Polaroid Piano [15th Anniversary LP]

Akira Kosemura - Polaroid Piano [15th Anniversary LP]

A note from Lawrence English: "Akira Kosemura's Polaroid Piano is a record that is very close to my heart. In fact, it is Akira's work that was one of the drivers for Someone Good, one of the Room40 sibling labels, to be founded. Polaroid Piano marks the beginning of what would later become known as felt piano music, an approach to the piano which was picked up by numerous artists across subsequent years. It captures an essential and intimate rendering of the piano at close proximity, but it does more than that, it allows the piano to breathe within the places around it. Structurally, the record is a collection of piano-led vignettes. Each piece is a microcosm of lived in music, which is porous, and opens themselves outward, inviting a sense of time and 'the present' to seep into the music. They feel instantly intimate and evocative, melodies imprinted with the world around them. In some of the recordings a siren calls out from beyond the immediate acoustic space of the studio, whilst in others birds seep in and the rustling of Akira's clothing folds into the music itself. When we first discussed the recording, Akira had invited me to offer some sounds that might act as a leaping off point for the compositions. I collected a series of field recordings which were offered as simple(more...)

01. Hicari (2:04)
02. Faire (1:40)
03. April (3:14)
04. Would (3:06)
05. Sign (2:20)
06. Tale (1:56)
07. Look (1:47)
08. Tyme (3:38)
09. Guitar (1:30)
10. Venice (4:20)
11. Ein Lied (3:50)
12. Enough Grace (3:08)