Nils Frahm declares March 29th Piano Day with a free album

March 29, 2015 9:18 PM

At the end of 2014 I had an immediate urge to release a solo piano album which I recorded some time ago, and I was looking for a specific occasion to do so. I wanted it to be a nice surprise for everyone, so I thought of a meaningful release date to begin with.

Seconds later it came to my mind: I was about to create my own holiday in order to come up with a reason for this release. Moreover, if I could be proud of something, then of being responsible for an annual celebration of the piano. And here comes the best bit, Piano Day will happen on the 88th day of the year, which most of the time is the 29th of March. Piano Day is intended to be the most joyful of all holidays.

Join with Nils Frahm in celebrating Piano Day by enjoying his album Solo for free (sample: "Wall"), or enjoy other celebrations of the piano in his Piano Day 2015 playlist.
posted by filthy light thief (18 comments total)

This. This is for me. When I saw it listed as alternative I nearly walked away, however, being the cheap bastard that I am I had to at least give it a listen. I listened to Wall and knew this was not alterna-bullshit. Despite mislabeling the genre as such. I'm currently downloading the 24 bit wav file (has he never heard of aiffs?). I will of course buy a copy, but the wav will be my go-to listening choice. Also the Klavin project sounds awesome.
Thanks filthy light thief!
posted by evilDoug at 9:59 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

What a great idea for the 88th DOTY! And a great post, too.

It'll take me a couple or three days to enjoy all of the playlist -- the first time. And the times after that? Who knows?

Thank you very much for this'n, FLT.
posted by key_of_z at 10:06 PM on March 29, 2015

If pianos could talk...
posted by smcameron at 10:09 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

"Four Hands" is beautiful.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 10:28 PM on March 29, 2015

Olafur Arnalds (of Kiasmos) also put out a beautiful track (technically a rework of an older composition) for Piano Day called "Tree".

(edit: aw crap, that's in the playlist linked by OP! sorry!)
posted by raihan_ at 11:00 PM on March 29, 2015

The "Wall" piece doesn't sound like a piano. Is there some specialized acoustics or recording involved beyond the actual playing, to make that kind of sound texture?
posted by polymodus at 12:17 AM on March 30, 2015

polymodus - it might possibly be ‘prepared piano’.
posted by misteraitch at 1:07 AM on March 30, 2015

Nils Frahm has used a prepared piano before, with his album Screws performed on a piano with deadened strings (I think), however he notes on the linked page that this album was performed on the prototype Klavins, which is not a normal piano.

Thanks for this, I'm quite a fan of Frahm's work but had not come across this yet.

Live he is extraordinary, see him if you get the chance.
posted by deadwax at 2:22 AM on March 30, 2015

This is wonderful - thank you.
posted by iswa at 2:39 AM on March 30, 2015

Thanks so much for posting this! A new Nils Frahm album is a great way to start the week. If you like Nils Frahm you might also enjoy "A Winged Victory For The Sullen" which is pianist Dustin O'Halloran and Adam Wiltzie from "Stars Of The Lid" (Free streaming at this link.) They've put out two albums, both of which I can't stop listening to.
posted by Dean358 at 5:32 AM on March 30, 2015 [4 favorites]

Oh, wow. This is very yes good yes.
posted by umbú at 5:33 AM on March 30, 2015

I love Nils Frahm and this is awesome.

If you've never listened to Felt go do it now!
posted by Lutoslawski at 5:43 AM on March 30, 2015

Thanks, Dean358--I was on the fence about this, but the AWVFTS comment put me over the top.
posted by box at 7:37 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Ooh, digging around for longer AWVFTS videos, I found they have an hour and a half live Boiler Room session - not as DJs, which is Boiler Room's usual style, but as a live band. So good, thanks for the reminder of them!
posted by filthy light thief at 7:58 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Lutoslawski: If you've never listened to Felt go do it now!

Another gem from Erased Tapes, which you can sample here.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:01 AM on March 30, 2015

Spaces, Frahm's album from last year, is also very good.
posted by Going To Maine at 10:11 AM on March 30, 2015

This is absolutely wonderful -- thanks!
posted by dylanjames at 10:28 PM on March 30, 2015

Nils Frahm's Piano is Bigger Than Yours
posted by Going To Maine at 6:42 AM on April 25, 2015