No doubt about it, it’s a cracking moniker that grabs the attention. The album’s title might not be quite as up-front or challenging, and the album’s contents is subtle and more in keeping with the title.
The story goes that the project was ‘inadvertently born out of Christopher Clöser’s boredom before a concert in Moscow, ‘Piano Nights’ started as an idea when he tinkered with a grand piano, and resonated with the sheer depth and enormity of the instrument. Proving to be too noble, too powerful, what you hear on this album is not a grand piano, instead, they chose to utilise the sound of a Yahama electric – more ambiguous, less lofty and most significantly, not quite so serious.’
So what we have here is a collection of electronic piano pieces, tinkling, late night lounge, laid back, louche. At times smoochy, atmospheric, at others meandering, background, ‘Piano Nighs’ explores the full gamut of the instrument’s applications.
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It’s music to drink to, music to smoke to. Since I don’t smoke any more, I sat back with a single malt in my dressing down and slippers and closed my eyes while the mellow vibes and smooth sax that sometimes appears alongside the synthetic ebony and ivory drifted over me.
Not that the brooding synth tones of ‘Fahr Zur Hölle’ exactly suggest cable-knit jumpers and sherry, while ‘Irrwege’ is an example of piano-led post-rock par excellence.
A slow-burner, for sure, but more than worth the effort.
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