Hans-Joachim Roedelius

★★★★ Drauf Und Dran GROENLAND. DL

Solo pianistics of Cluster and Harmonia founder comes with a book of its notation.

Hans-Joachim Roedelius has said that he doesn’t want his music to be considered as ambient, and here it positively demands attention. Tim Story, his friend and collaborator, reckons his approach to the piano is similar now to the way he has used synthesizers and electronics. His playing on the instrument has always been richly melodic with a stately poise, and here Unbedingt flows like a song. Other pieces show a Satie-like playfulness, but on Gerade, Roedelius evokes the eerie atmospheres of Schubert’s Winterreisse, and the shadowy cadences of Ohnedies contain some spicy dissonances. These home recordings are compositions with the fluency of improvisation and Drauf Und

Dran feels like a step forward, which is perhaps remarkable for an 86-year-old musician. And the title’s English translation, ‘On And On’, suggests there is still a lot more for him to explore.