Nils Frahm – The Bells

In late 2008 Peter Broderick invited Nils to record a new album of piano improvisations – the result is The Bells, which now finally sees a vinyl edition on Erased Tapes. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of what on the surface appears to be an entirely pre-planned and composed body of work comes with the discovery that these pieces were in fact improvised. These two friends share a common affinity in that they both possess an absolute mastery of melody, composition and performance – able to deliver with devastating effect. The modest Mr. Broderick states ”I remember thinking to myself as I lay there stunned, that I could spend ten years trying to write an amazing piece of piano music, and still it would never be half as good as these improvisations!”

Recorded in a rented, beautiful old church in the heart of Berlin over two nights, Nils ”just played” with the occasional instruction from Peter — ”I spouted ’Make a song using only the notes C, E, and G’, or ’Make a song that you could imagine me rapping over the top of’ (My Things). At one point I was even inside the piano, laying on the strings, asking him to make a song called Peter Is Dead In The Piano.” The resultant work The Bells shares the same excitement and air of playfulness.