Books Of Sounds
Pirata, 2026
10/10
The pianist Conor Hanick puts a fresh coat of paint on Hans Otte’s visionary work for solo piano, where the 12 parts unfold with precision and exploration.
“Part 1” opens with light keys that radiate tremendous beauty and mystery across 10+ minutes of grace, and “Part 2” follows with the flowing and radiant keys emitting cinematic qualities that are absorbing.
Entering the middle, “Part 5” carries a darker mood that’s got some underlying tension amid the meticulous playing, while “Part 6” is a short, very minimal delivery of restraint and emotion.
Closer to the end, the lush and melodic “Part 10”, the album’s best, draws us into the swirling keys and charming ambience, and “Part 12” exits with a dreamy appeal that’s stirring in its calm, therapeutic delivery.
In the area of solo piano albums, it just doesn’t get more engaging than this, as Hanick does justice to Otte’s work with tremendous care, vulnerability and complicated dynamics that few others could replicate.
Travels well with: Percussia- Murmuration; Blue Heron/Dunya- Lessons From Nightingales: Songs Of Sufi Mysteries