Nils Frahm - The Bells (2009) [Hi-Res]

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. As the curator of the Swedish boutique label Kning Disks 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 the London-based cinematic music label Erased Tapes in the UK & Ireland. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of what on the surface appears to be an entirely pre-planned and composed body of work comes the discovery that these pieces were in fact improvised. These two friends share a common affinity in that they are now to be released on the London-based cinematic music label Erased Tapes in the UK and Ireland. 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. In contrast, his debut release 'Wintermusik' consists of three piano led pieces, coloured with occasional celesta and reed organ parts. Most recently Frahm and Broderick re-interpreted Pink Floyd s Is There Anybody Out There? for MOJO s covermount CD The Wall Rebuilt! . According to MOJO Hamburg-born pianist Nils Frahm spent the last few years creating wondrous, haunting music. Together they accentuate the orchestral qualities of Pink's lament, the track's sense of paranoia amplified by the choral resolution of this version'. 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 releases, we are pleased to announce that 2010 will see his next album release on Erased Tapes.