Sydney-based composer Chris Abrahams is probably best known for his work as pianist in The Necks, although he has four solo piano albums under his belt to date too. This ROOM40 disc sees Abrahams moving beyond the piano into the territory of modern electroacoustic composition. The piano remains a core ingredient of Abrahams’ sound, being put to particularly effective use on ‘Remembrancer’, an echoing, detuned cascade of keys, and ‘Can Of Faces’ in which Abrahams plucks at the innards of his forte piano. It’s a piece reminiscent of some of Aphex Twin’s prepared piano work on Drukqs. As the album goes on it becomes more heavily populated by electronic tones, dischordant organ, and what sounds like flailing woodwind instrumentation. Penultimate piece, ‘Car Park Land’ sees a conglomeration of all the albums most successful elements, building from a core of organ drone and string plucks that eventually give way to Abrahams’ piano flurries, making for a welcome harmonic ease that brings to mind Michael Nyman’s most subtle piano compositions. Recommended.
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Sydney-based composer Chris Abrahams is probably best known for his work as pianist in The Necks, although he has four solo piano albums under his belt to date too. This ROOM40 disc sees Abrahams moving beyond the piano into the territory of modern electroacoustic composition. The piano remains a core ingredient of Abrahams’ sound, being put to particularly effective use on ‘Remembrancer’, an echoing, detuned cascade of keys, and ‘Can Of Faces’ in which Abrahams plucks at the innards of his forte piano. It’s a piece reminiscent of some of Aphex Twin’s prepared piano work on Drukqs. As the album goes on it becomes more heavily populated by electronic tones, dischordant organ, and what sounds like flailing woodwind instrumentation. Penultimate piece, ‘Car Park Land’ sees a conglomeration of all the albums most successful elements, building from a core of organ drone and string plucks that eventually give way to Abrahams’ piano flurries, making for a welcome harmonic ease that brings to mind Michael Nyman’s most subtle piano compositions. Recommended.
Sydney-based composer Chris Abrahams is probably best known for his work as pianist in The Necks, although he has four solo piano albums under his belt to date too. This ROOM40 disc sees Abrahams moving beyond the piano into the territory of modern electroacoustic composition. The piano remains a core ingredient of Abrahams’ sound, being put to particularly effective use on ‘Remembrancer’, an echoing, detuned cascade of keys, and ‘Can Of Faces’ in which Abrahams plucks at the innards of his forte piano. It’s a piece reminiscent of some of Aphex Twin’s prepared piano work on Drukqs. As the album goes on it becomes more heavily populated by electronic tones, dischordant organ, and what sounds like flailing woodwind instrumentation. Penultimate piece, ‘Car Park Land’ sees a conglomeration of all the albums most successful elements, building from a core of organ drone and string plucks that eventually give way to Abrahams’ piano flurries, making for a welcome harmonic ease that brings to mind Michael Nyman’s most subtle piano compositions. Recommended.