a r t i s t : Hauschka
t i t l e : Ferndorf
d a t e : 2008
l a b e l : fatcat
g e n r e : Instrumental
r l s. d a t e : Jul/2008
t r a c k s : 12
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 60,1 MB
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HauschkaÆs second album for FatCatÆs 130701 imprint offers a
brilliant advance on 2007Æs æRoom To ExpandÆ. Where the
previous album comprised mostly solo recordings of HauschkaÆs
æpreparedÆ piano (with a few electronic and instrumental
overdubs), æFerndorfÆ is a far more expansive and
fully-realised album, with many of the tracks also featuring a
string duo, enabling an increased solidity. More dynamic, its
staccato stabbing rhythms are rendered increasingly rousing
and emotive with these additional strings. Whilst he
recordings still retain the shivers and tics (as by-products
of) of the modified internal workings of the piano - alongside
some sweet electronic touches û these are less central and
instead whatÆs foregrounded is the melodic / rhythmic push and
pull, and a development towards more orchestrated music and
notated compositions.
Having studied classical piano for ten years, Dusseldorf-based
pianist / composer Volker BertelmannÆs work as Hauschka is
based upon a playful exploration of the possibilities of the
'prepared' piano û an adventurous intervention into the
preconceived idea of the piano as a pure-toned, perfected
instrument simply waiting for a gifted virtuoso to play on it.
His resulting tracks are vivid, unconventional pieces made in
a spirit of playful research-enthusiasm. Prior to his
involvement with FatCat, Hauschka released two albums on the
Karaoke Kalk label - 'Substantial' (2004) and 'The Prepared
Piano' (2005). Volker is also a member of Music A.M., a
collaboration with Stefan Schneider (To Rococco Rot) and Luke
Sutherland (Long Fin Killie); and of the electronic / club
tracks duo Tonetraeger, with Torsten Mauss. Since æRoom To
ExpandÆ, HauschkaÆs cultural stock has increased considerably,
based particularly around the revelation of his live
performances, including rapturously received support tours in
the USA with M·m, in Japan with Colleen, and a debut, sold-out
London show with Max Richter. Where the previous album
appeared almost in isolation, æFerndorfÆ arrives with a
coherent extended campaign including increased live activity,
a digital single, and a video triptych by Japanese animators
Overture (responsible for M·mÆs æRhubarbidooÆ video).
The album title æFerndorfÆ (which translates as ædistant
villageÆ) relates to the small, central German village set in
a landscape of valleys and pine forests, in which Volker grew
up. Living by the forest, with the freedom to fully fully
experience nature, alongside his six brothers and sisters,
Volker spent nearly the whole day û apart from school -
outdoors. Growing older, it the village lost its charm and
became for him a boring place, provoking a move to Cologne.
Yet in the last couple of years he rediscovered that û
alongside his experiences of travelling - everything he is
playing today is based on his childhood experience in nature;
that the source of his creativity derives from being at the
right place in a certain time. æFerndorfÆ is thus his hymn to
that place. All of these songs are named after very
spontaneous impressions from that time, deliberately tinged
with a sense of Utopia. So, æMorgenrotÆ refers to the window
of his room which faced onto the rising red sky in summer
mornings; æRode NullÆ is a mountain behind his parents house;
æFreibadÆ is an outdoor swimming pool in the forest, where you
can go swimming in the moonlight; æNadelwaldÆ is the dark
needle wood which he sled-rode through in winter-time; whilst
æWeeks of RainÆ refers to FerndorfÆs famously rainy climate.
Recorded between October 2007 and March 2008, all of the
tracks and string arrangements were composed and recorded by
Hauschka. Purely improvised tracks like æBlue BicycleÆ,
æMorgenrotÆ, æNeuschneeÆ, æAlmaÆ and æNadelwaldÆ were recorded
with two cellists, Insa Schirmer and Donja Djember. The rest
were recorded with overdubs fromSchirmer on Cello and Sabine
Baron on violin, with additional assistance from Bernhard
Voelz on trombone.
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01-Blue Bicycle [05:37]
02-Morgenrot [03:30]
03-Rode Null [04:01]
04-Freibad [04:30]
05-Barfuss durch Gras [04:20]
06-Heimat [03:41]
07-Nadelwald [03:35]
08-Schoenes Maedchen [03:41]
09-Eltern [04:21]
10-Alma [02:41]
11-Neuschnee [03:43]
12-Weeks of rain [02:38]
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46:18 min