Only the coldest of hearts will not be affected by the seductive spell of these mini piano pieces. The embracing warmth, raw openness and cinematic spark they so effortlessly carry are simply irresistible.
Writing about good music is always tricky. When the music is very emotionally charged and executed with the kind of expressivity which cannot be taught, it’s even trickier. This latest output from the lovely Berlin-based boutique imprint is definitely one of those albums which are trickier to review. For the sake of sharing the bliss and spreading the word, I’m sitting here now in the wee hours with my headphones on, desperately trying to find the words that will somehow capture a fragment of this album’s beauty.
I’m turning up the volume knob a bit (but still keeping it in the soft zone which Totland recommends for an ultimate listening experience), thoughts are slowly fading, the music is taking over.
Through the gaps between the slightly open shutters of the dark room, gentle moonlight is still seeping in, backed up by the subdued shining of the street lamps. The CD has finished spinning, the journey has ended.
A silence is roaring, but the sounds are still flowing through my veins. I’m feeling inspired and recharged. Magically played by Otto A Totland (half of Deaf Center) and beautifully recorded by Nils Frahm at his famous Durton Studio, the eighteen piano pieces on Pinô assemble a deeply effective journey that slowly but efficiently peels off the layers of the mundane that cover the skin. The music is so alive at times it makes me feel like I’m right there in the studio with Totland, the piano and Nils.
I’m not the biggest fan of limited editions, but I admit, Sonic Pieces’ handmade and embossed book packaging (first editions only) is made with so much care and attention to details it makes the imprint’s sonic treasures even more precious. The first edition of Pinô ran out already during the pre-order period, but fortunately for those who weren’t quick enough, a second edition (with embossed cardboard packaging) is now available through the Sonic Pieces online shop, and a digital version is available through Boomkat. Only the coldest of hearts will not be affected by the seductive spell of these mini piano pieces. The embracing warmth, raw openness and cinematic spark they so effortlessly carry are simply irresistible.
Pinô is available on Sonic Pieces.
