The Human Connection with Brandt Brauer Frick

5 Minute Read

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Music

The band take us through a playlist themed around the concept of human connection following the release of their new album ‘Multi Faith Prayer Room’.

Brandt Brauer Frick are a band which continue to pivot and reimagine themselves within new contexts. Their latest album ‘Multi Faith Prayer Room’ was symbolic of this continuing shift as they seek to reinvent their sound and collaborate with new musicians.

It featured a dynamic assortment of sounds inspired by the likes of Krautrock, Jazz, Techno, Post Punk and beyond. It sounds eclectic right? That’s because it is – the album feels like perhaps the most true representation of their respective tastes and influences thus far and is maybe the most individual album of the groups career so far.

Recorded over the past two years, it includes collaborations with Mykki Blanco, Azekel, Marina Herlop, Kom_I, Sophie Hunger and Duane Harden.

Considering all of the above we felt it apt to ask the group to explain some of the influences and strands which had informed the record. The group came up with the theme of human connection within which to explain these ideas, a fruitful decision considering the various collaborations on the new album.

Below is a playlist of music picked and explained by the band…

“We feel like we’re drowning in the present. People are unable to project themselves into an idea of the future in the same way some did in the 1970’s, for example. We decided to reconnect with the concept of utopia and encourage positive thinking about the future in our own way, away from the rise of divisive populism.”

Topics

Brandt brauer frick

LISTEN

Claire Rousay - peak chroma

“In her very own balance of field recordings and musical elements, Claire Rousay creates wonderful and fluid soundscapes, sort of a magical realism with modern means. The associative way things move and the attention to details suck you in deeply… There is a fragile and dreamlike logic to this music, it might be called meditative but it’s very alive.”

Claire Rousay - peak chroma

“In her very own balance of field recordings and musical elements, Claire Rousay creates wonderful and fluid soundscapes, sort of a magical realism with modern means. The associative way things move and the attention to details suck you in deeply… There is a fragile and dreamlike logic to this music, it might be called meditative but it’s very alive.”
Conrad Schnitzler - Electric Garden

“The incredible conceptual artist and modular wizard Conrad Schnitzler – once a student of Beuys – could sound like an abstract take on Future Dub music already in the seventies… Hard to put these architectural shapes in words, just listen and get inspired.”
Morton Feldman - For Bunita Marcus Mm. 1270-1372, played by Aki Takahashi

“Feldman’s music has a clarity that is unique. While being mostly so sparse in notes, it is insisting and claims all your attention. It can feel like accompanying somebody’s slowly unfolding thoughts as if they were your own. Cautiously you enter multiple harmonic worlds that never become foreseeable… This piece is part of a longer piece that Feldman wrote for his partner, the composer Bunita Marcus, beautifully interpreted by the pianist Aki Takahashi.”
Laurie Spiegel - The Unquestioned Answer

“The beauty of this piece lies in its elegant simplicity. Spiegel’s composition strips away unnecessary complexity, allowing the essence of the music to shine through. With minimalistic arrangements and carefully chosen sonic elements, the piece achieves a remarkable clarity. Each note and sound is purposefully placed, creating a sense of balance and harmony that resonates deeply.”
Chihei Hatakeyama - Twilight Sea

“Twilight Sea” by Chihei Hatakeyama is a mesmerising composition which feels like gentle waves caressing the shore. The song carries an ethereal quality and as it unfolds, subtle nuances emerge, reminiscent of distant whispers and subtle echoes. The repetitive motifs acts as a grounding anchor, allowing for a deeper immersion into the present moment.”
Dean Blunt – ZUSHI

“This short Dean Blunt piece encapsulates a captivating duality that resonates with me on a personal level. The song seamlessly blends contrasting elements of vulnerability and strength, introspection and defiance, creating a complex and multi-layered experience. It’s a sonic journey that navigates the depths of emotions, reminiscent of the intricate interplay between light and dark.”
Klaus Schulze – Timewind

“Klaus Schulze recorded the LP Timewind in 1975, a magical trip through space and time as he made use of sequencers for the first time. A true pioneer!”
Ravi Shankar – Raga Charu Keshi

“A Raga belonging to Carnatic style, depicts the mood of love and frivolity.“ Ravi Shankar’s music is universal, understandable for everyone and almost natural. This piece takes the listener on quite a journey, the frivolity is indeed transcending from this instrumental into the listeners mood.”