Irmin Schmidt (Photo: Diane Zillmer)
Irmin Schmidt, the Can keyboardist and soundtrack composer, has announced a new album of piano pieces.
5 Klavierstückeis set for release on 23 November 2018 through Mute. It will contain five piano improvisations recorded with Gareth Jones at Schmidt’s house in the south of France. Schmidtexplains the concept:
The tracks are spontaneous meditations, only played once and recorded simultaneously – no edits or corrections. They are formed from an emotional memory in which Schubert, Cage, Japan (Gagaku) and Can are equally present.
The album is slated to come out in conjunction with a retrospective of his work for film by the International Film Festival Braunschweig in the week commencing 6 November 2018, as well as a series of events at the Volksbühne in Berlin to honour Can’s work. These include Schmidt conducting the Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg and a Can Tribute concert curated by Jochen Arbeit (Einstürzende Neubauten) in December.
“Klavierstück III” can be listened to here:
The album can be pre-ordered through Mute.