Foreign Landscapes 130701***

Hauschka is the working name for German pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann, who is finding increased momentum for his contemporary classical work with every new release. His third album for Fat Cat's 130701 label sees Bertelmann working with a string and wind ensemble from San Francisco's Magik*Magik Orchestra and applying a more lavish, involved and richer texture to his compositions. What's striking about these collaborations is Bertelmann's crunchy, melodic sounds. Those tones, which provided such albums as Room to Expandwith their critical fulcrum, are embellished and extended by the players without losing any lustre. While he's still happy to adhere to solo piano lines (see the beautiful span of prepared piano piece Mount Hood), it's the more involved and intricate pieces ( Alexanderplatz, Snow) that really weave a spell. See myspace.com/hauschka

Download tracks: Snow, Mount Hood