The Silent Ballet review regen:tropfen
Zazie von einem anderen Stern’s Regen:Trophen is aimed at those with an interest in piano and experimental music, but it will likely appeal more to the former than the latter. Although such a combination has become increasingly commonplace, Zazie’s music strikes a reasonable balance between musical accessibility and experimentation. The piano, electronica beats, and vocals evoke a nostalgic atmosphere; the diverse sources of sound and noise create a quiet yet melodic experience.
The beauty of Zazie’s compositions seems to arise from brevity as well as diversity. Songs like “Raum ohne Zeit” show Zazie at her most experimental due to the inclusion of various voice recordings. The experimentation continues with “Ölandsvisa,” whose vocals almost sound like speak-singing. Although speak-singing can be considered inaccessible to some people, the piano—whether in the foreground or the background of the song— makes them palatable.
A refreshing fusion of piano and electronica can be heard in songs like “Zwischen meinen Bänden” and “Nachtschwärmen.” Even though electronica-tinged noises may be uncommon in piano-driven music, their presence works well here because they extend the music’s sparse yet optimistic sentiment. Even though the piano is at the fore, it seldom overtakes the ancillary, experimental flourishes. To this end, the music here oscillates between sounds, and is better for its restlessness.
The sounds that accompany the piano always seem to find their place in the progression of these songs, as if following a latent template. On Regen:Trophen, the classical and the experimental locate this template and work together symbiotically, procuring poignant noises from the other’s genre for the listener’s delight. Even though each person’s experience with the album may be different, Zazie’s music has the unifying potential to becalm and entertain. Piano and experimental fans alike can be grateful to her for creating such sparse, beautiful art.