Hauschka - The Prepared Piano 10th Anniversary Edition (2015)

Hard to believe it's now 10 years since Hauschka (aka Volker Bertelmann) released his second album 'The Prepared Piano'; a daringly candid musical letter to his obvious one true love... the grand piano. Although willing at times to allow other instruments into the relationship (most apparent on the percussive masterpiece 'Traffic'), Bertelmann never lets them overshadow the ivories. Evidently enthralled to the likes of John Cage and Henry Cowell, 'The Prepared Piano' seems to revel in the dusty, careworn sound of a much used steed prepard with all manner of object affecting the sublime sound, with the opening 'La Seine' a rickety marriage of clockwork sensibilities and deceptively simple playing. This sound continues throughout, with the driving rectitude of 'Fernpunkt', the lazy honky-tonk of 'Two Stones' and the quixotic marriage of glitch and piano on the closing 'Morning' of particular note. Absolutely beautiful piano music.