V/A :: The 88 Notes (Series 2) (EC Underground)

I find that this whole collection is relaxing to listen to, with plenty of interesting sounds to hear, in lots of combinations and layers. Listening to this anthology reminds me that sometimes the sound of the piano’s internal mechanisms, the moving pedals and little felt hammers, even the creaking seat for the pianist, all those tiny sounds distinguish this listening experience.

Sparkling as it expands

Perhaps the best anthologies take you in different directions within a similar theme, which for this anthology is the theme of 88 keys. These are tracks from piano romantics, all of the selections are mostly slow and calming, sometimes punctuated in interesting ways. The instruments used to create this second in a series of sound galleries include pianos, and seem to me to celebrate the musical synergy of including pianos in many different ways. I find that this whole collection is relaxing to listen to, with plenty of interesting sounds to hear, in lots of combinations and layers. Listening to this anthology reminds me that sometimes the sound of the piano’s internal mechanisms, the moving pedals and little felt hammers, even the creaking seat for the pianist, all those tiny sounds distinguish this listening experience.

Sparkling as it expands, strings with the piano, “Music In Motion I” (1:11) is from Marie Awadis, the Armenian pianist and composer, based in Germany. She is known for her musical depth and sensitive sound. Intimate and poetic, Marie’s music aims at communicating the depth of human emotions. Her music, always centered around her instrument, the piano, draws influences from the life experiences that have shaped her as a human, from deep roots in classical traditions to recurrent folkloristic harmonic elements of her native Armenia. Her compositions are centered around elegantly crafted melodies and their evolving discourse, at once deep and intimate, aimed to bring about simplicity through the sophistication of a classically crafted pianistic language.

I hear another piano with strings in slow motion, a short repeating melody, the artist known as Infinite Scale presents “Hold” (1:52), to me a pause that brings new thoughts, a haunting melody with moments which start to fade that smoothly pop back into the theme.

Ruxpin has contributed the third track, “Rapla” (2:45). I hear a voice speaking within the beats and traps, funky vocal pumping action with melodies that rise into the form and the flowing narrative brings it home. Born in 1981, Jonas Thor Gudmundsson, better known as Ruxpin first started producing music at the age of 14. Ruxpin has done various live shows with artists such as Múm, Biogen, Alex Paterson, Yagya, U-Ziq, Jega, Galaktlan and many more in Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Russia, Lithuania, Israel, Netherland, Sweden, France, Netherland, Bulgaria, Latvia, Greece, Estonia and Catalonia.

Florian Förster has several solo albums including gewusst fern, à la carte, Public Retreat, Chicken Milk, Fortführung, some bert for your place. His track, “4 Uhr Tee” (7:07), starts with looping electronics that almost interlock like a machine, along comes a beat that fits the pieces together. I hear various loops of a keyboard’s dark sounds, getting funky and playful now. I think of Pink Floyd.

X.U.L is Gašper Selko, instrumentalist and composer, began his musical career at the music school in Kamnik, Slovenia. He continued his studies at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, and completed his education in the class of prof. Tibor Kerekeš. Genre diversity, freedom and creativity led him to various collaborations. He began to explore a unique musical expression in jazz, ethno, electronic music, all the way to metal, hip hop, funk and contemporary art. “I’m here to share my music, feelings … my life. And my language is music. So there is no end, just growth“

X.U.L “Bluebird” (4:58) brings a big reverb, a slow melody, a close mic, all layering slowly into new directions, a wonderful progression of inventions into a soaring piano based landscape.

Geraldine Kwik “Olympic Dream” (5:58) — Next I hear a piano becoming starlight, there are parts with a snappy beat and parts with the basic acoustic piano sound, some very cool loop effects, a nice flow through different places and always keeping a brisk pace. Géraldine Kwik is a multidisciplinary French artist based in Lille. She has studied architecture, photography, film and directing. From the age of 4, she learned music and harmony with her grandfather who was a flutist, boxer and resistance fighter during the Second World War. Geraldine studied classical piano at the conservatory with Vladimir Soultanov. She also studied with Hugues Rousé at the Jazz Department of the Tourcoing Conservatory. Géraldine wrote music for advertising for 15 years and still writes music for video mapping shows.

These are tracks from piano romantics ::

Lorenz Weber “the earth beats” (3:34) — Lorenz Weber is a shepherd, pianist and fairy tale writer. He lives with the rhythm of the wind, with the sound of the river, with the animals, with the heavy storms, with the cold, with the sunrises and sunsets. “My life is my constant teacher. And it is then that I wish to forget the theory of things – to keep myself captivated by each moment. I cherish the uncertainty in life and with it the imperfection which reflects in improvising a big part of my music. . Over years a developed an own individual aesthetic and language on the piano.”

Oscar Carmona “Otoño” (3:34) — Oscar Carmona is a composer, pianist and multimedia artist. His music explores and draws from several genres such as minimalism, classical music and piano tradition, film scoring and electronic music. He is currently seeking a symbiosis between the world of classical music and the sonic universe of electronic music. I find a melodic dream sequence, haunting, romantic and perfect.

