HAUSCHKA Room To Expand
FatCat/130701
...Wie Hauschka, der schon auf »Pingipung Plays: The Piano«, der empfehlenswerten Klavier-Experimentier-Compilation des Lüneburger Labels Pingipung glänzte, auf »Room To Expand« komponiert, das Klavier wie ein Gamelan oder wie die bestmögliche Drum Machine klingen lässt, in »La Dilettante« kammermusikalisch agierende Streicher, in »Chicago Morning« erst vorsichtig, dann mächtig aufspielende Bläser und aufwändige rhythmische Bewegungen arrangiert, rückt ihn in die Nähe von so großen Meistern wie Van Dyke Parks oder Jim O’Rourke. Zudem verweist Bertelmann auf seinem neuen Album auf den Franzosen und kompositorischen Fin-de-Siècle-Außenseiter Erik Satie und zitiert des Öfteren amerikanische
Vorbilder wie Steve Reich und Philip Glass.
www.spex.de
++++
It’s impossible to stress the genuine love for music that's expressed here, there's no pandering to any style or genre, no pretentiousness – this is simply great music and reminds you that someone, somewhere still cares. Utterly gorgeous and frankly unmissable...
www.boomkat.com
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'Room To Expand' largely resembles the masterful piano vignettes of Aphex Twin's 'Drukgs' album, and a more condensed version of John Cage's 'Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano', yet Hauschka's effort will take many, many listens before it becomes tired or predictable. Through close listening over time, the album unravels - it's possible to discover a new sound in each song with every listen. This already has to be a contender for the most outstanding, even unique, album of 2007.
www.diskant.net
Pascal Ansell
++++
...For Bertelmann, this means covering hammers with aluminum, weaving guitar strings amongst the ones provided, and my own personal favorite, placing crown corks on the strings. Bertelmann as the new aural Bukowski sounds good to me... But on to the music: "Chicago Morning" is the antithesis of "Habits," much as Room to Expand is quite the opposite of Plant, Watered. A simple piano line tinkles along in the background to its unending satisfaction as an art-damaged horn section (Remember when it was én vogue to use that?) woozily provides backup. I've only been to Chicago once and I've never gotten a proper morning out of the Windy City like I someday hope to, but this and its fellow songs on Room to Expand are how I'd like to imagine them.
PMMasterson
www.audiversity.com
Room to Expand eschews purism throughout: although on tracks like Paddington the piano orks on its own as a driving rhythm section, elsewhere he is not afraid to throw in synths, drums and electric bass. He does upbeat, contemplative, and even minimalist, as on Sweet Spring Come. It’s an album that flows beautifully, and unlike many in its field stands up to close listening as well as holding its own as more than mere background. Hauschka has produced an excellent addition to a burgeoning genre.
By Ben Bollig
20/01/2007
www.noripcord.com
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