Pianoketo

Antti Tolvi - Pianoketo
Fonal Records, 2013

Antti Tolvi is a classically trained Finnish musician with a strong background in Indian raga and free jazz. Originally a woodwind player, here we find him improvising on a piano that was untouched for 40 years, crafting some lush, intricate “sheets of sound” with the tranquil precision of a saxophonist. Though there are no special effects or filters, Tolvi recorded this live with two microphones attached to his ears, creating a flanger effect with stereo panning as he moves his head. Sounding not unlike Tim Hecker trying to imitate Keith Jarrett, this will no doubt be remembered as one of the most beautiful piano albums of the past several decades. Play any of it, play all of it; every note is precious.

Tracks 1 (22:36) and 2 (19:21) are shorter (so to speak) but sound roughly the same, along with track 3 (40:24)