Markus Mehr - form (Hidden Shoal)

The Slow Music Movement
2 days ago
2 min read

This is the cover art for Markus Mehr's, form single. It shows a dark purple background with the words "markus mehr" and "form" in white text. Simple, minimalist design.

Markus Mehr is an experimentally inclined musician and composer from Germany who, as well as his recorded output, soundtracks experimental films and creates sound installations. His work largely eschews normal instrumentation, and ranges from industrial electronica and maximal ambient to more transcendent electronic music and reimagined classical strains - one of which you're are being treated to today. Whether you agree with the moods and sonic challenges he presents, there's no denying the rare depth, deep thought and attention to sonic detail in his work

Silhouetted person with a very long parted fringe that has been combed to one side, in very shadowy lighting, and touching the side of their face. Wearing a jacket with the text "Health" just about visible on the breast pocket. Moody and mysterious atmosphere.

His latest single"form" starts uneasily enough with what sounds like an old stylus making its way around an old, unloved piece of vinyl, augmented by a percussive tapping and random electronic sounds for added unease, but as suddenly as it started this uneasy introduction then vanishes, it' role as a palette cleanser complete and the stage is set for the star of the show, an old piano

Quite how the piano is being (mis)used leaves something to the imagination, it sounds quite possibly both via the instruments keys and at times by direct string contact. The approach is certainly minimal; strings are vibrated in isolation or in the shortest of sequences, the note's resonances then encouraged to dissipate before the next strike of hammer on steel.

The resulting sounds are then captured by an unusually placed microphone to further challenge our perceptions of what the instrument is capable of, and just in case you were in any doubt to the experimental nature of the track, unidentified samples and odd machine noises pepper the recording, making the mildly dissonant piano sound positively melodic. It's a fine slice of contemplation inducing experimental electroacoustic music that bodes well for August 22nd's album, so keep an eye on his Bandcamp page for that.