Irmin Schmidt's
5 Klavierstücke consists of five improvisations played on two grand pianos, one of which was prepared in the manner of
John Cage,
Schmidt's one-time instructor. The pieces alternate between slow, sparse reflections, recalling the minimalist beauty of
Arvo Pärt, and locked-in rhythmic passages informed by gamelan, gagaku (Japanese court music), and the Motorik grooves of
Schmidt's most well-known group,
Can. While the pianos are the only instruments heard,
Schmidt and producer Gareth Jones also incorporated ambient noises into the recordings. "Klavierstück II," for example, is filled with some sort of rustling sound, and an airplane is clearly heard flying overhead. On the third piece,
Schmidt alternates between near-stillness and loud, abrupt notes which slap the listener's eardrums. "Klavierstücke IV" is perhaps the most stimulating piece, beginning softly before gaining a train-like prepared piano rhythm, gradually increasing tempo before slamming to a stop. The album can seem a bit arid, but there's still a sense of spontaneity that keeps the listener intrigued, and it's welcome to hear the composer continue to explore new territory eight decades into his life. ~ Paul Simpson