HAUSCHKA The prepared piano


Entitled The Prepared Piano naturally enough, the 12 miniatures presented here charmingly explore Cage's most celebrated modus operandi. These pieces are definitely within the realm of minimalism, however, they never wear out their welcome. They're not willfully abstract, for there aren't any giant crescendos or banging away at the keys. They have a real direct simplicity that is utterly accessible and charming, and which is honestly not too far off at times from the music Vince Guaraldi wrote for Charlie Brown. I think a wide variety of people will find something to explore in here; I know I always enjoy music that is inventive without being pedantic and so too apparently did all the customers who immediately connected with Hauschka's Prepared Piano when we played it in the store. Let me just say that there were a lot of them. [MK]

www.othermusic.com/2005september28update.html

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With jaunty rhythms augmented by glistening strums of exotic sparkle, “La Seine” suggests a bustling trip down the river, while waves of Glass-like chords accumulate into a dramatic, syncopated mass in “Twins.” Some songs are bolstered by aggressive patterns (“Traffic,” “Firn”), Bertelmann even coaxing a staccato funk rhythm of sorts from the piano on “Long Walk,” in contrast to quieter settings like the ponderous “Fernpunkt” and “Where Were You,” its soft chords augmented by the soft shuffle of percussive noise and vibes accents. The recording closes with the suitably gentle “Morning,” its elegant lines subtly adorned by hints of electronic noise and bass. On The Prepared Piano, the endlessly resourceful Bertelmann deftly reminds us that the piano, rooted in the action of a hammer striking a string, is not only an instrument of limitless melodic potential but fundamentally a percussive one too.

www.textura.org/newreviewspages/hauschka.htm
October 2005

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...The Prepared Piano is an amazingly visual record: opener "La Seine"'s precise ticking puts you in mind of whirring gears and machinery, while "Traffic", with a propulsive main piano line and several competing ones, conveys a clear image of a busy thoroughfare where boxy gas-guzzlers jockey for position. Subtle use of hand percussion and drums reinforce the piano's role as the main determinant of rhythm. The bass tends to come in halfway through songs, adding a low end you didn't realize was missing -- a charming surprise.
Bertelmann's treatments make it clear how versatile an instrument the piano is, but the enjoyment you get out of The Prepared Piano is more than academic. It's reflective, hypnotic music -- perfect for a rainy weekend spent watching Mary Tyler Moore reruns with the sound off.Sarah Zachrich
www.splendidezine.com

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vidently enthralled to the likes of john cage and henry cowell, 'the prepared piano' seems to revel in the dusty, careworn sound of a much used steed prepard with all manner of object affecting the sublime sound, with the opening 'la seine' a rickety marriage of clockwork sensibilities and deceptively simple playing. this sound continues throughout, with the driving rectitude of 'fernpunkt', the lazy honky-tonk of 'two stones' and the quixotic marriage of glitch and piano on the closing 'morning' of particular note. absolutely beautiful piano music.

www.roughtrade.com

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...Hauschka finds the possibilities in nontraditional technique, clamping wedges of leather, felt or rubber between the piano-strings, preparing hammers with aluminum paper or rough films, placing crown corks on the strings, or weaving in guitar strings. The result is small rhythmic sound-vignettes and quiet ballads which all have their roots in East Asian harmonies and minimalism. These are vivid, unconventional pieces of music that are made of playful research and child-like enthusiasm -- academically illuminated.

www.tonevendor.com

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‘The Prepared Piano’ is an exploration of the piano as an instrument. It is a record designed to point out the diversity of what seems such a simple instrument and one we perhaps take for granted. Taking inspiration from musical visionaries like John cage Hauschka alters the way his piano responds through clamping bolts, screws and a whole host of other odds and ends to alter the workings. The resulting sounds and textures are astonishing, as a single modified piano becomes a mini orchestra.
The Prepared Piano is odd and wonderful and a refreshing reminder that there are still musicians out there actually thinking about what it is they are doing. I wipe my eyes and thankfully doff my cap.
http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/

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...this CD is successful as a quiet, meditative solo piano CD. It is more diverting than absorbing. Hauschka uses his piano preparations as something of a novelty, but this makes it easier to listen to for most of us who are used to hearing structure and melody. All in all, this is both an interesting and listenable work.

Dave Howell
www.popmatters.com

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D’ailleurs, les mélodies portent un agréable parfum de japon. Vraiment, un joli disque et une jolie musique, à écouter sous les cerisiers en fleurs.

stephane
http://www.autresdirections.net

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The album saunters in many directions, but underlying each approach is a concern for stasis; sound clipped to tiny chains of isolated atomic process. Individual pieces build, but don’t so much continue on or develop from one another. As the album nears its last breath, sounds remain much the same as at the outset, yet the music is ripe with events and reflection.Max Schaefer
www.themilkfactory.co.uk/reviews/hauschka_piano.htm +++

Das Resultat ist eine von unerwarteten Trash Sounds durchtriebene ,hypnotische Klavierplatte, die zwar nicht unbedingt durchgehend sein "verwegenes Ziel, die Idee von elektronischer Musik für das Klavier zu adaptieren" erfüllt, aber doch in verspielt -bedachter Manier mit simpelsten Kleinst-Loops, minimal asiatischen Variationen und besagten Kronkorken-Klimbim an Labtop-Methoden erinnert und sich insgesamt so angenehm zurrückhaltend präsentiert, dass man schlichtweg nicht genig bekommen kann.
Debug 09/2005
Renko Heuer/Renkoheuer@web.de

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Der Herr hat hier zwar manipuliert und experimentiert, aber trotzdem ein Augenmerk auf Melodien und perkussiven Groove gelegt. So wundert es dann nicht weiter, dass aus einer einzigen Klangquelle ein so breites Spektrum an verschiedener Musikalität zu holen ist. Es gibt perkussive Elemente, es gibt melodiöse Elemente und wenn alles zusammenkommt gibt es schon fast einen Song. Die kleinen Linien bleiben sofort im Ohr hängen und man summt die ganze Zeit mit.
Wann hat eine pure Experimentalplatte jemals Ohrwürmer hinterlassen? Doch ganz, ganz selten. Deshalb nimmt man das eigentliche Experiment dieser Platte auch kaum war, weil es so natürlich und selbstverständlich wirkt. Ich glaube, so etwas habe ich noch nie gehört.
Es gibt zwar eine ganz tolle, von Brian Eno produzierte Platte aus der Ambient Serie, bei der Laraaji auf irgendwelchen Saiteninstrumenten rumklöppelt, die mich fast ebenso berührt. Allerdings ging es bei dieser Platte wohl nicht um die Manipulation von Instrumenten, da, meines Erachtens nach, konventionell gespielt wurde und der Ambienteffekt dann über die verschiedenen Layer und Effekte des Instruments erzielt wurde.
Aber wieder zurück, “The Prepared Piano” ist mit die schönste Platte dieses Jahr und verdient einen Sonderpreis für das hörbarste Experiment ever. Respekt!

www.hayfever.de
Philipp Bückle (09.2005)


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Hauschka is Volker Bertelmann and his piano. Delicate and crisp piano numbers - really get your feet tappin and your fingers snappin. While you'll
hear a handful of different instruments throughout the album, all of these songs rely on and are lead by Volker's strong piano playing. Very emotional, vivid, relaxing, beautiful stuff.

www.everythingisfire.com

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Tonal provozieren die erfrischenden Sound-Ungereimtheiten nicht sonderlich. Hauschka ist nicht plump, sondern subtil. Die ästhetischen Makel klingen behutsam komponiert.

Groove 9/2005