Nils Frahm
Wintermusik

4
...according to our Phil on 23 December 2009.

Anyone into pianos should check out the Nils Frahm CD called Wintermusik on Sonicpieces (the last thing they did was a split CD by Konntinent which was ace). This is packaged in a lush little thick book style sleeve with a wee nipple inside for the CD to rest its weary shiny fat back on. I have to say if all CD's were packaged like this then they wouldn't be in the state they're in now cos it's a lovely thing. I can't keep my eyes off it... It's all textured like a pair of old mans trousers. hand numbered as well. All boxes are officially ticked... But what's the music like? Well, in a word it's gorgeous neo classical wares. It's just lush sounding classical pieces of piano based music which is as beautiful as it is maudlin. It's very emotive with definite nods to folks like Max Richter, Peter Broderick etc.... some of it reminds me of a more sombre Hauschka without the bottletops and keys. It's a really lovely way to spend 30 minutes of your life! The music was originally intended as a Christmas present for friends and family but it's obviously been discovered by someone with nice ears and you should be thanking them greatly. Well nice! Note only the Erased Tapes is available now which is packaged in a regular slim card sleeve.

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Sound clips for Wintermusik by Nils Frahm: on CD at Norman Records UK. CD, Erased Tapes, ERATP018CD, £9.79.

What their label says...

Nils Frahm, born in 1982, had an early introduction to music. During his childhood he was taught to play piano by Nahum Brodski a student of the last scholar of Tschaikowski. It was through this that Nils began to immerse himself in the styles of the classical pianists before him as well as contemporary composers. Today Nils Frahm works as an accomplished composer and producer in Berlin. In early 2008 he founded Durton Studio, where he has worked with Peter Broderick and Dustin O Halloran amongst other fellow musicians. The three instrumentals, which make up his debut release 'Wintermusik' are piano led pieces, coloured with occasional celeste and reed organ parts. The record s equal measures of sorrowful refrains and uplifting passages, combined with a real intimacy that makes for an album you'll want to return to again and again. The songs were originally intended as a Christmas present for friends and family, hence its winter release via London-based cinematic music label Erased Tapes. As the curator of the Swedish boutique label Kning Disk s Piano Series, Peter Broderick invited Nils to record a new Nils Frahm, born in 1982, had an early introduction to music. During his childhood he was taught to play piano by Nahum Brodski a student of the last scholar of Tschaikowski. It was through this that Nils began to immerse himself in the styles of the classical pianists before him as well as contemporary composers. Today Nils Frahm works as an accomplished composer and producer in Berlin. In early 2008 he founded Durton Studio, where he has worked with Peter Broderick and Dustin O Halloran amongst other fellow musicians. The three instrumentals, which make up his debut release 'Wintermusik' are piano led pieces, coloured with occasional celeste and reed organ parts. The record s equal measures of sorrowful refrains and uplifting passages, combined with a real intimacy that makes for an album you'll want to return to again and again. The songs were originally intended as a Christmas present for friends and family, hence its winter release via London-based cinematic music label Erased Tapes. As the curator of the Swedish boutique label Kning Disk s Piano Series, Peter Broderick invited Nils to record a new album of piano improvisations the result is 'The Bells', which will now be released on Erased Tapes in the UK, Ireland and North America. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of what on the surface appears to be an entirely pre-planned and composed body of work comes with the discovery that these pieces were in fact improvised. These two friends share a common affinity in that they both possess an absolute mastery of melody, composition and performance able to deliver with devastating effect. The modest Mr. Broderick states I remember thinking to myself as I lay there stunned, that I could spend ten years trying to write an amazing piece of piano music, and still it would never be half as good as these improvisations! Recorded in a rented, beautiful old church in the heart of Berlin over two nights, Nils just played with the occasional instruction from Peter I spouted Make a song using only the notes C, E, and G , or "Make a song that you could imagine me rapping over the top of" (Track 8 My Things ). At one point I was even inside the piano, laying on the strings, asking him to make a song called Peter Is Dead In The Piano . The resultant work 'The Bells' shares the same excitement and air of playfulness. For a musician this early in his career, Frahm displays an incredibly developed sense of control and restraint in his work. As the recognition continues to grow for both, 'Wintermusik' and 'The Bells', we are pleased to announce that 2010 will also see his next album release on Erased Tapes.