After three decades shaping the pop music landscape, British composer and producer Pascal Gabriel birthed his Stubbleman project in 2019, turning his attention back to his electronic and experimental roots. Following the release of Mountains and Plains, Stubbleman is gearing up to release a new album. Entitled 1:46:43 – The Ventoux Trilogy, the album is an exploration of the legendary Mont Ventoux cycling ascent, which he has transformed into a unique auditory experience. To bring the album to life, Stubbleman used real-time ride data – heart rate, speed, power, and cadence – to guide modular synth sequences, weaving together field recordings, rhythms, and melodies. Spanning 18 tracks across three movements, The Ventoux Trilogy reflects the changing landscapes of the mountain, with each piece evolving in response to the physical and emotional challenges of the climb. More than just a cycling journey, the upcoming album is a reflection on the human experience itself.

Ahead of the album’s release in June through Crammed Discs, Stubbleman has shared ‘In the Company of Oaks’, which opens the second movement, and as the press release describes, “marks the transition into a dense, towering forest, where the unyielding grey tarmac pitches sharply upward, winding through a cathedral of ancient oaks whose vaulted canopy casts dappled shadows across the road”. Mirroring the strain of the ascent, “each breath grows heavier, each movement more deliberate, as the solitude of the climb sets in”. Listen to ‘In the Company of Oaks’ below.

In a career that spans three decades and an array of musical ventures, Pascal Gabriel has become an accomplished composer and producer. Known for producing and co-writing ‘Theme from S’Express’ (S’Express) and ‘Beat Dis’ (Bomb The Bass), Pascal has also collaborated with a variety of artists, from Wire and Can to Miss Kittin, Erasure and Goldfrapp, amongst many more, in the corners of the pop landscape. Stubbleman is his latest solo project, where his electronic ambient past re-emerges, paired with lo-fi found sounds, field recordings and modular synthesiser, and also live piano.

Under the new moniker, Pascal will release his debut record Mountains and Plains on April 26th though Crammed Discs. The album is inspired by a road trip across the US, “evok[ing] the poignant delights of endless train tracks, sleepless cities, nostalgic ruins, big skies, high deserts and lost junctions”, as the press release describes, “keeping at all times an affectionate eye for the humanity which populates these diverse landscapes.”

Ahead of the album’s release, Stubbleman has shared the first taste from it, the gentle and beautiful ‘Badlands Train’. It comes with a fitting visual accompaniment and you can watch it below.