Marc Chesterman: Jean's Piano (digital outlets)

Fascinating. The name here is that of soundtrack musician/sound explorer Marc Chesterman but in fact the piano being played – a real old-time machine – is from recordings he made of his grandmother Jean Albrecht at her home in Whitianga.

But much happens to her sound as he explains.

“A phrase of the original recording is selected, it becomes a 'sample', a couple of bars that will loop forwards and backwards. Now the sample can be played via a midi keyboard.

“Playing the sample is like playing any instrument - different pitches, notes are layered, new chords and combinations form. Plus you control the 'envelope', meaning, how fast a sound starts (attack) and finishes (decay).

“You form a new piece with a new sound.

“The resulting sound can also be processed, by adding reverb, echo, filtering and oscillation. It's instinct you're going on. You record what is played.”

So what we have here – subtitled “an hour of piano music” – is a collection of slow, quasi-ambient “piano” pieces recorded in summer, some of which are quirky (#237 which is like a weird recital in a Victorian drawing room) and others which are atmospheric and just allow the mind to wander (#225b).

Jean's Piano #225b

A lovely and unexpectedly harmonious blend of old and new.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here where there is also a cassette option.