Hauschka: “Radar”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Hauschka_Radar.mp3|titles=Hauschka: “Radar”]Volker Bertelmann, better known under his stage name, Hauschka, follows in the footsteps of experimental composers John Cage and Erik Satie, experimenting with prepared piano sounds. Bertelmann, who is based in Düsseldorf, Germany, manipulates traditional piano sounds by affixing different objects to the instrument’s inner workings. The resultant sound is one of surprising flexibility, as Bertelmann MacGyvers his way into a world of original sounds and unexplored sonic terrain. Here, he shares a playlist of his favorite experimental, acoustic tunes.
Experimental Music with Acoustic Sound Sources
by Volker Bertelmann
1. NSI: “Track #15” from NSI plays Non Standards
This track is a wonderful example of processing the piano sounds to get into a dark tone area. I like the modulation inside.
2. Phantom Ghost: “A Blush” from Three
This is definitely a song you either love or hate. I like it a lot, and I like the Oxford approach in this song. It sounds like you are a part of an old English salon.
3. Pierre Bastien: “The American of the Highway” from Visions of Doing
This music transports me directly in a very melancholic, city-nightlife atmosphere.
4. Phyllis Chen: “East Broadway” from UnCaged Toy Piano
Phyllis is, for me, one of the most extraordinary musicians I met in the last few years. This is a great track.
5. Lubomyr Melnyk: “KMH Section II” from KMH Section II
Like Phyllis, Lubomyr plays extremely fast piano, and it sounds like he has a million fingers. He has a special technique, and so the piano sounds like he is using tons of delay, but he isn’t.
His music made people in Düsseldorf cry, and kids went totally quiet.
6. Irène Schweizer: “Scratching at KKL” from Piano Solo KKL Luzern
I like this piece, which is all prepared piano and wonderfully rhythmical.
7. Cor Fuhler: “HL” from HHHH
Cor Fulher plays a very quiet, abstract, noise/drone piece with piano and ebows and all sorts of other material. He is a very creative, innovative player.
8. Whitetree: “Kyril” from Cloudland
This is the band of Ludevico Einaudi and the Lippok brothers, who are a part of To Roccoco Rot. I like their combination and setup very much, and I think it is wonderfully melodic and textural.
9. Barbara Morgenstern: “The Operator (Piano Versions)” from Fan No. 2
Barbara is a good friend of mine, and we went together to a music college to do a course in pop music. She is doing a great mixture between danceable and acoustic lyrical music. I like this track a lot.
10. Howard Skempton & John Tilbury: “Trace” from Well, Well Cornelius
John Tilbury is an outstanding pianist and member of the improv group AMM. He did a record with 22 short pieces of Howard Skempton…very modern and emotional short pieces. It is worth your while to check out all 22 compositions.