Skrifum

Let’s call this, like that underrated gem of Leonard Cohen, another „new skin for the old ceremony“. Jon Balke’s fourth solo piano album on ECM is a strangely organic affair, no matter how much science from the laboratory may be involved. A llittle machine called „spektrafon“ is extrapolating sounds from the grand piano that inspire in subtle ways Jon‘s playing of the keys. I‘m immediately thrilled by the game he‘s playing here. Like from a shadow world, sounds unheard appear in drone-like clothing, on the verge of vanishing or lingering on – you never know. And they are not tapping into the „drone trap“ by sounding especially mysterious or alien. So forget about „new age“ and „old tricks“. Thanks to Jon’s heightened awareness ranging (to follow the meaning of the Icelandic word „Skrifum“) from a sharp pencil to a broad brush (staying away from conversational stylings), every track of this adventurously discreet music is a little world of its own. The whole album is a quietly flowing, exciting journey, a ghost story for an old instrument – delivered with a constant sense of wonder. Welcome to your next favourite ritual of deep listening!

(m.e.)

More Praise for it in KLANGHORIZONTE

DEUTSCHLANDFUNK

27. März 2025

21.05 Uhr