musicAddicted

Although Nils Frahm has released just one full-length album, a collaboration with cellist Anne Müller and two EPs, he belongs to the most respected artists on the contemporary classical scene. I believe it’s his classical education and training in piano playing since his childhood what differs his composition and way of musical communication from his mostly self-taught contemporaries. Firstly, it was Nahum Brodski – a student of the last scholar of Tchaikovsky, who taught him techniques and the “right” perception of the music. Later came Peter Broderick who became some kind of mentor and director during improvising recording sessions in Grunewald Church which resulted in Frahm’s defining debut, The Bells, one of musicAddicted’s favourite 2009 albums (article in Slovak language).

However, it doesn’t matter how many geniuses moved around him, it was (and had to be) Nils Frahm, who found his own voice; not only in the selected techniques, but also way of composing, arranging and finally, breathing in his unique signature. Luckily, he was more than successful in this task and his blueprint is an obviously personal, intimate relationship with piano and romanticist and emotional feel of his compositions which are advanced in the complexity of sound and technique. While most of his contemporaries bet on sentimentality and lush simplicity, Frahm goes beyond this – his work is dramatic and intricate.

Yet, his second full-length FELT (out on October 10th) finds him moving in new direction – towards minimalism and intentional calm. Unter is placed in the middle of FELT hints the future sound: delicate, inward sound where the rushes of piano’s hammers is one of the strangely warm stirs accompanying Frahm’s playing. The playing itself is surprisingly simple and straightforward with a clear line of melody and its short and simple variance. In spite or maybe because of the melodic ease Unter sounds overly warm and welcoming – it’s a composition for a sincere enjoyment. It seems that FELT will be another jewel toErased Tapes’ admirable cont.–classical collection.