The Bells Nils Frahm

• 1 In The Sky And On The Ground 00:52
• 2 I Would Like To Think 05:58
• 3 Said And Done 03:15
• 4 Dedication, Loyalty 03:07
• 5 Down Down 03:38
• 6 Over There, It's Raining 01:52
• 7 Small Me 05:39
• 8 My Things 05:14
• 9 Peter Is Dead in the Piano 03:06
• 10 It Was Really, Really Grey 04:59
• 11 Somewhere Nearby 02:30
• Total Runtime 40:10

Info for The Bells

In early 2008 Nils Frahm founded Durton Studio, where he has worked with Peter Broderick and Dustin O Halloran amongst other fellow musicians. As the curator of the Swedish boutique label Kning Disks Piano Series, Peter Broderick invited Nils to record a new album of piano improvisations the result is „The Bells“.

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' (Track 8 – ‘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.

The three instrumentals, which make up his previous release 'Wintermusik' are piano led pieces, coloured with occasional celeste and reed organ parts. The record’s equal measures of sorrowful refrains and uplifting passages, combined with a real intimacy that makes for an album you'll want to return to again and again. The songs were originally intended as a Christmas present for friends and family, hence its winter release via London-based cinematic music label Erased Tapes. For a musician this early in his career, Frahm displays an incredibly developed sense of control and restraint in his work.

'The Bells is a record of astonishing beauty' (8/10) (Drowned In Sound)

'If there’s any justice The Bells, along with his recently released Wintermusik set, will expose Frahm to a wider audience, a demographic with a seemingly insatiable appetite for more prime neo-classicism' (BBC Music)

'Emotionally charged piano music which always errs toward the melodic side of melancholy.' (MOJO)

'Accomplished, genuinely pretty' (UNCUT)

Nils Frahm, piano

Recorded on 13th and 14th of November 2008 in the Grunewald Church, Berlin

Nils Frahm
was born in 1982 and from a very young age, he really enjoyed piano lessons, amongst others those given by Nahum Brodski, one of Tchaikowsky ́s last pupils. In his early days he also discovered Keith Jarrett ́s epochal improvisational music and the boundary-pushing musical worlds of the exceptional label ECM. Classical and jazz music have since become equal sources of inspiration for the pianist, alongside minimalist music and pop.

Nils Frahm had an early introduction to music. During his childhood he was taught to play piano. It was through this that Nils began to immerse himself in the styles of the classical pianists before him as well as contemporary composers.

Today Nils Frahm works as an accomplished composer and producer from his Berlin-based Durton Studio. His unconventional approach to an age-old instrument, played contemplatively and intimately, has won him many fans around the world. For a musician this early in his career, Frahm displays an incredibly developed sense of control and restraint in his work, catching the ear of many fans.

As the recognition continues to grow for his previous solo piano works 'Wintermusik' (2009) and ‘The Bells’ (2009), 2011 saw the release of his critically acclaimed record 'Felt' on Erased Tapes Records. The album was followed by the solo synthesiser EP 'Juno' and 'Screws' (2012) – a birthday gift to his fans he recorded while recovering from a thumb injury. Nils released his follow up to Juno titled 'Juno Reworked' (2013) with guest reworks by Luke Abbott and Clark.

Nils returned with his new album 'Spaces' in 2013, expressing his love for experimentation and answering the call from his fans for a record that truly reflects what they have witnessed during his concerts.

In 2013 Nils Frahm released his first music book, entitled 'Sheets Eins'. Nils is currently on his worldwide 'Spaces Tour 2014'.

This album contains no booklet.