motel de moka

[It's been 2 years since we last attempted a guest post by a musician we love and respect over here, and I'm very happy to break today our guest hiatus with Dusseldorf-based pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann, aka Hauschka. Earlier this year, Hauschka released the delicate and playfully nostalgic, Ferndorf, based around his own childhood memories on the small German town and today he is here with us to share a few words on some of his favourite records and songs. Please let him know any of your thoughts by leaving a comment over here or by sending him a message via any of the links at the bottom of this post.]

Paul Wirkus & Mapstation - Air Modulation
Forest Full of Drums (Staubgold / 2008)

This album is a piece that you have to listen to completely. There is an interesting film on youtube about the guys recording it (link). I like the mixture of natural texture provided by the birds and on top of it the improvisations of Paul playing a weird kind of drumming. This is one of my favorite records.

Arnold Schoenberg - Sehr Langsam (Takt 1)
Verklärte Nacht Op. 4 (Deutsche Grammophon / 1984)

This is a wonderful piece by Arnold Schoenberg, which appears to me very modern but also quite dark. I found a very good recording of it in a record shop in the Soho area of London. It is performed by the Lasalle Quartet and it is released on Deutsche Grammophon.

Sven Kacirek - St. Charles Avenue
The Palmin Sessions (Pingipung / 2007)

This record is one of my favorites because Sven combines percussion with all sorts of ideas for sound research and using his great drumming abilities he brings it all down to a total different quality. He drums on plastic bags and other found material and the sounds he gets from them is wonderful. On this song it is even better as in the middle section there is a great clarinet arrangement which seems to come from New Orleans. It is a great piece of music.

Mama!milk - Kujaku
Fragrance of Notes (WIndbell / 2008)

This is a great dark and obscure jazz song and I like the tragedy in it. It doesn’t sound polished, it has its dirt and its magic. The whole record is a discovery.

Tom Brosseau - Here comes the water
Cavalier (FatCat / 2007)

What a voice and what a great mixture of sadness and humor. I was touring with Tom a couple of weeks ago in the USA and it was such a pleasure, this song was a companion for the whole tour as he performed it nearly every night and it is very touching.