Hauschka

Hauschka – Philanthropy (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 52:30 minutes | 552 MB | Genre: Electronic, Ambient, Neo-Classical, New Age
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © City Slang

For Volker Bertelmann, aka Hauschka, music is not solely about its sound, but also a means to facilitate the exchange of ideas and foster meaningful interactions between individuals, revealing his fascination with human connection and engagement. Despite being known for his distinctive prepared piano sound, the Academy Award-winning composer intentionally named his 15th solo studio album Philamthropy to express his compassion and openness. The album’s song titles, such as “Diversity,” “Nature,” “Loved Ones,” and “Altruism,” perfectly align with their respective musical compositions. Hauschka’s albums often serve as a platform to provoke dialogue on specific themes, and Philamthropy follows this pattern, aiming to offer optimism and energy in response to the challenges of recent years. The album combines upbeat and pensive pieces, featuring moments of joy, introspection, and peaceful interludes. Overall, Philamthropy showcases Hauschka’s compositional prowess and serves as a gift that sparks reflection and celebration.

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Hauschka – Philanthropy (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 00:52:30 minutes | 545 MB | Genre: Electronic, Ambient
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover

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Hauschka – A Different Forest (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 44:04 minutes | 419 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Classical

Following triumphs that included the imaginative experiments of 2017’s What If and his scores for the films Adrift and The Current War, Hauschka’s Volker Bertelmann makes his Sony Classical debut with A Different Forest, an album that exemplifies his talent at creating a sense of place with his music. Instead of the prepared piano that is usually at the heart of most Hauschka albums, Bertelmann uses pure piano to reflect the eternal beauty of the woods. However, A Different Forest is very much a piece with the rest of his work, echoing the searching feel of What If, the tender melodies of Ferndorf, and the musical landscapes of Abandoned City. Bertelmann begins the album with “Hike,” a piece whose winding, contemplative melody feels organic and inviting; much like a walk in the woods, its ebb and flow lets listeners give themselves over to the rhythms of nature. In Bertelmann’s hands, these rhythms are ever-changing. True to its name, “Urban Forest” is linear, percussive, and modern-feeling; “Hands in the Anthill” rises and falls on itself in intricate patterns. A Different Forest’s moods are just as complex, spanning the effortless grace of “Dew and Spiderwebs” and “Skating Through the Woods,” the sunny “Daybreak Over Covent Garden,” and more somber moments such as “Talking to My Father” and “Woodworkers.” By the time A Different Forest ends with “Another Hike,” it’s clear that this is a serene, thought-provoking album that grows richer with each listen. ~ Heather Phares

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