There are two main aspects to BJ COLE's thirty odd years in the music business. Firstly, as a unique innovator on the Pedal Steel Guitar he has carved out a formidable reputation as a session musician. He has recorded/played live with many of the great names in contemporary music, such as REM, Scott Walker, Beck, Sting, Spiritualized, Bjork, Elton John, Marc Bolan, Scott Walker, Pink Floyd, Eno, The Verve, Robert Plant, Marianne Faithfull and Joe Strummer.
Secondly, as a musical innovator and artist in his own right, BJ began as a founder member of the British post psychedelic band Cochise. He then went on to write and record his seminal experimental album 'The New Hovering Dog' (United Artists 1973).
BJ returned to his artistic career in1989 with 'Transparent Music' (Hannibal Records), an instrumental album that took the Pedal Steel Guitar into an impressionistic musical world. On the album, contemporary classical works such as Debussy's 'Clair De Lune' and Satie's 'Gnossiennes' sat alongside BJ's own experiments in ambient composition. As a result of 'Transparent Music', BJ extended his activities on the avant garde and ambient music scene; working on recording projects with American minimalist Harold Budd and French composer Hector Zazou, establishing a working relationship with ambient House wizards The Orb, and appearing on TV and European Arts festivals accompanying John Cale.
In 1995 BJ and his group The Transparent Music Ensemble released "Heart Of The Moment" (Voiceprint), a follow up album to "Transparent Music" featuring original compositions.
Since then, BJ has dedicated much of his time to working with DJ's and programmers. In 2000 Stop The Panic (Cooking Vinyl) recorded in collaboration with Luke Vibert, broke down many of the barriers that have existed between performing musicians and DJ's, and has opened up a whole new audience for his innovative music. The album was promoted worldwide and supported by a worldwide tour.
In the last two years BJ has collaborated with such luminaries of Electronica as Groove Armada, Bent, Kumo, Alabama 3 and Luke Vibert to produce tracks for his forthcoming album Trouble In Paradise.
