Grandbrothers, the duo of pianist Erol Sarp and engineer / software designer Lukas Vogel, create a lovely blend of classical, jazz, electronica, and ambient music together. Their newest album, Elsewhere, is designed to take you to such a place…wherever it may be.
The duo decided to add more vintage synths, drum loops, and other electronic oddities to their newest album. The simmering intro of “Famara Dust” swirls like a slow whirlpool into the trip hop-inspired “Fable.” The funky drums of “We Collide” sizzle and snap while Sarp’s piano keeps you buzzing. The way Sarp’s piano loops (which remind me a bit of some Ennio Morricone compositions) and curls with Vogel’s programmed beats on “Where Else” is slick.
“Liminal” thumps and bumps in all the right places. “Velvet Roads” starts off as smooth as the fabric in its title and then drops a gorgeous house beat on you. “Cypress” might be your new favorite chill house track. “Rex Machina” does indeed sound like it uses samples, loops, bleeps, and bloops from various machines to accent the piano and alter field recordings (Thunder? Breaking ocean waves? Wind through trees?) and loosen that stress headache you’re enduring.
I can’t help but think Grandbrothers got the title for “run.run.run.run.run” – a snappy electro track that sounds like it’s mixing in steel drums at some points – from seeing it on some vintage synthesizer or computer they used to process the sounds of it. Ending with “NOWHERE,” the album has taken us to a place that’s nowhere yet everywhere, here and now, then and when.
The album is a journey for Grandbrothers, who were exploring new ways to make new music with Elsewhere, and for us. We all come through it with a fresh look on the world.
Keep your mind open.
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[Thanks to George at Terrorbird Media.]