zealand and Tijuana began championing the song.
In London Radio 1's Rob Da Bank began playing the track on his Blue Room
show, eventually signing the track to his Sunday Best label.
Already picking up admirers from its inclusion on Rob's latest Sunday
Best compilation, 'Folder' was released as a single in its own right in
November 2005. Featuring loving remixes from a range of Sunday Best friends
and family (namely Subway, Styrofoam and Shepherds) this is sure to see
the pleasures of Plastic Operator become apparent to an even broader audience.
Pieter & Mathieu have just released their debut album 'Different Places'
in 2007 on Fine Day Records. The album triggered raving reviews across
the world and the singles 'Peppermint', 'Why Don't You?' and 'Home 0207'
spent weeks and months on the playlist of radio stations such as Studio
Brussels, FM Brussels, KCRW... Many Plastic Operator songs are now hitting
the dance-floor with remixes provided by creative masterminds Jesse Rose,
Speaker Junk, Hermanos Inglesos, Wax Stag, Chewy Chocolate Cookies and
the likes.
2007 and 2008 saw Plastic Operator take their music to the stage. Their
dynamic live rendition of the album made crowds dance in many major clubs
and parties across Europe: from the Bestival Festival on Isle of Wight,
to Paris Fashion Week, Culture Club in Ghent, La Fleche D'Or in Paris,
Petrol Club in Antwerp and Razzmatazz Club in Barcelona.
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/plasticoperator
LastFM:
http://www.last.fm/music/Plastic+Operator
Press photos, logo and artworks available here:
http://www.finedayrecords.com/downloads.html