MIKROMATIQUE is a German artist for contemplative, ambient & electronic music. The track is titled “Heimþrá” (3:10), wonderfully glitchy, dreamy and smeary, a dark layered melody that is easy to float off with into some haunted space, which flows in closer for the track finish.

Bistro Boy “Handan Undralands (for dad)” (5:00) — “I´m an Icelandic born musician releasing most of my work under the name Bistro Boy. I found my spiritual home in electronic music after dropping out of classical piano lessons, liberating me from sticking only to black dots on paper.” I hear a huge reverb for mountain size echoes, contrasting with tiny details that balance those extremes, often a melody emerges.

aAirial “Beneath the Mist” (3:05) — I hear a hymn to quiet darkness. aAirial is influenced by classical romanticism and emotional electronica, a mix that defines his style very well. The minimalist approach, retaining only the essentials for better reaching the listener. Next I hear some ting ringing metal joined by electronica, with plenty of reverb to give the tingle some throb. In the mix for a spell a piano gently emerges.

Anam Gu Anam “Three Colors Moon” (4:15) — Anam Gu Anam is a French Artist who is learning personal development and enjoying sharing his experiences, “I’ve been on experiment (pictures and sound) with Benoît Balfet, Ben, Benito del Lolaylo, Serie B, I’m Database, Cd Destroyeur, Nanopix, Anam Gu Anam, Soul Echo.”

She is here, a vocalist, I hear a piano with echo and some ethereal singing, the beat takes over now and there are words, poetry, a big intense powerful drama – bravo! Simultaneously adventurous and intimate: Mei “Entreluire La Fugitive” (4:35) We think that Mei is in France.

Sergio Mariani is a musician originally from Argentina but residing in the US for the last 30 years. He had a musical career long ago in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sergio participated in a group of bands that started the Electronic Music movement in Argentina back in the early 1980s. I love meditative science-fiction type themes, deep slow delicate piano with deep reflective dimensions. Sergio Mariani “Titan Moon Of Frozen Welcome” (3:27).

Sunken Foal “Hold Your Fire” (4:46) — Real Name: Duncan Murphy, Minced Oath, Press Charges, track title “Hold Your Fire” (4:46), melodic neo waltz punched by new beats, and is that a harmonica? There are so many flavors in this complex masterpiece, finishing with a little bit of soft shoe whimsy.

Coppé “Sm:)e (bonus)” (4:01) — Coppé is a Japanese electronic music singer-songwriter and music producer. She has affectionately gained the title of “The Legendary Godmother of Japanese Electronica.” Coppé was born and raised in Tokyo. Her real name is Yoshimi, which means pure, good and beautiful in Japanese. She was given the nickname Coppé by her mother because on her birth day she resembled a loaf of bread of the same name. Coppé works with a wide palette of instruments to construct her musical universe. She created her debut album Coppé entirely on a TEAC Reel-to-Reel, transitioning through Yamaha DX7 to the Nord Lead and her current instrument of choice, Teenage Engineering’s versatile OP-1. Outside the synth world Coppé employs unconventional instruments including the 5-octave mbira, nail violin, and meatgrinder.

Enjoy original works from artists around the world. This 7th edition, the second with a physical and digital release, crossing genres, paths, and people. In 2017, ECU launched Piano Day Live Performances in Europe to not only bring out more people, communities and landscapes into audible life, but it also prompts personal and moral reflections, and musical expressions. Variety is the best description, what I like best is when the piano is celebrated as a member of the ensemble and not always put ahead of the other instruments in the limelight.

On the 88th day of the year is Piano day, a day all about the history and love for pianos. This day takes place on the 88th day of the year because this is the number of keys on the instrument being celebrated. The music comes in a lovely CD sleeve on Brown Kraft 100% Recycled Card stock. Premium 100lb. Heavyweight cover. Outside with adhesive glossy paper. Inside with full color printed cards and stickers. Limited edition to 100 copies, sealed and hand numbered.

Marie Awadis :: marieawadis.bandcamp.com
Infinite scale :: infinitescale.bandcamp.com
Ruxpin :: ruxpin.bandcamp.com/music
Florian Förster :: florianfoerster.bandcamp.com
X.U.L :: xulmusic.bandcamp.com
Géraldine Kwik :: geraldinekwik.bandcamp.com
Lorenz Weber :: lorenzweber.bandcamp.com
Oscar Carmona :: oscarcarmona.bandcamp.com
Mikromatique :: mikromatique.bandcamp.com
Bistro Boy :: bistroboy.bandcamp.com
aAirial :: aairial.bandcamp.com
Anam Gu Anam :: anamguanam1.bandcamp.com
Mei :: closetomei.bandcamp.com
Sergio Mariani :: sergiomariani.bandcamp.com
Sunken Foal :: countersunk.bandcamp.com
Coppé :: mangoandsweetrice.bandcamp.com